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Truck Drivers

S

Str8shooter

DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 23, 2023
Messages
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Location
The St. Louis Metro
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Conservative
My Uncle is an over-the-road truck driver. He has had hard times and been in trouble some. We talked yesterday as he waited to unload at this destination. He heard on the radio that some politician is promoting the concept that instead of relying on illegal immigrants to drive over-the-road rigs, why not train these people, as a part of their rehabilitation, to get a CDL License. It worked for him. In doing so, that prisoner would have a choice to seek a profession in need and that pays a reasonable salary. While my Uncle never did "time" he said that when he hit the road, his life changed for the better and he loves his job.

Thoughts?
 
Are we talking about legal immigrants, or illegal immigrants?
 


Since when have we "relied on illegal immigrants to drive over the road rigs"?

"Rehabilitation"? WHAT?
 
Str8shooter said:
My Uncle is an over-the-road truck driver.
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Bully for him that at his age he can still pass and qualify for that job.
Str8shooter said:
He has had hard times and been in trouble some.
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Yeah, I can relate.
Str8shooter said:
We talked yesterday as he waited to unload at this destination.
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Cool.
Str8shooter said:
He heard on the radio that some politician is promoting the concept that instead of relying on illegal immigrants to drive over-the-road rigs, why not train these people, as a part of their rehabilitation, to get a CDL License.
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First off, many states as well as the Federal Government already have Citizen inmate CDL training and apprenticeship programs.
Second, I would love to know who this politician was.
Third, don't know where that anonymous politician got his information, but no one is legally or illegally or logically relying on illegal immigrants to drive CDL vehicles here in America.
Str8shooter said:
It worked for him.
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Glad to hear that.
Str8shooter said:
In doing so, that prisoner would have a choice to seek a profession in need and that pays a reasonable salary.
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Yes, I agree inmates and ex cons should have the opportunity, if otherwise qualified, to seek entrance into such rehabilitation programs that offer work that pays well.
Str8shooter said:
While my Uncle never did "time" he said that when he hit the road, his life changed for the better and he loves his job.
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Glad to hear that.
Str8shooter said:
Thoughts?
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Useful rehabilitation and or job training is always a good thing. There is an estimated shortage of OTR CDL holders at 60,000 soon headed to as many as 82,000.
 
Integrityrespec said:
Are we talking about legal immigrants, or illegal immigrants?
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Are you unaware of this problem? Many of these over-the-road drivers can't read English. Also, are you unaware of the illegal immigrant and his partner who made an illegal U-turn that killed a driver this past week?

@LouC I could only find a couple of states that offer training to those incarcerated to earn a CDL license.
 
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Str8shooter said:
Are you unaware of this problem? Many of these over-the-road drivers can't read English. Also, are you unaware of the illegal immigrant and his partner who made an illegal U-turn that killed a driver this past week?
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The point has been raised in other threads already.

Str8shooter said:
@LouC I could only find a couple of states that offer training to those incarcerated to earn a CDL license.
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I guess the Word Police, which are no different than the Thought Police, reported me for my choice of words. The best way to stifle conversation is for one side to control the words others can say. By doing so, instead of having an honest conversation, people tend to be quiet or change venues in order to be heard when they are threatened with discipline for not complying with another's standards.

The intent of this thread was to point out a conversation I had with my Uncle. I thought it a good one that had merit and from someone in that occupation.
 

Society has got to have rules bruh.
 

Ahem.

If someone is trying to make a point it is incumbent on them to do so in a language others can understand.

It is hard to have an honest conversation or meaningful discussion if you are speaking Dutch and your audience is speaking Japanese.
 
Fledermaus said:
Ahem.

If someone is trying to make a point it is incumbent on them to do so in a language others can understand.

It is hard to have an honest conversation or meaningful discussion if you are speaking Dutch and your audience is speaking Japanese.
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Excuse me if I don't use politically correct language but rather straight forward language. You'd have to be a moron not to understand my OP. Then again, ...
 
