Non-English speaking driver causes wreck with train

Posted on July 30, 2007 
Filed Under DRIVER QUALIFICATION, IN THE NEWS

non-english-train-crash.bmphttp://www.gastongazette.com/onset?id=7465&template=article.html

About ten days ago, on July 20, 2007, a truck driver, who couldn’t speak English, got confused at a railroad crossing, and stopped his truck across the railroad tracks, where it was split open by an oncoming train. The crossing had signs, in English of course, which directs traffic to pull up past a second set of tracks when at the crossing. The driver could not read the signs, stopped in the tracks, and POWEEEE!!!! Luckily no one was hurt.

Using a driver who does not speak English is illegal. If the driver is pulled over by DOT, and he cannot converse in English sufficiently to satisfy the officer, he will be placed Out of Service. The driver will remain Out of Service, until he either learns English, or you get someone else out there to take his load. Naturally, there are going to be varying standards as to what is acceptable, as it will vary by each individual inspecting officer. Nevertheless, if you want to hire a driver, and you can’t converse normally with him, you are running the risk of having him placed OOS each and every time he crosses a scale. Press 1 for English!!!!!

________________________________________

Arnold Safety simplifies D.O.T. Compliance for commercial vehicle operators. Get Eric Arnold’s USDOT Compliance Guide, DVD, & Regulations at ArnoldSafety.Com.

Learn more about Arnold Safety compliance consulting services at ArnoldSafety.Com.

Comments

Leave a Reply