Preventing Tragedies on America's Highways
The trucking industry is the backbone of America's supply chain, but with that vital role comes a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of safety. Recent events have underscored just how dangerous lapses in enforcement and compliance can be. A devastating crash that occurred on the Florida Turnpike on August 12th claimed three lives when truck driver Harjinder Singh attempted an illegal U-turn and crushed a minivan beneath his trailer. Federal regulators have since revealed some troubling failures in compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) rules that might have prevented this tragedy.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the failures that led to the crash. "This crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures," Duffy stated. He pointed to the non-enforcement of federal standards and abuses in the commercial driver's license (CDL) system as key factors that contributed to the disaster.
The Ability to Understand English is Critical
Investigators with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) discovered that Singh failed an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam after the crash. He was able to answer only two of 12 verbal questions correctly and identified just one of four highway traffic signs. This inability to understand English-a critical requirement for reading road signs, understanding safety instructions, and communicating with law enforcement-represents a direct violation of federal safety standards designed to protect both drivers and the motoring public.
The investigation also uncovered conflicting CDL records. The state of Washington had issued Singh a full-term CDL in 2023, though asylum seekers or individuals without legal status are not eligible for such licensing. Just a year later, California issued him a limited-term, non-domiciled CDL. These discrepancies raise serious questions about whether federal regulations were properly followed, and FMCSA is now probing the legality of these issuances.
Further red flags appeared just weeks before the crash. On July 3rd, Singh was cited for speeding by New Mexico State Police. However, despite federal requirements that were effective before June 25th mandating English proficiency enforcement as an out-of-service condition, no ELP assessment was found to have been conducted. According to DOT, New Mexico has not yet begun enforcing this requirement, a gap that may have allowed an unqualified driver to remain behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle.
Still Much Work to be Done!
In response to mounting safety concerns, President Trump issued an executive order in May mandating strict enforcement of English proficiency and other CDL requirements. This was followed by a nationwide compliance review of states issuing non-domiciled CDLs. These licenses, often granted to individuals from foreign countries or to drivers who cannot obtain a CDL in their state of residence, have come under heavy scrutiny. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has also urged DOT to suspend states' authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs until a full review ensures only qualified drivers receive licenses.
The Florida crash is a sobering reminder that the consequences of ignoring DOT regulations are not abstract, they do indeed cost lives. Strict adherence to federal standards, consistent enforcement across all states, and accountability for carriers are not optional; they are essential to safeguarding America's highways. Regulators, states, and carriers alike must recommit to compliance or risk more preventable tragedies.