Str8shooter said:
Excuse me if I don't use politically correct language but rather straight forward language.
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Did I mention "politically correct" language?

No.

Str8shooter said:
You'd have to be a moron not to understand my OP. Then again, ...
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Veiled insults are not honest conversation or meaningful discussion.
 
Training has been long available.

Sounds like another ridiculous rant against immigrants.

BTW, know no long haul drivers who are immigrants.
 
Str8shooter said:
are you unaware of the illegal immigrant and his partner who made an illegal U-turn that killed a driver this past week?
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Yet another fallacy.

Can people stop using logical fallacies please.
 
Part of my remit involves working with drivers and I have yet to meet one who cannot read and write English, probably because business and testing are done...in English.

Are there dolly jockeys who have bad English? Yep. Just like any given roofing crew or reset/remodel team. But the person working as foreman, lead or driver needs English to get and keep the job.
 
PeacefulWarrior said:
Since when have we "relied on illegal immigrants to drive over the road rigs"?

"Rehabilitation"? WHAT?
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Rehabilitation of convicted felons and have them drive trucks.

So in other words put criminals who may have been thieves in charge of delivering cargo that could be worth $ 1 million or more if consumer electronics. Or addicts in charge of 80 000 lb vehicles. Or rapists on the move.

As opposed to immigrants who want and like the job, vs Americans forced into it because of criminal history
 
Testing is not done in English in at least three states. Those states that allow people to take the test in their native language include California, Washington, and New Mexico.
 
Str8shooter said:
Testing is not done in English in at least three states. Those states that allow people to take the test in their native language include California, Washington, and New Mexico.
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So three states with large populations of Spanish speakers allow for Spanish language testing?

You got a link for that, for what it's worth?
 
reinaert said:
So three states with large populations of Spanish speakers allow for Spanish language testing?

You got a link for that, for what it's worth?
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Is it possible that you didn't comprehend my response? The guy who did the illegal U turn is not Spanish.
 
Str8shooter said:
Is it possible that you didn't comprehend my response? The guy who did the illegal U turn is not Spanish.
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So one driver out of 3.5 million and one incident out of tens of thousands a year caused by an illegal immigrant, which had nothing to do with their English ability ( given he was Indian they most likely had reasonable English skills)
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
So one driver out of 3.5 million and one incident out of tens of thousands a year caused by an illegal immigrant, which had nothing to do with their English ability ( given he was Indian they most likely had reasonable English skills)
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Lord Tammerlain said:
So one driver out of 3.5 million and one incident out of tens of thousands a year caused by an illegal immigrant, which had nothing to do with their English ability ( given he was Indian they most likely had reasonable English skills)
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This from an AI search:
The exact number of over-the-road truckers who cannot read English is not specified, but recent inspections in states like California and Washington revealed thousands of violations related to safety rules, with very few drivers being taken out of service for English-language issues. This suggests that while many drivers may have some level of English proficiency, enforcement of the requirement has been lax. PBS The White House

English Proficiency Among Truck Drivers​

Overview of Requirements​

  • Truck drivers in the U.S. must demonstrate proficiency in English to operate commercial vehicles.
  • This includes the ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement, and complete necessary documentation.

Enforcement Statistics​

  • Recent inspections in California revealed that out of approximately 34,000 inspections, only one driver was taken out of service for failing to meet English-language requirements.
  • In Washington, over 6,000 violations were found, but only four drivers were removed for English-related issues.
  • New Mexico reported no drivers placed out of service for English violations since the new rules were implemented.

Implications of Non-Compliance​

  • The Transportation Secretary has indicated that states failing to enforce these requirements could face significant federal funding penalties.
  • California could lose $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million if they do not comply within 30 days.

Conclusion​

While specific numbers of truckers unable to read English are not detailed, the enforcement of English proficiency rules has been lax, with very few drivers being penalized for violations.
 
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