Government enforcing rule that Mexican truckers speak English
8/31/07
HARLINGEN, Texas — Interstate truck and bus drivers across America may find themselves pulled off the highway if state troopers or vehicle inspectors find they can't speak English.
The requirement has been on the books for decades, but enforcement has begun before Mexican trucks are allowed in the U.S. interior as of Sept. 6.
"We have found people in violation of this for a number of years and we're working feverishly to correct it," said John Hill, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Since 1971, federal law has said that commercial drivers must read and speak English "sufficiently to understand highway traffic signs and signals and directions given in English and to respond to official inquiries."
Hill said the language deficiency was found mostly in the commercial zone that varies from 25 miles to 75 miles north of the Mexican border, but since inspectors there are bilingual and Mexican truckers are not allowed past that zone, it hasn't been an issue.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5099355.html

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Good!!!
Now if only we could get the kids to speak our language

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..those drivers from N. Carolina, Georgia, & Alabama???

To which language are you referring? I'm a trilingual trucker from Georgia: I speak English, American, and Redneck!

English: I coulda had a go with a crackin' Julie working the counter at the petrol vendor the other day me ol' China, but then I'd be in Barney with the trouble-n-strife.

American: I could have had sex with a beautiful woman working at the gas station the other day my friend, but then I'd be in trouble with my wife.

Redneck: I coulda tagged this lil' babelet workin' at the fillin' station t'other day bud, but then I'd be neck deep in hot water with the missus.

Both English & American, but also fluent in Texan!

Texan: I might cuda had that philly and was fixin to til my old lady showed up and hit me cross the hade!

I assume the English was The Queen's English, meaning a little Cockney and maybe some OZ thrown in with it.

The DOT and all other law enforcement action against any of the MX drivers had better demand cash on the spot for all fines. Other wise if they have 15 days to mail in the fine to pay and manage to make it back across the border before the 15 days are up, not a single red cent of fine money will ever be paid.

Mark my words.

The Mexicans have NO regard for our laws. Look at them already. Why should we think the truck drivers are any different????

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I find this quite amusing as non English speaking Middle Easterners drive through customs daily from Canada (British Columbia), for some 20 years now. They would get in fights with other drivers for cutting the line with their trucks.

If they have been "working feverishly" for a number of years to correct the current problem... and evidently have not been successful... how will they handle the influx of Mexicans once the border is opened?

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I realy think the whole Mexican driver thing is going to blow up in our faces and in the end make truck drivers look worse in the public eye..... but that aside.. Does anyone really know why the Canadians speak so funny