Finally

Discussion in 'Truckers News' started by Constant Learner, Mar 5, 2025.

  1. Constant Learner

    Constant Learner Medium Load Member

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    Arkansas bill bans non-citizens from operating a commercial vehicle without a U.S.-issued CDL and English language proficiency

    A bill recently introduced in Arkansas would crack down on non-citizens working as commercial truck drivers as well as the carriers that employ them.

    On February 25, the Secure Roads And Safe Trucking Act Of 2025 (HB1569) was introduced in the Arkansas state legislature by Rep. Wayne Long, Sen. John Payton, and Rep. Jon Eubanks.

    The bill seeks to implement the following provisions:

    1. Requires a domestic (issued by the U.S., District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico) Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in order to operate a commercial vehicle in Arkansas. Truck drivers with a B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 combination visa would be banned from operating a commercial vehicle in Arkansas. Penalties for violation include impoundment of the commercial vehicle and a fine of $5000 for the commercial vehicle operator. Canadian commercial driver license reciprocity would no longer be recognized under the provisions of the bill.
    2. Requires commercial vehicle operators to demonstrate English language proficiency sufficient to:
      (1) Read road signs and warning signs; (2) Understand traffic control devices; and (3) Communicate effectively in an emergency with: (A) Emergency services; (B) Law enforcement; and (C) Other drivers. Operating a commercial vehicle without proficiency in the English language could result in a fine of $5000.
    3. Establishes the offense of “criminal use of a commercial vehicle” if a non-citizen without a U.S.-issued CDL “causes the bodily harm of another person while operating a commercial motor vehicle.” The offense is a Class D Felony that comes with a minimum 6 month prison term.
    4. If a non-citizen without a U.S.-issued CDL is operating a commercial vehicle and causes a fatal crash, they can be convicted of a Class B Felony with a minimum 10 year prison sentence.
    5. Penalizes trucking companies that provide commercial vehicles to ineligible operators with a fine of $10,000.
    The bill also establishes a public safety emergency that would allow it to go into effect immediately upon passing.
     
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  3. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Not good enough, non-citizens either illegally or legal need to be defined.

    This needs to be done at the US DOT level with all those CDL holders to be checked for English proficiency.
     
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  4. Constant Learner

    Constant Learner Medium Load Member

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    Probably it's coming, but this is a good start.
     
  5. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Same thing I said in the other thread about this: doing away with Canadian reciprocity is short sighted.
     
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  6. 50WT

    50WT Road Train Member

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    That a good start, now to get all other states to do this also.
     
  7. JimmyTwoTimes

    JimmyTwoTimes Medium Load Member

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    If ya'll were gambling folks, how big of a bet would you place that this actually gets passed?
     
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  8. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Even if it did that thing that bans all foreign drivers even if they do speak English would never make it past the first court case.
     
  9. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    That would cripple the economy and halt interstate commerce overnight. There are millions of drivers who lived here 10-20-30 years and only have green cards.

    That bill is just a populous political stunt
     
  10. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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  11. 50WT

    50WT Road Train Member

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    So , if all these millions of drivers are put out of work wouldn't that be kinda like when the covid was a thing and we were all making crazy money. Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong, but looks like it'd be a good thing for the ones of us that are citizens of the USA.
     
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