The President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order this Monday that requires all truck drivers in the country to demonstrate proficiency in English, citing "public safety" reasons.
The measure requires the Department of Transportation to implement a language test for commercial vehicle drivers. According to the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, this decision addresses "communication issues" that, in the opinion of the Executive, pose a risk on the roads.
"Let’s make sure that all our truck drivers, the backbone of the economy, speak English. It’s a common-sense policy," he stated at a press conference.
The decree states that the federal law already established the requirement to read and speak English in order to operate commercial vehicles, but it accuses previous administrations of failing to enforce the regulation, which may have negatively impacted road safety.
Trump considers English dominance a "non-negotiable security requirement" and recalls that in March he declared English the official language of the United States through another executive order.
Among other provisions, the new decree mandates a review of the issuance of commercial driver's licenses, especially those granted to non-residents, to identify potential irregularities. Additionally, it stipulates that drivers who do not meet the language requirement may be put out of service.
However, the National Truckers Association criticized the measure, calling the assertion that there is an invasion of foreign truckers affecting safety on U.S. roads "false." The organization accused the government of manipulating data to support a political agenda.
The White House defended the order by stating that its purpose is to protect American families and strengthen working conditions for local truck drivers in a country where traffic accidents remain one of the leading causes of mortality.
How could Trump's new order affect Cuban truck drivers in the U.S.?
The recent executive order signed by President Trump, which mandates proficiency in English for all commercial truck drivers in the United States, could have a direct impact on thousands of Cuban-American workers in this sector.
It is estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 truck drivers of Cuban origin are currently active in the country. Many of them have found in the transportation industry a means for economic advancement and stability, particularly in states like Florida, where the Cuban community has a strong presence and the Spanish language remains predominant.
Stories like that of Rachel Rubio, a young Cuban who works as a truck driver in the U.S. and has achieved financial independence, reflect the significance of this profession within the community.
Testimonies are also added, such as that of a truck driver who has made her cabin her home and a symbol of freedom. These experiences highlight that, although many immigrants have successfully integrated into the sector, not all of them are proficient in English.
The new regulations introduce strict requirements that could jeopardize the licenses and employment of those who still do not master the language. The threat of being put out of service for not passing a language test adds pressure to a profession already burdened by long hours, regulatory demands, and cultural barriers.
An emblematic case that illustrates the potential consequences of this linguistic deficiency is that of Rogel Lázaro Aguilera-Mederos, the Cuban truck driver initially sentenced to 110 years in prison following a fatal accident in Colorado in 2019.
Aguilera-Mederos did not speak English and during his interrogation he needed an interpreter. Furthermore, the company he worked for had already been cited for employing drivers who were unable to read or speak English properly, including issues with understanding traffic signs.
Although his sentence was commuted to 10 years following a large public campaign, the case highlights the legal and human risks faced by drivers with limited language skills. The new Trump order, by requiring full proficiency in English as a mandatory requirement, could exacerbate this vulnerability for many Cuban Americans behind the wheel.
Contradictions on the road: Trump demands English from truck drivers while promoting autonomous driving
Trump's new executive order appears to contradict his administration's efforts to promote autonomous driving in the transportation industry.
During his first term, the Trump administration promoted policies to facilitate the development of autonomous vehicles. In 2018, the Department of Transportation issued the "AV 3.0" guide, which clarified that federal safety regulations did not necessarily assume the presence of a human driver in commercial vehicles, thus removing regulatory barriers to the advancement of autonomous driving.
However, the new executive order reinforces the necessity for human drivers to master English, which could be interpreted as a step backward from the vision of a more automated transportation industry.
This measure could affect thousands of truck drivers, including those of Cuban origin, who do not speak the language, creating uncertainty about their job future in a sector that, paradoxically, is moving towards automation.
Additionally, the Trump administration has shown interest in reducing regulations for autonomous vehicles, as evidenced by the recent relaxation of reporting requirements for automated driving systems.
This duality in policies raises questions about the coherence of the government strategy regarding the future of transportation and the integration of emerging technologies.
In summary, while the Trump administration promotes innovation in autonomous vehicles, imposing strict language requirements for human drivers could hinder the transition to a more automated industry and impact communities of drivers that already face significant challenges.
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