CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt Addresses English Proficiency Standards on Fox 4 - Battleground

CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt recently joined Rudy Koski on Battleground (FOX 4 Dallas–Fort Worth) to respond to remarks made by Rep. Jasmine Crockett during a House Judiciary Committee hearing concerning the enforcement of English language requirements for commercial drivers.

During the interview, Burkhardt challenged what he called a false comparison between operating a commercial motor vehicle and driving a personal vehicle. He explained that each requires distinct skills and standards. Commercial drivers operate vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds and must comply with a complex federal regulatory framework. This responsibility requires competency, professionalism, and strict adherence to established requirements.

A key topic was English language proficiency. Federal law requires commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to understand traffic signs, respond to official inquiries, and communicate with law enforcement and regulatory personnel. Burkhardt stressed that this requirement is practical and focused on safety, not politics. Drivers who cannot understand signage or communicate during inspections or emergencies pose a clear safety risk.

Burkhardt’s remarks reinforced CVTA’s longstanding position that professional driver standards protect the motoring public. Maintaining the integrity of the CDL credential requires consistent enforcement of these standards, including language requirements, and recognition that commercial driving is a regulated profession with significant public safety implications. Watch Clip: