this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2025
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MAGA fans are rejoicing on social media in favor of President Donald Trump's plan to sign an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to speak English.

Breitbart News reported that Trump would sign the order Monday evening because "President Trump believes that English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers." Last month, Trump designated English as "the official language of the United States."

"This is such a big deal! So grateful for this, the roads will be much safer. Like many, I have seen many accidents or near accidents from unqualified drivers," posted @coffeegirlvegas.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 day ago (5 children)

So the party of small government is going to administer english tests to truck drivers? maybe create some kind of language registry with proficiency levels? sounds kinda woke

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Running the entire economy via a central planning committee is exactly the sort of right-wing free market the GOP voters wanted. I guess? Up is down. The past is alterable. The past never had been altered. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

There's the double-think we've all come to know and love. Double plus good, party member

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

There was a video on ?imgur? in the past couple days, I didn't know if it was real. Guy says he was a truck driver and had stopped at a weigh station. He said they asked if he could read and write English; he said yes. They gave him a piece of paper to read, which he did; they then told him to write those words down on another piece of paper, which was filled with identical words in various handwritings. He said he saw a bunch of people off to the side in handcuffs, and said that if you couldn't speak or write English, you had to pay a $5000 "fine" on the spot, and that if you couldn't pay, you were arrested on the spot and your driving license immediately suspended. There was some condition (I don't remember what it was) where the trucking company might also have to pay a $10000 "fine".

The comments discussion pointed out that, if they had had $5000 to pay the "fine", it likely would've been taken in civil forfeiture. There was also a robust discussion on whether this was real or not, trying to find other sources, which were slim and primarily referenced questionable sources.

Edit: found the video, which apparently originated on Xitter, and was originally posted last month (I only saw it a day or so ago).

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Think we are way past them being small government. They are the party of HUGE government. They want to regulate how you speak, to whom you speak, where you speak, what your name is allowed to be, what people are allowed to call you, where you are allowed to use the bathroom, whether or not you can access healthcare, how you pay for that healthcare, what you are allowed to eat, who you purchase things from, what medications you are allowed to be prescribed and monitor whether or not you are ovulating.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

The party of states rights (in areas they're losing federally) makes yet another federal commandment in areas they want to gain ground on

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

There is already a federal clearing house for DoT drivers, this is for criminal checks and drug tests. They would just put it there.

I hate to be "that guy" ... but non English speakers on the road is kind of an issue.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Commerical driving licenses already require English proficiency so this is a non-issue. Now ask yourself why this particular administration is trying to "solve" a non-issue via executive order and not an act of Congress. Hint: It's a power grab that will be used to the detriment of minorities.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I’m sorry, but the whole thing is ridiculous. Surely you are aware that there are countries (eg your neighbour to the north) that have more than one official language. As far as i know, only one city in Canada has bilingual signage, yet Canadians manage to drive safely all over the country without necessarily having proficiency in both languages. The european union has ??? languages and yet somehow manages to have safe roads. this is all part of trump’s pandering to the racist and xenophobic idiots who comprise his base.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have to agree with @[email protected], though the issue is not really while going down the road.

Language barriers become an issue at pickups, drop offs, truck stops, weigh stations and anywhere else where you might need to follow a precise set of oddball instructions.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

So, nothing to do with road safety.