CarriersEdge, which provides online driver training, released an online English Language Proficiency Assessment to help trucking companies prepare for enforcement of the English Language Proficiency requirements.

As of June 25, truck drivers who can't pass an English Language Proficiency test during a roadside inspection can be placed out of service.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently revoked guidance from a previous administration that minimized enforcement of this rule. That means that truck drivers are to be placed out of service if they fail a roadside English proficiency interview.

Why Did DOT Change Truck Driver English Proficiency Enforcement?

According to existing federal regulations, to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, drivers must be able to speak and read English well enough to:

• Converse with the general public.

• Understand traffic signs and signals.

• Respond to official questions.

• Make legible entries on reports and records.

However, in 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration put out guidance that violators were no longer to be placed out of service. Earlier this year, following President Trump's executive order mandating English, FMCSA issued new guidance implementing enforcement of the regulation.

“Many of our customers have contacted us to say they are very worried about the new enforcement rules and the ambiguity regarding how they will be applied,” said Jane Jazrawy, CarriersEdge CEO.

“The easy-to-administer assessment is a diagnostic tool carriers can use to understand what sort of risk they are facing with their drivers.”

How CarriersEdge Test Can Help

The test, available to all CarriersEdge customers, uses a series of visual cues and audio questions to assess a driver's ability to understand and respond to the types of questions they may encounter during a roadside inspection.

It includes identifying the meaning of various road signs and responding to questions they may be asked. 

The results can provide carriers with insights into how their drivers may perform in a real-world scenario.

CarriersEdge does warn that passing the assessment is not a guarantee that a driver’s English proficiency is sufficient to pass an actual roadside inspection and avoid being marked out of service. 

There is still much that remains unknown about how the rule will be enforced. The FMCSA ELP Guidance published online has many of the specifics redacted.

CarriersEdge customers can access the test by logging into the system and searching for the English Proficiency Test. Non-customers can sign up for a free trial at www.carriersedge.com.

For a Deeper Dive Into the English Language Proficiency Rules

Understanding the level of risk based on a driver’s English proficiency is the first step in preparing for the new enforcement rules. Jazrawy and CarriersEdge President and co-founder Mark Murrell discussed what is known about the rule and how carriers can plan in uncertain times during a recent webinar, Inside The U.S. Language Proficiency Requirements: