The latest response to the Department of Transportation's enforcements.
According to a report by Reuters, California filed a lawsuit against key figures in the Trump administration on Friday, December 12. The filing comes in response to the Department of Transportation's withholding of $33 million in federal grants after the state was found to be out of compliance with federal safety standards, including English language proficiency regulations.
Describing the DOT's actions as "arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and contrary to law," California directed the lawsuit at the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
While the language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers have been a part of federal law since 1937, its enforcement was limited until April of this year when the Trump administration announced a campaign to increase safety standards for commercial drivers. Secretary Duffy signed his own executive order in the following May.
However, in a formal response in September, California insisted that their safety standards were adequate, adding that California CDL holders had 39% fewer fatal accidents than the national average.
With the DOT threatening to withhold $73 million in federal funds to New York over their own CDL program's noncompliance, the results of California's lawsuit will show the extent of the DOT's authority.
With federal funding and state sovereignty clashing, regulatory uncertainty is at an all-time high. While the courts decide the legalities, Sky Transport Solutions remains focused on keeping you compliant on the road. Stay tuned to our blog for real-time updates on this lawsuit and what it means for your CDL drivers.