EDINBURG, Texas - A top international transportation company is responding to new federal rules by enrolling their truck drivers at South Texas College to learn English.
Trancasa began operations as Transportes Canales S.A. de C.V. in 1991 and quickly became a regional leader in national transportation services and cross-border transport between Mexico and the United States.
Trancasa founder and president Carlos Canales previously sent apprentice truck drivers to STC to learn special truck driving skills. Now he is pivoting fast to take on board new federal requirements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants all truck drivers that use U.S. highways to be proficient in English. This followed an executive order signed by President Trump in June directing full enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.
Gov. Greg Abbott has instructed the Department of Public Safety to strictly enforce the new rules.
“We used to have a partnership with South Texas College of teaching driving skills to new drivers. But, right now, with the new requirement of the DPS, we are doing another partnership. We are doing English classes, basic English, just for the drivers that come across from Mexico to United States,” Canales told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.
“They need to know how to respond to basic questions when they cross the bridge because maybe they will get stopped by DPS. Where are they going? What are they transporting? They have to be able to answer in English.”
STC President Ricardo Solis said he is “very enthusiastic” about the new program his CTE instructors will be teaching Trancasa drivers. He said he would like to see the program expanded so other truck companies can use it.
“We are very reliant on international trade with Mexico. The Mexican truckers that come to the US side often deliver high-end products,” Solis said.
“And now, with the new requirement by the state and the federal government to have a basic proficiency in English, we are going to have be compelled to develop a program to fulfill that need so we can have these drivers have that basic proficiency in English and fulfill that need on both sides of the border.”
Solis added: “It’s a necessity to fulfill the economic needs of the US companies that are relying on this type of transportation from Mexico to their US destination.”
Asked how quickly he wants the program to start, Trancasa’s Canales said: “Maybe in the next two weeks we want to start that program.”
Asked the same question, STC’s Solis said: “It is a very ambitious program. We definitely feel confident that by sometime in the middle of next month we'll be able to begin this partnership.”
Solis added: “Eventually, STC will have a bigger role on the US side, once we can get a little bit more clarity on the rules and regulations. Because right now, this is a new law, and we're all right now evaluating it. But, luckily, we have this company in Mexico that wants to start immediately.”
The Guardian secured the interviews with Canales and Solis at the Pharr Bridge Board’s recent 2nd Annual Truck Expo held at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
Confirming that he had asked DPS to strictly enforce the new federal guidelines, Gov. Abbott said:
"Truckers play an instrumental role in Texas' robust economy and in keeping our highways safe. Every commercial driver license operator on Texas roadways must be able to communicate clearly in English to ensure compliance with traffic laws, follow safety directions, and prevent accidents. Today, I am directing DPS to enact zero-tolerance enforcement of these federal safety regulations across the board—whether drivers are operating across state lines or only within Texas. This approach will keep Texans safe while keeping our economy moving.”
Abbott said DPS’ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers and inspectors will conduct English Language Proficiency reviews for all commercial license operators on Texas roadways. He said these evaluations are a critical measure to ensure drivers possess the necessary communication skills for roadway safety and compliance with federal regulations.
Abbott said that since June, DPS and partner agencies have taken enforcement action against approximately 445 commercial vehicle drivers in Texas for English proficiency violations. Of those, about 28 held Texas licenses, while roughly 336 were licensed in Mexico, with the remainder licensed in other states and countries.
Abbott said he has also directed DPS to cease issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses for drivers that cannot speak English sufficiently to communicate with department personnel.
