(WTVG/WKYT) – A Tennessee lawmaker is proposing a bill that would take commercial truck drivers off the road if they cannot speak English well enough to understand road signs.
While some support the move, others say it could create some supply chain issues.
“I think it’s critical that anybody who gets behind the wheel, commercial drivers or not, I expect the people that get behind the wheel to exercise proper safety,” said Keith Ridgeway, a supporter of the proposed bill.
The proposed bill would take commercial truck drivers off the road if a law enforcement officer feels they cannot speak English well enough to understand road signs.
One truck company broker said if the bill passes, it could further affect the supply chain.
“You’re looking at possibly losing, you know, anywhere from 15 to 20% of the drivers in the network, and that could raise rates substantially,” said John Ferguson, CEO of Pivot Logistics.
Ferguson said if a truck driver is pulled over and taken into custody by police, the truck, full of items, is deemed out of service until a new driver is flown into the location.
If the truck driver does not make it on time, the items in the truck could be thrown away.
“You’re looking at anywhere from $50 to $100,000 per truckload that has to be thrown away,” Ferguson said.
Ridgeway said he understands that truckers have a heavy responsibility on the highway, but it is important for them to understand road signs.
“Anybody that’s on the road has an ultimate responsibility to be able to read the traffic rules and regulations here in the United States in English,” he said.
Cynthia Swisher said she gets nervous driving near large trucks on the highway and feels even more anxious when she worries that the driver might not understand the road signs.
“If all we talk about is road safety and taking care of each other and trying to do the best for everyone, we want them off the roads,” she said.
If passed, the bill would also penalize the truck driver’s employer.
