A new executive order issued by President Trump has led to a crackdown on Mexican truckers driving on U.S. highways without sufficient English proficiency. According to industry officials, forty truckers have lost their privileges to drive in the United States due to their lack of English skills.
The order, which took effect on June 26, mandates that all truck drivers be able to read road signs and interact with law enforcement in English. Enforcement has been focused in states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas, where forty truckers have lost their licenses, according to Israel Delgado Vallejo, vice president of the Northwest Chapter of the Chamber of Freight Transportation.
Drivers who lose their license due to English proficiency issues face significant fines if they are caught driving again without improved skills. Fines can range from $10,000 to $50,000.
Delgado Vallejo estimates that approximately 80,000 Mexican truck drivers cross the border on a daily basis, with around 70 percent lacking sufficient English abilities to meet the criteria. While he notes that about 20-30 percent of drivers can easily manage in English, the remaining 70 percent struggle to hold basic conversations or understand road signs.
The loss of these drivers could have severe implications for the supply chain and economy of both countries, Delgado Vallejo warns. In response, his group and others in the trucking industry are offering classes for drivers who wish to learn and improve their English comprehension.
Industry officials say that addressing the issue is crucial to maintaining smooth operations along the US-Mexico border.
Source: Border Report
