Truck Drivers Are Now Taking Pop English Tests While Being Recorded | Carscoops

Truck Drivers Are Now Taking Pop English Tests While Being Recorded | Carscoops

      This is reportedly the first documented English proficiency test for a truck driver who was unable to recognize road signs.

      20 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Arkansas law enforcement administered the first recorded English proficiency assessment to a truck driver.

      The California-registered driver was unable to read road signs and had difficulty with basic conversation.

      Federal regulations allow for such tests to ensure that truck drivers are proficient in English for safety reasons.

      Several months ago, the U.S. federal government tightened regulations mandating that semi-truck drivers must be able to read and speak English. As a result, numerous states have begun testing drivers who are suspected of not meeting this requirement.

      While there have been sporadic reports of drivers being removed from the road after failing these tests, few have provided detailed accounts of how these situations occur. Today, we get a perspective from an officer as a driver undergoes the test and fails.

      Officer’s Perspective

      In what is considered the first public record of an English proficiency assessment for a commercial driver, an Arkansas Highway Police officer recently stopped a semi-truck driver who had difficulty identifying basic road signs.

      The video starts with the officer questioning the driver about his choice of parking location, setting the stage for a revealing interaction.

      The truck driver responds, “Yeah, I’ve been parked here three hours.” The officer repeats the question, only to receive a confused expression from the driver.

      When the officer inquires if there is anyone else in the truck, the driver replies, “Yeah, my company.” Later, when asked which company he works for, the driver answers, “California.”

      It is worth mentioning that the truck appears to be leased to Edline Freight Inc., located in Rowland Heights, California. According to the NHTSA, the company has reported that 25 percent of its 28 drivers are currently out of service, compared to a national average of just 6.67 percent for that state.

      🚨Another California truck driver has been pulled over—this time in Arkansas—unable to communicate in basic English or read common traffic signs.California's questionable Non-Domicile CDL standards are putting motorists at risk nationwide. How long until other states revoke all reciprocity for… pic.twitter.com/ISrbwNg3PU— American Truckers 🚛🦅 (@atutruckers) October 28, 2025

      After their brief exchange (and after the officer permits the driver to adjust his clothing), they return to the patrol car to go over a few standard road signs. Among the signs reviewed, the only one the driver correctly recognized and explained was “No Parking.”

      This is somewhat ironic, considering the discussion began over the driver allegedly parking in an inappropriate spot.

      The officer later informs a colleague via phone that the federal directive was to engage in conversation and review four road signs with anyone suspected of lacking proficient English skills.

      Successfully identifying three out of the four signs would suffice to pass that part of the assessment. In this instance, the driver did not pass either test and was thus placed out of service.

      Credit: American Truckers United

Truck Drivers Are Now Taking Pop English Tests While Being Recorded | Carscoops

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Truck Drivers Are Now Taking Pop English Tests While Being Recorded | Carscoops

This is reportedly the first documented English proficiency test for a truck driver who was unable to recognize road signs.