Help please. fmcsa 391.11(b)(2)

clearly it's not, there are sooo many drivers that cannot communicate in English that are out there driving. So their either ignorant of the law or simply don't think it matters. Then again from what I see most drivers are ignorant of the regulations, and so are most dispatchers, planners, safety managers/directors. It's a wonder there aren't even more violations.

 

"We ALL agree", as in TTR members.

But anyway, now you are preaching to the choir. Everyone HERE is aware of the problem with drivers who cannot communicate in English.

 

Personally, I think this industry has way too many regulations. It is difficult for anyone to keep up.

But, back to the original discussion. I have heard drivers on the CB talking in Russian, Spanish and a couple of other languages that I am not familiar. Hopefully, these people can read and understand English.

I am not sure if I posted this on TTR, but about a year or two ago there was a local judge who almost convicted a Mexican national of murder due to him not understanding English. The judge is an advocate of making English the "official" language of this country. Currently English is the "unofficial" national language in the U.S. I don't remember all the particulars of the case, but apparently the guy plead guilty of murder without understanding what he was pleading. The judge found that they guy was innocent. Imagine if the guy had been wrongly convicted. It would have been next to impossible for him to have the conviction reversed. I can see how some misunderstandings could occur with drivers and DOT. I don't know how these people could even understand directions to get to their destinations. How about if they break down? Would a repair shop be able to understand them? The DOT guys on this forum seem to be interested in enforcing the English language provision, but I wonder how many do actively work to enforce the rule. I still see many foreign nationals who speak very little English.

 

I once heard two guys on the CB speaking what turned out to be Cherokee.

 

I remember hearing Indian chanting on the radio in New Mexico or Arizona. I don't know which tribe. I don't recall actually hearing Indians talking on the radio in their native tongue.