Can't Speak English, Yet Has a CDL!

Been in customs many times and seen it unfold. Anyone seeking entry will answer the questions in english. It depends on the officer how patient he will be as to getting acceptable answers. Generally, you're only in there for a secondary inspection (no questions required, usually anyway) or if your paperwork isn't exactly correct, or if you have FDA or agriculture checks, (common for hauling reefer). If you cross often, it is easy to be sure your ducks are all 100% before arriving at primary. I've never seen anyone know zero english at my visits in the customs office. I've seen plenty with broken english, maybe 50% of the time if they are having a difficult time the officer will state "if you can't answer my questions, you are going back to Canada." Miraculously their english instantly significantly improves. The crossing location seems to matter as well. Detroit, they will give you a hard time if you aren't familiar with procedure no matter where you're from. It'll be way worse if your english isnt up to par. Port Huron is much more forgiving, but they also have some officers who never seem to have a good day. New York mostly patient, same as port Huron. Detroit is just misery in general.

At Detroit one time:
Customs: what are you hauling?
Driver: Dayton, Ohio sir.
C: do you own the truck?
D: Dayton, Ohio, sir.
C: how long will you be in usa for?
D: Dayton, Ohio, sir.
C: if you can't answer my questions, you're going back.
D: I'm a company driver hauling auto parts going to Dayton Ohio and I'll be leaving the USA tomorrow.
*facepalm*

 

Do drivers in Quebec have any problems speaking Canadian English or American English?

 

depends eh

 

Feds want to tighten law requiring English language from truckers

 

I've never met/known of any drivers from there that wasn't at least bilingual. There's plenty of french only folks the further past Montreal you go the less english you'll find (Montreal is probably 95%+ bilingual), but not truck drivers, not any I've come across anyway. Local drivers up there, probably.

 

It only takes most drivers 1 time at customs to learn how they want things done. Learn that and the process is very easy. Some just have to receive the lesson more than once. They don't like repeating themselves and any intelligent person does it wrong boy next time you gonna do it right. They're some of the last people you want to upset. But if you know the drill they are totally cool

 

Fiscal
391.11 (b)(2) states that ......."can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records ".
So there is that.

 

This guy couldn't read English, and couldn't speak English well enough to talk to the cops after he killed four people.

 

It is a federal requirement to speak and read English in order to have a CDL.

§ 391.11 General qualifications of drivers.
....
(b) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she—
....
(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;

§ 391.11 General qualifications of drivers.