Click image above or HERE to watch.
PUNTA GORDA, Fla.— Today, Senator Ashley Moody is fighting to protect drivers from dangerous situations by urging the passage of her Safer Truckers Act. Her legislation was introduced following a deadly Florida semi-truck crash that could have been prevented. It requires lawful U.S. residency for those seeking Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), and states to report adherence of English proficiency standards to ensure drivers can read road warnings and signs when operating an 18-wheeler. Failure to do both would result in the loss of federal funding.
Senator Moody was joined by U.S. Representative Greg Steube, who today announced he would be leading the legislation in the House of Representatives, and Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “Getting behind the wheel of a car can be one of the most dangerous things Floridians do every day—and we must do all we can to make sure our roads are as safe as possible. That is why I’m fighting to pass my Safer Truckers Act. We’ve seen across the country how reckless sanctuary policies allowing illegal aliens to operate commercial trucks can be deadly and endanger other motorists. The time for action is now, and I want to thank Congressman Steube for joining me today to get this legislation across the finish line.”
Representative Greg Steube said, “Commercial truck drivers bear an enormous responsibility in keeping our roadways safe for commuters. If you are unable to comprehend the rules and signs of the road, you have no business behind the steering wheel of a truck. My Safer Truckers Act will ensure our highways and streets are safe for drivers and commercial truckers, free from dangerous and incompetent individuals.”
Senator Moody’s legislation adds two additional requirements to the minimal standards that are administered by the federal government to states for CDL issuance. Compliance on these additional standards would directly impact the federal funds the states receive from the Department of Transportation.
- The first requirement ensures that CDLs are only awarded to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or a holder of a valid work visa.
- The second requirement requires states to report to the federal government on their efforts to uphold the English proficiency requirements. President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the relevant agencies to focus on enforcing those provisions.
Failure to adhere to these two provisions would jeopardize a state’s eligibility funding and becomes the mechanism by which the federal government can force compliance from sanctuary states like California and Washington.
The proposed legislation comes following the tragic deaths caused by an illegal immigrant truck driver in Florida. On August 12, Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, causing a fatal accident that took the lives of three. According to the DOT, the truck driver, who was granted a CDL by California and Washington, provided correct responses to only two of 12 verbal questions and was only able to identify one of four traffic signs correctly on his English Language Proficiency test.
Read full bill text here.
###