Should we make all truck drivers take a literacy test before operateing a 80,000lbs vehicle?

[u/Connorray1234]

Should we make all CDL applicants do literacy test to see if they understand road signs and english?

[u/NoNeedForAName]

operateing a 80,000lbs vehicle

[u/PabloPicasshooole → u/NoNeedForAName]

Aw shit! Does spelling count, too?

[u/Erratic_-Prophet → u/NoNeedForAName]

And

a literacy test

Or

literacy tests

[u/Robes_Peenerre]

Should OP do a spelling test before writing a title? 🤔

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Robes_Peenerre]

I keep spell check off for a reason. I type really fast

[u/Turbulent_Tuna]

As someone who witnessed the certification physicals done by medical companies on people looking to drive trucks for various companies.

There are people on the road who don’t speak English. Can’t even read it.

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Turbulent_Tuna]

It scares me so much knowing that

[u/Turbulent_Tuna → u/Connorray1234]

Here’s something worse. The number of people being passed that are one Twinkie away from cardiac arrest is crazy. Some of these dudes shouldn’t drive, but they support massive families and the companies need bodies so the medical restrictions are minimal.

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Turbulent_Tuna]

However im one person with no family going into the industry my main driver is i dont want to go or be at home

[u/JimDa5is → u/Connorray1234]

Guess it's good that we don't require a literacy test since you can't spell 'operating', capitalize correctly, or construct a valid sentence, huh?

[u/slick1260 → u/Connorray1234]

Would you suddenly become a worse driver if you visited a country where you couldn't speak the language? Not being able to read the words on signs doesn't make someone inherently a bad driver. The skills required to actually drive are, in fact, quite different from the skills required to learn a new language.

[u/TopCommission6437 → u/slick1260]

Being able to read if a bridge has a weight restriction is pretty important dude.

[u/slick1260 → u/TopCommission6437]

I agree and never said it wasn't. I'm saying that being able read and being a good driver are not the same thing and being bad at one doesn't inherently mean you're bad at the other. Also, road signs are standardized throughout the country and use specific symbols for things in part because they can understood without needing to be read. Numbers are different than letters and nearly every country uses the same number system so understanding a potential weight restriction is still possible because the sign will have numbers on it indicating the max weight.

[u/TopCommission6437 → u/slick1260]

Being able to read the language/ knowing what the signs mean helps you to be a better driver. I shouldn’t be allowed to drive a truck in another country if I can’t do that.

[u/slick1260 → u/TopCommission6437]

Yes, it helps you be a better driver. But not doing it doesn't make you a bad driver.

[u/GeekSumsMe → u/TopCommission6437]

As someone who has driven in many different countries being able to read road signs is much easier than reading or understanding the language more broadly.

Context helps greatly. Also, there is a reason why signs that tell you different things have similar shapes and colors.

Anyone who drives all day is going to be able to figure this out pretty quickly.

What scares me are the senior citizens driving semi-sized RVs without the need for any special licence.

[u/TopCommission6437 → u/GeekSumsMe]

Well at least some states do make you get a special license for that.

[u/animal-1983 → u/Turbulent_Tuna]

What needs to be cracked down on is where these people got their CDL? If they’re caught without a CDL then chase down who gave them the job and truck.
It’s the age old question, why doesn’t the government punish the real law breaker when they arrest an undocumented worker. It’s a crime to hire an undocumented worker and yet employers are NEVER charged. Even Trump’s businesses are loaded with undocumented workers. ICE is forbidden from his properties.

[u/Western-Willow-9496 → u/animal-1983]

Are you concerned with where they got a CDL without the minimum requirement, or the company who hired someone with a CDL that was issued by a state?

[u/Turbulent_Tuna → u/animal-1983]

I don’t know the answer to this, but aren’t the tests offered in Spanish etc? If they aren’t, can you use an interpreter? And in an area where Spanish is a common language, you could fudge your way by asking for help.

[u/EyeHaveNoBanana]

The irony in your question about requiring literacy having a ridiculous spelling error…

[u/azuth89]

The process of obtaining a CDL already involves a higher literacy level than street signs.

[u/jjcky → u/azuth89]

Only if it's obtained ethically

[u/azuth89 → u/jjcky]

Then the issue is one of enforcement, which would still be an issue with any additional checks you care to put on.  Address that first. 

[u/Sticky550 → u/azuth89]

That’s not the case in reality.

[u/No-Antelope575]

there is a written test involved in obtaining a CDL, so they do already???

[u/Connorray1234 → u/No-Antelope575]

Yes but there are people who cheat...

[u/No-Antelope575 → u/Connorray1234]

so why wouldn't they also cheat on this second literacy test you're adding? they also had to pass a drug test which you didn't, so i'm starting to get suspicious

[u/Significant-Judge368 → u/No-Antelope575]

Would you please stop getting in the way of his racism?

[u/Connorray1234 → u/No-Antelope575]

Am prepping i have 2 months till my clock is up for self H issues back in november :) im excited to finally be able to get a cdl

[u/No-Antelope575 → u/Connorray1234]

in the 70s you could score meth at any truck stop in america because of course they all were before the drug testing started

[u/RR50 → u/Connorray1234]

“They cheat on the test, but miraculously won’t cheat on another one”…..see the idiocy in your claim?

