Wanted to get a pulse check from other expediters on what you're seeing with ELP (English Language Proficiency) enforcement.
Texas has gone zero tolerance - over 7,000 violations since last summer. Oklahoma just passed $3,000 fines per violation. And there's a federal bill in the works (SAFE Drivers Act) that would require a standardized ELP test for all CDL renewals nationwide.
The part that got my attention: under 49 CFR § 391.11, it's on us as carriers to verify and document ELP compliance BEFORE the driver gets in the truck. So if someone gets tagged at a scale, the auditor's first question is "what did YOU do to verify they were qualified?"
For those running teams or leasing on with carriers - are you seeing this come up? Anyone been asked for ELP documentation during an audit or had a driver get put OOS for this?
I got tired of worrying about it so I built a quick assessment tool (elpready) that gives you a certificate for the DQ file. But curious what everyone else is doing - just relying on the CDL? Doing your own verbal check and making a note? Ignoring it and hoping for the best?
Seems like this is only going to get stricter. Would rather get ahead of it than find out the hard way at a roadside inspection.
Texas has gone zero tolerance - over 7,000 violations since last summer. Oklahoma just passed $3,000 fines per violation. And there's a federal bill in the works (SAFE Drivers Act) that would require a standardized ELP test for all CDL renewals nationwide.
The part that got my attention: under 49 CFR § 391.11, it's on us as carriers to verify and document ELP compliance BEFORE the driver gets in the truck. So if someone gets tagged at a scale, the auditor's first question is "what did YOU do to verify they were qualified?"
For those running teams or leasing on with carriers - are you seeing this come up? Anyone been asked for ELP documentation during an audit or had a driver get put OOS for this?
I got tired of worrying about it so I built a quick assessment tool (elpready) that gives you a certificate for the DQ file. But curious what everyone else is doing - just relying on the CDL? Doing your own verbal check and making a note? Ignoring it and hoping for the best?
Seems like this is only going to get stricter. Would rather get ahead of it than find out the hard way at a roadside inspection.
