Proficiency in English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers
Trucks line up to enter a shipping berth at the Port of Oakland, in California. Pic/AFP
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that truck drivers in the US are proficient in English—a requirement that has raised concerns among Sikh groups that say it can have a “discriminatory impact” and create barriers to employment.
“Proficiency in English is a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers. They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order says.
Advocacy group Sikh Coalition said it is “deeply concerned” for the Sikh community, which has a substantial presence in the US trucking industry. It said around 150,000 Sikhs work in the industry, 90 per cent of whom are drivers. “Our community played a vital role in meeting the high demand for drivers and alleviating stress on US consumers and the economy. Sikhs help drive, quite literally, the American economy,” the group said.
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