Missouri House weighs tougher English-proficiency standards for CDL drivers after wrong-way tractor-trailer incident
Mitchell Kaminski
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday questioned whether the state’s commercial driver licensing standards adequately protect public safety following a high-profile wrong-way semi-truck incident in Lincoln County.
The House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs held a public hearing on House Bill 3491, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker).
The proposal would modify commercial driver’s license requirements for certain foreign applicants by reinforcing English-proficiency standards and tightening eligibility rules, including foreign nationals. The bill also increases penalties tied to serious violations by fining not only for drivers who commit certain offenses, but also for the motor carriers that employ or contract with them.
The hearing follows a February incident in which a semi-truck driver licensed in Minnesota was recorded driving miles in the wrong direction on Highway 61 near Troy before crossing the median and correcting course. The Missouri State Highway Patrol later reported the driver held a valid commercial license, but failed an English proficiency and road-sign recognition test during a roadside inspection.
The issue gained national attention after a video of the incident was shared on social media by U.S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood, who testified in support of the bill, described the stretch of Highway 61 where the Missouri incident occurred as particularly hazardous.
“This driver was operating on a part of [Highway] 61, which inherently is already one of the most-dangerous highways in the state of Missouri. But there are portions of it when you’re north of [Highway] 47 that have blind hills, there’s a tremendous amount of traffic that continues through that corridor. And the driver in this instance exercised no mitigating circumstances whatsoever,” Wood said.
However, according to Wood, under the current law, prosecutors have limited options.
“The only things available to us at that time would have been driving on the wrong side of the road and a careless and imprudent charge, which we charged. Both of those are Class B misdemeanors that only have up to a six months time in the county jail,” Wood said.
Wood added that tracking drivers without reliable identifying information can be difficult.
“The problem we have moving forward is that we requested the court issue and no bond warrant simply for the fact that the driving behavior alone was egregious and supremely dangerous. However, whether or not this person is ever found or tracked down is a long shot simply for the fact that without a Social Security number, we don’t have any way to track who that person is, and we don’t have any or any assurances that they won’t simply change their name and apply for another CDL like this,” Wood explained
Mayhew told lawmakers the bill would mirror existing federal requirements, including English reading-and-writing standards for CDL holders, while increasing penalties for violations.
“The truck suffered very little damage. My constituent’s vehicle was totaled. All the occupants were injured,” Mayhew said during the hearing. “What we do here is we make sure that not only the operator of the vehicle, but also the motor carrier who owns the vehicle has some responsibility. So not only will the operator receive a fine in Missouri of $1,000, but the operator of the motor carrier will have one of $3,000.”
Mayhew acknowledged Missouri cannot control how other states issue licenses, but argued lawmakers can set conditions for drivers operating within Missouri. Mayhew said the proposal responds to real-world safety concerns, pointing to a fatal crash in Florida involving a driver who made an illegal U-turn on an interstate.
During the hearing, some lawmakers questioned whether the bill would meaningfully address the issue. Mayhew admitted enforcement would largely depend on traffic stops and setting up checkpoints at state lines would be impractical.
Others suggested the legislation was reactionary and asked whether it would prevent similar incidents in the future.
Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell, who also testified in support of the bill, believes the proposal would help address a gap in the system that needs to be closed.
“Without the enforcement arm, certainly there’s no reason to expect compliance with a certain percentage of the community,” Harrell said. “If we can’t effectively address the problem without an ability to enforce the law, then we need to close those gaps in the system.”
Tom Crawford, of the Missouri Trucking Association, said the wrong-way video was alarming but cautioned lawmakers to consider the industry’s diversity.
“We all saw that video, it’s horrific. Thank God there wasn’t another car popping over the hill. But one of the beauties of the industry that I represent is the diversity of that industry. That’s also one of the challenges of the industry that I represent. We do have a lot of folks, a lot of size of carriers, a lot of different scales, and a lot of cultures that work within our industry,” Crawford said.
The committee did not vote on the bill on Wednesday.