JUNE 2, 2025|
Photo – Semi trucks – Bigfoot99 file photo
Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman continues to push for a ban against non-English speaking truck drivers from the nation’s highways.
In April, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman sent a letter to the Department of Transportation, urging the federal agency to review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s lax enforcement of minimum English proficiency standards on people driving big rigs.
Before 2016 and Barak Obama, commercial vehicle drivers were required to, “speak and read the English language sufficiently enough 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.”
That same year, 2016, under the guidance of the Obama Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reduced enforcement of its long-standing minimum English proficiency requirement. Now, commercial vehicle drivers may use a variety of methods to communicate with officials during roadside inspections, including interpreters, cue cards, and smart phone applications.
The congresswoman linked the rise in fatal truck crashes across the nation to commercial drivers’ increasing lack of English proficiency. In her letter, the Congresswoman wrote that in 2022, Wyoming experienced the nation’s second-highest number of fatal crashes involving large rigs. Only South Dakota was more deadly.
The National Highway Traffic Administration also reports that in 2022, Wyoming saw the highest number of fatal collisions involving commercial trucks per capita, with 5.1 crashes per 100,000 residents.
In 2024, the Wyoming Department of Transportation concluded that commercial motor vehicles were involved in just over 15% of fatal crashes in the Cowboy State.
On April 28th, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14286, “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers.” This order requires all commercial truck drivers to demonstrate a minimum proficiency in English.
Congresswoman Hageman applauded President Trump’s executive order, writing that many in Wyoming, including law enforcement agencies, have spoken to her about the dangers posed by truckers who are unable to read highway signs. Congresswoman Hageman wrote that it is reasonable for people to expect commercial drivers to read English, particularly in Wyoming, where long, remote distances and shifting weather patterns, especially on Interstate 80 experience hazardous driving conditions.
Congresswoman Hageman expressed her gratitude to President Trump for signing the executive order.
The Wyoming Congresswoman continues to advocate for English proficiency among commercial truck drivers. On Thursday, May 29th, Congressman Dave Taylor of Ohio and Wyoming Congresswoman Hageman announced the introduction of Connor’s Law, a bill designed to codify Executive Order 14286 into law. In a written release, Congresswoman Hageman stated the bill includes an out-of-service provision, which will revoke CDL licensure from any current license holders who fail to adhere to language requirements.
The bill is supported by Representatives Mike Collins of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Beth Van Duyne of Texas, and Brad Finstad of Minnesota.
Connor’s Law is named after 18-year-old Connor Dzion, who was killed in 2017 when a distracted truck driver caused a 22-car pileup in Northern Florida involving a negligent a semi-truck driver.
Audio PlayerThat was the report on First Coast News in Jacksonville, Florida. The driver of the deadly truck was reportedly unable to read English.
Ohio Congressman Dave Taylor wrote that expecting commercial truck drivers to read road signs is common sense. Congressman Taylor continued, writing that preventing senseless deaths, such as Dzion’s, “starts with ensuring drivers operating large and heavy commercial vehicles are capable of being alerted to hazards and updates on the road.”
Hageman says that requiring commercial truck drivers to have a grasp of English makes common sense. The Congresswoman points to Wyoming’s weather, saying conditions can become dangerous enough without drivers who are unable to read highway signs or clearly communicate with others on the road. The Wyoming Congresswoman wrote that Connor’s Law is supported by both law enforcement and the trucking industry.
Georgia Congressman Mike Collins wrote that the American people are less safe with non-English speakers behind the wheel.
American Trucking Association Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom also expressed his support for Connor’s Law. Hanscom wrote that, “The ability to read road signs, understand the rules of the road, and communicate with law enforcement officials is vital to ensuring the safety of all motorists.”
A national lobbying group, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, endorses the bill.
Connor’s Law would make English language proficiency a legal requirement for all commercial driver’s license holders. Additionally, CDL drivers who violate the English proficiency requirement will be taken out of service.
Here in Carbon County, one person has died this year in a crash involving a non-English speaking commercial truck driver. In March, Borys Bakhtiarov lost control of his semi-truck on Interstate 80 east of Rawlins and crashed head on into another commercial carrier. The driver of the other truck was seriously injured and his co-driver died from injuries sustained in the collision. Wyoming Highway Patrol reported that Bakhtiarov does not speak English and required an interpreter when he was seen in Carbon County Circuit Court.
Some are fighting against the English language requirements. Created three weeks ago, a Change.org petition titled “Fair Treatment for CDL Truckers: Stop Unjust Enforcement, Pass Laws to Protect Us” urges the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the U.S. Congress to review President Trump’s executive order.
The petition creator, Adalbeto Gonzolez, states that a person’s trucking career shouldn’t be terminated due to an accent, cultural differences, or imperfect grammar. Gonzolez wrote that enforcement of English language proficiency would be left to the “subjective judgment of DOT officers.”
In his Change.org petition, Gonzolez also wrote that all truckers prioritize safety, even if they aren’t proficient in English. Gonzalez added that truckers are not opposed to the law, only to its 60-day implementation, which did not allow enough time for many to adapt or access training.
As of Friday morning, the Fair Treatment for CDL Truckers: Stop Unjust Enforcement, Pass Laws to Protect Us petition had gathered 7,472 signatures.
In her official statement, Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman wrote that the American Trucking Association, Small Business in Transportation Coalition, and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association all support Connor’s Law and the organizers of the bill.
