Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — The legislature has passed a bill to require anyone seeking a commercial driver’s license or CDL permit in Iowa to pass an English proficiency test.
Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says new applicants and those renewing a commercial driver’s license must be tested.
The bill passed the House on a 75-22 vote, and it goes to the governor. It cleared the Senate earlier with even wider bipartisan support.
A truck driver could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and fined $1,000 if they’re pulled over and police determine they lack English language skills. The driver’s trucking company would also be fined $10,000 dollars.
Senator Cindy Winkler, a Democrat from Davenport, says the bill is about safety for the motoring public.
Representative Elizabeth Wilson, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, sees an imbalance in the bill, but she voted for it.
Ten months ago, the Trump Administration issued guidelines that let law enforcement officers stop truckers from continuing their route if the driver is unable to answer questions posed in English. According to the Iowa Motor Truck Association, several hundred drivers have been stopped in Iowa as a result. The trade group, which represents 400 trucking companies and suppliers in Iowa, proposed the initial version of the bill in January.
KIWA Staff Photo