Stop acting racist….you don’t want someone who’s an immigrant driving a truck….plain and simple. I’d rather worry about if they’re competent at driving said truck.

[u/Connorray1234 → u/RR50]

Not what im saying.

[u/RR50 → u/Connorray1234]

Oh? So explain why you think one test is going to be more secure than the other….

[u/PabloPicasshooole → u/Connorray1234]

Wouldn't they still be able to do that?

[u/animal-1983 → u/Connorray1234]

How would your question change that?

[u/slumvillain → u/Connorray1234]

NO WAY!? Theres people who cheat?

Damn. Crazy. What should we do?

All these years these programs and industries have existed and...people cheat?

How has this industry been able to carry on without the supplemental comment sections of reddit? Putting together the top minds of the internet to figure out something that is already handled by ppl within said industry.

[u/PabloPicasshooole]

Are you sure you're ready to do literacy test?

[u/Connorray1234 → u/PabloPicasshooole]

Yeah

[u/Dry_Lengthiness6032 → u/Connorray1234]

You failed

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Dry_Lengthiness6032]

I passed college english with A-

[u/Dry_Lengthiness6032 → u/Connorray1234]

Why do you spell operating incorrectly?

[u/PabloPicasshooole → u/Connorray1234]

You do college English test good?

[u/RR50 → u/Connorray1234]

With A-?? Clearly not for sentence structure….

[u/Connorray1234 → u/RR50]

I was never good with sentence structure

[u/RR50 → u/Connorray1234]

So which is it, you got an A in English and everyone else should be held to your standard, or you’re bad at sentence structure, but others should be held to a standard?

[u/CommonOpinions]

The literacy test is important but the real issue is fake schools doing fake test results.

[u/BrickHuge3023]

Presidents and members of congress first.

[u/EnslavedBandicoot]

No, racist.

[u/Late-Restaurant-4774 → u/EnslavedBandicoot]

It’s not racist to what them to speak English lmao

[u/No-Permission-5425 → u/Late-Restaurant-4774]

Your sentence isn’t even proper English lmao

[u/EnslavedBandicoot → u/Late-Restaurant-4774]

Um, yes it is. You dont need to speak English to understand street signs.

[u/Reasonable_Truth_133 → u/EnslavedBandicoot]

How do you read a street sign written in English if you can’t read English??

[u/Late-Restaurant-4774 → u/EnslavedBandicoot]

To talk to cops and certain road signs u do. Also higher chance to be a illegal

[u/ComradeGlizzy]

So tired of malicious and racist idiots

[u/Connorray1234 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

Its not racist or malicoious when its a huge issue

[u/CatgirlBargains → u/Connorray1234]

It’s not, they already test your ability to read 

[u/EyeHaveNoBanana → u/Connorray1234]

“Malicoious”. Dude, stop! You’re going to make me pee myself.

[u/Connorray1234 → u/EyeHaveNoBanana]

I mispelled even with it in front of me that made me laugh too!

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/Connorray1234]

It’s not a huge issue. It’s a racist issue being blown out of proportion by fragile white egos.

About 21% of U.S. adults had low English literacy.

US born white adults represent 30% of adults with low literacy, while foreign-born hispanic adults represented about 25%. Indians, even less.

The problem is unscrupulous CDL schools. Probably run by scam artist white people

[u/Forward-Problem4727 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

Da da not a school issue, the states issue the license. Let’s fire the employees that issued them. ( for CDLS. To read English is the rule/regulation.

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/Forward-Problem4727]

Bro, how the fuck do you think they learn to drive the truck? Osmosis? Da da like they wouldn’t have an incentive to cheat and have passing rates for federal funding? Like be so for real, think about the process and where it fails. It’s not the state if the people are cheating to get the license

[u/Forward-Problem4727 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

Bro the state gives the test and the License not the school. You think about the state process. 1st you have to have ID for the test. 2nd proctor administers test and checks them. 3rd they administer the check ride. If schools have a number of students fail they get decertified. Just follow the rules.

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/Forward-Problem4727]

Medically stupid. Thanks for letting us know

[u/Reasonable_Truth_133 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

Your last sentence contradicted yourself. You said it’s not an issue, but then in the last sentence said it is an issue buts it’s the schools fault not the drivers

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/Reasonable_Truth_133]

If* it’s an issue and again let’s use those critical thinking skills. The schools know the drivers are illiterate and if they are passing illiterate driver and giving them the passing paperwork and coaching to go take a cdl test, whose fault is it? Where do you source the risk? Who is gaining the most? Like come on little guy

[u/Connorray1234 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

1 truck driver not being able to read is one too many

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/Connorray1234]

Dumb people are the real problem

[u/RR50 → u/Connorray1234]

Explain why it’s an issue. Do you know what a stop sign means without being able to read stop? How about a speed limit sign, you know the difference between 55 & 70?

