CVTA Chairman Featured on Fox Business Amid Secretary Duffy's Recent Enforcement Announcements

CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt on Fox Business: Representing the Professional Commercial Vehicle Training Community

The U.S. Department of Transportation sent a clear message to the states this week when Secretary Sean Duffy signaled they would deny California’s Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding. The decision underscores a tightening federal stance on states that fail to align with national safety and enforcement standards. MCSAP grants—totaling almost $40 million for California last year—fund the training and certification of state law enforcement personnel who inspect commercial vehicles. Secretary Duffy’s move signals that non-compliance with federal rules will now carry real financial consequences.

California’s predicament stems from its continued refusal to enforce the federal English-language proficiency (ELP) requirement for commercial drivers, codified at 49 CFR §391.11(b)(2). As Overdrive recently reported, the California Highway Patrol has stated it does not place drivers out of service for ELP violations because the rule “is not part of California law.” Federal data show that, outside a handful of border-zone inspections, California inspectors have almost entirely declined to enforce the ELP mandate—even after it was restored to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) out-of-service criteria. This intransigence appears to have been a decisive factor in the Department’s denial of funds.

Amid these developments, CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt appeared on Fox Business to represent the perspective of the professional training community. Burkhardt emphasized that, " . . . if you fail to meet those proficiency standards—you are a hazard, you’re a hazard to the industry and the general public." CVTA members know that consistent enforcement of federal training and safety standards is not merely bureaucratic—it is essential to protecting lives and ensuring that all commercial drivers meet the same baseline of competence.

ATA’s Statement on English Language Proficiency Featured on Fox Business

California’s loss of MCSAP funding serves as a warning to other jurisdictions: federal highway safety dollars are contingent upon compliance. States that disregard national rules not only compromise roadway safety but also risk forfeiting the resources needed to uphold it. CVTA continues to advocate for strong, uniform enforcement of the FMCSRs and rigorous driver training as the foundation of a safer, more professional trucking industry.

Watch the full segment here: https://tinyurl.com/Commercial-Vehicle-Training