Citing the tragic triple-fatality crash on the Florida Turnpike as a wake-up call, two Florida Republicans launched a legislative push on Monday to tighten federal control over who is allowed to operate commercial semi-trucks on American highways.
Senator Ashley Moody and Congressman Greg Steube appeared together in Punta Gorda to unveil the "Safer Truckers Act of 2025." The proposed legislation seeks to financially penalize states that issue Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants or fail to strictly enforce English proficiency standards for truck drivers.
The legislative effort is a direct response to an August 12 wreck involving Harjinder Singh. According to authorities, Singh executed an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, triggering a collision that killed three people. Investigators later revealed that Singh, who held a CDL issued by California and Washington, struggled significantly with English communication.
According to Department of Transportation data cited by the lawmakers, Singh correctly answered only two out of 12 verbal questions and identified only one of four traffic signs during his English proficiency examination.
"Getting behind the wheel of a car can be one of the most dangerous things Floridians do every day," Senator Moody said. "We've seen across the country how reckless sanctuary policies allowing illegal aliens to operate commercial trucks can be deadly."
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The Safer Truckers Act would amend Title 49 of the United States Code to mandate two primary conditions for state CDL programs:
Residency Requirements: CDLs would be restricted to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or holders of valid work visas authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Language Standards: States would be required to report annually on their enforcement of English proficiency rules, ensuring drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement.
Under the proposed bill, states that fail to comply -- specifically those with "sanctuary" policies such as California and Washington -- would face a cut in federal Department of Transportation funding.
Rep. Steube, who will lead the effort to pass the bill in the House, emphasized that professional driving requires more than just mechanical skill.
"If you are unable to comprehend the rules and signs of the road, you have no business behind the steering wheel of a truck," Steube said. "My Safer Truckers Act will ensure our highways and streets are safe for drivers and commercial truckers, free from dangerous and incompetent individuals."
The bill also explicitly tasks the federal government with overseeing state compliance, a move the sponsors say is necessary to close loopholes exploited by states that do not verify residency status during the licensing process. The legislation has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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