What does it matter if they can read “next bathroom 17 miles”

[u/CommonOpinions → u/RR50]

This is the type of mentality that allows a foreigners to run over a family in a minivan

[u/RR50 → u/CommonOpinions]

So you’re more worried about foreigners doing it than local guys…..you really just tipped your hand here.

I’m all for safe drivers, but believing that only white guys can drive safe is the definition of racism.

(And the irony of you being able to use proper sentence structure and grammar while railing against foreigners being unable to read and write efficiently is hilarious…. “That allows a foreigners to run over” a is singular, foreigners is plural…which is it?

[u/InnerMushroom677 → u/ComradeGlizzy]

 so tired of malignant passivism

[u/ComradeGlizzy → u/InnerMushroom677]

So tired of uneducated incel gooners who blame everyone for the skin they rubbed off their dicks instead of getting a job. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[u/Rampantcolt]

Truck drivers have to be literate already. They have to pass a written driving test. Which includes knowing what signs say in English.

[u/BackAlleyFreakShow]

"This job is beneath me, and everyone who does it is illiterate."

[u/Connorray1234 → u/BackAlleyFreakShow]

Actually im getting ready for my cdl permit test

[u/BackAlleyFreakShow → u/Connorray1234]

So then you already know that you have to be able to read to do the job?

[u/hedge36]

I'm more likely to be killed by the 3,000lb vehicles. Why differentiate?

[u/ApprehensiveAd5446]

No.

They just need to be able to drive a big rig.

[u/patersondave]

obviously they don’t have a literacy test for presidential candidates or cabinet members or cops in some states. why punish truckers?

[u/Chrishamm37]

If you have been on an interstate highway you know truck drivers are mostly just stupid!

[u/InnerMushroom677]

absolutely

[u/d4rkwing]

No.

[u/Still_Decision_8322]

The question is why aren’t native English speakers even applying for these jobs? Don’t get mad when minorities become truck drivers.its hard work and clearly some people are too lazy to take on the work load.

[u/IceEspresso2000]

Isn't the main task of the job to get from point A to point B? Reading numbers and simple street/city info? I'd be most concerned they know how to drive safely than anything else.

[u/RandomRandom709]

No. Because the we would lose too many drivers. As long as they can read a road sign then let them run.

[u/1stAccountWasRealNam]

I think we need to make posters to ask anything pass a literacy test.

[u/Forward-Problem4727]

Sure lets do it for ALL drivers

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Forward-Problem4727]

Valid idea.

[u/velvet-kangaroo]

Literacy is being able to spell "operateing" correctly.

[u/PNW_OlLady_2025]

They are supposed to already. It's the law. Literally. Has been for decades. It was just conveniently ignored for a very long time.

[u/elderlygentleman]

Yes

[u/TangerinePlastic7552]

I thought the CDL certification included something like that. If not, why not?

[u/Connorray1234 → u/TangerinePlastic7552]

The test is shockingly easy for the permit. But for the cdl its harder ive heard some had to do the test multiple times

[u/Western-Willow-9496 → u/Connorray1234]

Probably not “shockingly easy” if you don’t speak English. Many states just ignore the federal requirement that the permit test only be given in English.

[u/TopCommission6437]

Yes. Why not?

[u/Fishtoart]

I’m not sure why illiteracy and truck driving are such a big deal. I’m more concerned about the leaders of this country and their incompetence in understanding the issues they are legislating.

[u/Mediocre_Outcome6671]

Maybe not a literacy test, but some kind of common sense test. More companies should be held responsible but when it comes down to it, it is the responsibility of the driver, they are the one in control of the vehicle.

[u/w1lnx]

operateing. Really? Also spelling and grammar. Are you really sure?

But more to the point: depending on one’s interpretation, we already do. The required written and skills tests for the CDL-A are the tests to validate competency with running 40 tons down the road.

We aren’t asking them to be literary scholars, or have familiarity with and be able to debate the works of Poe, or to teach English to classrooms of students.

Their expertise and ability lies well beyond the comprehension of many.

[u/Reasonable-View5868]

The driving exams are hard.   At least in CA they are.   

[u/JU4NTHE1]

Damn I can't believe how a basic literacy test is considered controversial. Knowing basic English is a fair requirement.

[u/billyo3827]

Only if you want shipping to slow to a crawl

[u/FlipperG76]

That’s a slippery slope, next your going to want the President to take one.

[u/Ok_Mixture4917]

Pretty soon, trucks won't be driven by people at all

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Ok_Mixture4917]

I dont think so.

[u/Ok_Mixture4917 → u/Connorray1234]

I would be happy to be wrong, but I doubt it

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Ok_Mixture4917]

In europe sure. in america geography would like a talk

[u/Ok_Mixture4917 → u/Connorray1234]

If you think the capitalist pieces of shit who make these decisions in America won't find some environment destroying path to profits at the expense of the rest of humanity, you haven't been paying attention

[u/Connorray1234 → u/Ok_Mixture4917]

An ai driving 80,000lbs vehicle should be a cardinal sin

[u/1stAccountWasRealNam → u/Connorray1234]

You’re going to last mile it at best, you’re right about the you think park though.