Senator Hyde-Smith on CDL English Proficiency and Road Safety Legislation

Critical Safety Issue: CDL System Weaknesses

• ⚠️ A rise in deadly accidents involving large commercial trucks is linked to individuals, often foreign nationals in the country illegally, exploiting weaknesses in the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) system.
• 💔 Tragic incidents are highlighted, including a crash in Florida where an undocumented immigrant driving an 18-wheeler made an illegal U-turn, killing three Americans.
• 🚨 Another incident involved a semi-truck driver in California, illegally in the U.S. with an immigration detainer, accused of intoxication and causing multiple fatalities.

Failed Policies and Lack of Oversight

• 📉 Previous Democratic administrations are cited for weakening safety enforcement, opening loopholes, and allowing fraudulent CDL issuance.
• 🚫 A policy under the Obama administration directed inspectors to issue citations rather than remove unsafe drivers from the road, leading to loss of life.
• 🗺️ Open border policies combined with lax federal oversight have allowed some states to issue CDLs without proper language or competency testing.

Systemic Violations and State Accountability

• 🧐 A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audit revealed that drivers who failed English proficiency tests were still issued valid CDLs.
• 📊 FMCSA audits uncovered systemic violations by states like California, Washington, and New Mexico for failing to follow federal laws in CDL issuance.
• ⚖️ California revoked 17,000 CDLs issued to immigrants without valid visas following criticism and threats of federal funding revocation.

Legislative Actions for Road Safety

• 📜 Senator Hyde-Smith is supporting legislation requiring CDL applicants to pass English proficiency tests.
• 🗣️ The Commercial Motor Vehicle English Efficiency Act aims to ensure all CDL applicants pass the proficiency test in English.
• 🤝 Co-sponsored legislation like the Safer Trucking Act restricts CDL issuance to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and authorized individuals.
• 🇺🇸 These reforms aim to restore integrity, accountability, and safety to highways by ensuring CDL holders are legally present and proficient in English.