MEDIA CONTACT:

SBTC Executive Director James Lamb

JAMES (at) TRUCKERS.COM 

(202) 587-2751 

UPDATE: SBTC Offers Update on Large Truck Fatality Trends, English Language Proficiency, & State Issuance of CDLs to Illegal Immigrants...

https://x.com/JimLambUSA/status/1961924994356629901

UPDATE: This additional bill has been introduced in the Senate in response to our call for Congress to require USDOT to make the states test for English language proficiency during CDL knowledge testing.

Congress is listening to you!

SBTC is calling for both bills to be combined under the CONNOR'S LAW title as per our original proposal below.

UPDATE: Here is the current version of CONNOR'S LAW (HR 3608) introduced by Hon. Rep. Dave Taylor (R; OH):

There are currently 17 co-sponsors.

UPDATE: Revised version of CONNOR'S LAW has been introduced into Congress...

https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/the-nation/connors-law-house-bill-named-in-memory-of-student-killed-by-trucker-who-could-not-read-english-warning-signs

Connor Dzion, a college freshman from Florida, was tragically killed by an inattentive truck driver in 2017, a driver who could not read police emergency safety warning signs on the Florida highway displayed in English that said "Slow Down. Accident Ahead."

Connor had only attended two weeks of classes at the University of North Florida in 2017 when the semi-truck driver violently slammed into a line of cars on Sept. 4th, 2017. Connor had been sitting in standstill traffic for over an hour on Interstate 95 near Yulee because another semi-truck driver had flipped his vehicle ahead of him, blocking all movement on the highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, 49 CFR § 391.11(a), General Qualifications of Drivers:

"a person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in § 391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. (b) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she— (1) Is at least 21 years old; (2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records."

Just one year prior to the accident that took Connor's life, FMCSA had issued a 2016 directive to all Federal and state law enforcement officers ordering them to stop placing non-English-speaking truck drivers out-of-service, despite the obvious public safety implications and concerns, alleging such enforcement activity somehow violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits "discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance."

This 2016 change in FMCSA policy replaced a prior 2007 directive to place such non-English-speaking truck drivers out-of-service in the interest of public safety. 

Trucking Fatalities Have Increased Since Feds Stopped Suspending Truckers Who Can’t Read English

The FMCSA erred terribly when it directed law enforcement not to put unqualified non-English-speaking drivers out-of-service in 2016.

That has to end. 

With Congress' support, it will. SBTC, the Dzion family, and our supporters will together #MakeTheRoadsSafeAgain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connor's Law would enact the existing Federal rule into law and establish a duty for the Secretary to enforce the English proficiency standard. Specifically, it would change existing law* codified at 49 USC §31502 to read:

49 USC §31502. Requirements for qualifications, hours of service, safety, and equipment standards

(b) Motor Carrier and Private Motor Carrier Requirements -The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe requirements for-

(1) qualifications and maximum hours of service of employees of, and safety of operation and equipment of, a motor carrier; and

(2) qualifications and maximum hours of service of employees of, and standards of equipment of, a motor private carrier, when needed to promote safety of operation.

(3) the states to test for English proficiency during Commercial Driver License (CDL) knowledge testing to confirm drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records. This requirement shall not be waived by the Secretary and the Secretary shall require Department enforcement personnel and the states to place out of service any CMV driver found to not be able to read or speak English while operating a CMV.

*changes indicated by bold italics text.

We the undersigned support Connor's Law and respectfully call for Congress to enact this important life-saving legislation.