New York/Washington, April 29 – U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating English language proficiency for truck drivers across the country, prompting concern from Sikh rights organizations who say the move could have a discriminatory impact on Sikh drivers and create unnecessary employment barriers.
As per agency report, the executive order, titled “Establishing Uniform Road Rules for American Truck Drivers”, emphasizes the importance of truck drivers to the nation’s economy, safety, and livelihood. It states that English proficiency should be a "safety-related necessity" for professional drivers, enabling them to read and understand traffic signs, and communicate with traffic safety officers, border patrol agents, agricultural checkpoints, and freight weight stations.
The order also aligns with Trump’s declaration of English as the official national language of the United States.
The Sikh Coalition, a prominent civil rights group, expressed deep concern over the order. The group pointed out that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is likely to be instructed to enhance inspection procedures to enforce compliance with the English language requirement.
The coalition highlighted the significant presence of Sikhs in the U.S. trucking industry, referencing a report by The Economist which estimated that around 150,000 Sikhs work in the sector, with 90 percent serving as drivers.
“We are concerned that this order could have a discriminatory effect on Sikh truck drivers and pose unnecessary hurdles for otherwise qualified individuals to secure or retain employment,” the organization said.
The group emphasized the potential for this policy to unfairly impact a specific community that plays a vital role in the American logistics and transportation network.
