AADT Release’s Dual Language Driver Handbook

After almost six-months of collaborations with Buckley Productions and some serious translations and layout challenges, we have finally completed this project and the new English/Spanish employee handbooks for drug and alcohol testing are available for sale.

This dual language handbook is meant to help educate Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders proficient at either language but not both. Each section in this guide tracks almost word for word Spanish and English content related to DOT drug & alcohol testing regulations, and can easily be used as an educational tool for Spanish speaking CDL holders to learn English.

States like California do not require commercial drivers (CDL holders) to speak English, and the CDL tests can be given in any language. States test the driver’s safety knowledge and skills not their comprehension of English.
Unfortunately, anyone who intends to operate in interstate or foreign commerce with a CDL must meet the English speaking requirement under DOT Regulations – 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2).

The requirement under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) is that a person must be able to read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records. However, this is not intended to be a roadside enforcement issue. It is a call by the motor carrier whether the driver speaks and reads English sufficiently to meet the safety and operational needs of the motor carrier. A motor carrier or driver not able to meet the requirement could be subject to federal civil or criminal penalties.
Any Canadian (French) or Mexican CMV driver operating in the U.S. is subject to the same regulations as U.S. Drivers. Under NAFTA, there may be a change in the future from reading and speaking English to being able to communicant sufficiently in each country.