California has begun enforcing federal English-language requirements for commercial truck drivers after months of resistance from Governor Gavin Newsom.
The change was confirmed by Nick Chiappe of the California Trucking Association on Friday.
“California Highway Patrol has begun enforcing the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for all drivers of commercial motor vehicles,” he said in a statement.
The move clears the way for the U.S. Department of Transportation to release more than $40 million in funding that had been frozen.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that California had been the only state failing to enforce rules requiring truckers to demonstrate English proficiency.
“I shouldn’t have had to threaten to withhold millions in funding for California to come to their senses and enforce the law,” Duffy told The California Post.
“For those who said we’re playing politics—our efforts have gotten real results for the American people.”
Hellbound and Down 