Determining Your Drivers’ English Proficiency

Now that failure of CDL drivers to read and communicate in English can lead to an out of service violation, carriers have extra work to do in interviewing prospective drivers. How can you evaluate the prospect’s ability to speak, read and understand English? Late last month, FMCSA posted on its website a list of suggestions to use during the driver qualification process to determine how well a CDL driver meets the English proficiency standards.

The same guidance should be used to determine how well current drivers could communicate with an officer during a roadside inspection as well as understand highway traffic signs that they may encounter while driving. Here are FMCSA’s key recommendations:

• Conduct driver interviews in English
• Ask these types of questions of the candidate to see how well they respond in English:

1. 1. Where did the driver pick up and where did they deliver a load on a recent trip?
   2. How much time did they spend on duty, including driving time, rest breaks and their logbook status?
   3. Have them show you that they can read and explain a bill of lading.
   4. Have them read to you the information shown on their CDL.
   5. Ask them to list several items of vehicle equipment subject to inspection.

To determine if the driver candidate can read highway signs, FMCSA suggests that carriers use the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov) and ask the driver to explain the meaning of each sign.

After a candidate successfully demonstrates English proficiency, the guidance says managers may proceed with the rest of the interview in a language other than English, as appropriate. Find more on ELP guidance at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/guidance.

Legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would require persons applying for CDLs to prove English proficiency before they could be issued a license. ICSA will keep you informed on this legislation as it moves through the Congressional process.