CDL English Proficiency Requirement Under FMCSA Explained

Truck accidents and the CDL English proficiency requirement under the FMCSA

As a truck accident lawyer, I have handled cases involving people who have been seriously injured in truck wrecks at the hands of commercial drivers who do not speak English. Drivers who do not speak English fluently are in violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Rules. The companies that hire these drivers, who may pose a greater risk of causing a truck accident because they do not speak English or may be confused by English language on a road sign, are in violation of the CDL English proficiency requirement as well.

This safety requirement under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration remains in place, even as we enter a global economy and are seeing new agreements that allow Mexican and Canadian motor carriers on U.S. roads.

Here’s the CDL English proficiency requirement for commercial truck and bus drivers in the U.S., according to the FMCSA:

• “A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. . . . [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.” (49 CFR § 391.11(a))
• A “person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she . . . [c]an 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 . . .” (49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2))

The CDL English proficiency requirement is an important topic, and I have spoken at legal seminars on this issue, which is often missed by attorneys who litigate commercial truck cases but do not know that companies are required to hire drivers who are proficient in reading and speaking English.

Injured in a truck accident where the driver didn’t speak english? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law now for a free consultation!

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident in Michigan where the driver didn’t speak English and are wondering if they fulfilled the CDL English proficiency requirement, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions. 

We have more than 2,500 5-Star Reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported car accident and truck accident settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.