U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), has introduced the Secure Commercial Licensing Act, a bill that would require all commercial driver’s license (CDL) tests in the United States to be conducted exclusively in English. The legislation also grants the Transportation Secretary authority to suspend or revoke a state’s ability to issue non-domiciled CDLs if federal standards are not met.
“If you drive a truck in the United States, you should be able to speak English fluently,” said Sen. Tuberville. “This protects our law enforcement officers and the general public. This is not only about safety and efficiency – it’s just commonsense. Whether taking their kids to school, driving to work, or going to the grocery store, Americans shouldn’t feel in danger every time they get on the road.”
Senator Cotton emphasized road safety concerns: “For everyone’s safety, you must be able to read and understand English road signs when operating a commercial vehicle. Our bill would require commercial drivers to pass the test given in English.”
Mark Colson, CEO of Alabama Trucking Association, voiced support for the measure while highlighting other issues facing the trucking industry. “Going forward, there are additional issues that need to be addressed to prevent bad actors from operating in trucking,” Colson said. “One major issue involves B-1 Visa drivers overstaying their cross-border allowances and hauling domestic freight, which is already an illegal activity known as cabotage. Another pressing concern is the need to address fraudulent or non-compliant CDL training providers who are non-compliant with existing training standards. These providers must be removed from the training provider registry. Additionally, stricter measures are required to combat the fraudulent use of USDOT numbers and the manipulation of motor carrier (MC) numbers. These tactics enable chameleon carriers, cargo thieves and broker fraudsters to thrive by acquiring legitimate MC numbers to carry out their schemes. Also, we must ensure the integrity of all commercial driver’s licenses issued by states, crack down on electronic log device fraud, and make sure law enforcement have the tools necessary to enforce these actions. The Alabama Trucking Association, in a combined effort with other pertinent entities, will remain a staunch supporter of making America and Alabama’s roadways safer. In Alabama, we have been working diligently on all these issues with our federal delegation, the Governor’s office, and law enforcement, and we will continue to advocate for the highest standards for safety and security in transportation that will create a level playing field for Alabama’s hard-working professional drivers.”
Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-06) has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Senator Tuberville serves on several Senate committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Aging.
