Following Maryland’s recent move, Illinois is now offering commercial driver license (CDL) written tests in Spanish to help alleviate the state’s driver shortages.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias recently announced that Illinois residents applying for a CDL can now access a Spanish study guide and take the written test in Spanish.
“This change will help qualified individuals whose primary language is Spanish to become licensed drivers and will help us address school bus and truck driver shortages across the state while maintaining stringent testing standards,” Giannoulias said. “Offering the CDL test in Spanish is one of the many steps our office is taking to ensure our services are as accessible and inclusive as possible.”
This initiative aims to boost the number of school bus drivers and agricultural workers who rely on temporary labor. It also makes it easier for non-English speakers to understand the technical details included in the CDL test, without changing the core testing standards.
“Applicants must still complete their road test and pre-trip inspection in English as applicants must understand basic verbal instructions to comply with federal guidelines from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,” according to the Illinois secretary of state’s office. “All CDL applicants must have U.S. citizenship, legal permanent residency status or be a nondomiciled driver.”
Brian Duncan, President of the Illinois Farm Bureau, commented on the ongoing challenges earlier this year. “From locating qualified truck drivers to haul grain, to sourcing enough hands to pick vegetables or manage livestock, the shortage of links in the transportation and agricultural supply chains continues to undermine food access and threaten the financial health of farms in Illinois and nationwide.”
In July 2024, Illinois had 378,500 licensed CDL drivers. This move follows Maryland’s decision in May to offer CDL testing in Spanish, joining over 20 states like Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) began offering the CDL knowledge test in Spanish to better serve its diverse population. State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld mentioned, “to be more inclusive, accessible and convenient for Maryland’s diverse population.” By May, Maryland had 114,000 valid CDL holders.
Christine Nizer, Motor Vehicle Administrator, explained the reasoning behind this change. “We recognize that individuals may feel more comfortable reading in their native language, especially when those materials include technical information,” she said. “Offering the CDL knowledge test in Spanish removes potential barriers to obtaining a CDL which supports the critical needs in moving goods throughout Maryland and our country and enhancing safety on our roadways.”
Maryland State Delegate Deni Taveras initiated this change by approaching the MVA at the start of the year. The MVA then collaborated with its software vendor to add the Spanish language option and began the implementation process.
Taveras highlighted the importance of addressing income disparities in Maryland. “In Prince George’s County and across Maryland, we must address the income disparity where new Americans earn $17,000 less than the average U.S.-born citizen. This wage gap is evident not only in Prince George’s County but also statewide. We need to bridge this divide,” Taveras remarked. “Individuals with CDL licenses are more likely to be making a living wage for themselves and for their families. We also have a shortage of school bus drivers, and this industry is always in need of new drivers. Therefore, these licenses will address this transportation need as well.”
This initiative is a significant step towards making CDL testing more inclusive, addressing the growing demand for licensed drivers, and supporting the broader community in both Illinois and Maryland.
Source: Transport Topics
