The trade group that represents 400 Iowa trucking companies and suppliers is backing a bill that would require anyone seeking a commercial drivers license in Iowa to pass an English proficiency test. Blake Grolmus is with the Iowa Motor Truck Association. “We’ve very unfortunately seen many recent and very public examples of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles driven by individuals who could not speak, read or understand the English language,” Grolmus said. Passing a test showing the ability to speak English and read road signs would be required for people renewing their commercial drivers license as well as those applying for a C-D-L for the first time. The bill calls for a one-thousand dollar fine for truck drivers who aren’t proficient at English caught driving in Iowa — and even heftier fines for any trucking company caught employing a trucker driving through Iowa who cannot speak or read English.
