Senator Ashley Moody of Florida is seeking to strengthen federal laws surrounding commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in the wake of a tragic accident in Florida that claimed three lives. The proposed legislation, known as the Safer Truckers Act of 2025, aims to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial licenses and to enhance English proficiency requirements for CDL applicants.
“If you’re a commercial truck driver in America, being able to competently read the road signs in English isn’t optional… it’s the job,” Moody emphasized in a statement to Fox News Digital. Her bill follows a harrowing incident involving Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India who allegedly fatally struck three people while driving a tractor-trailer. Singh reportedly made an illegal U-turn on a highway, leading to the collision with a minivan that left all three passengers dead.
Singh, who held a CDL from California and had been previously licensed by Washington State, faces serious charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide and manslaughter. This tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of how states issue commercial licenses, particularly to individuals who may not have the legal right to operate large vehicles.
Current federal laws require proof of lawful residency—either as a permanent resident or via a valid work visa—to obtain a CDL. However, some states allow immigrants to acquire regular driver’s licenses regardless of their citizenship status. This undermines federal uniformity and could potentially put lives at risk, as seen in this recent incident.
Moody’s legislation would reinstate stricter requirements, ensuring that CDLs are only granted to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or valid work visa holders. Furthermore, it would mandate that states report their compliance with English proficiency standards in line with President Donald Trump’s earlier executive order aimed at enforcing these regulations.
Federal investigators revealed that Singh had failed both English proficiency and road sign tests before the accident. Moody’s proposed bill emphasizes that states must maintain safe roadways, warning that non-compliance could jeopardize their eligibility for federal funding. “States must ensure that folks are safe on our roadways, and if they don’t, they should forfeit federal funding,” she stated, making clear the stakes involved in enforcing these standards.
As the situation continues to unfold, Moody’s Safer Truckers Act of 2025 seeks to address pressing concerns about the safety of commercial driving in America, reinforcing the importance of sound regulations to prevent tragedies like the one in Florida.
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