Is This Career A Good Option For Those Who Are Not Fluent In English?

Is there any company out there that train you and hire even you if you are not a fluent english speaker? I am a native spanish speaker.

I really like driving and being alone all the time is not a problem for me. I've been living in west texas for more than a year and i would like to find a better job and I see too many jobs offers for those with cdl and not much experience.

Is there any company out there that train you and hire even you if you are not a fluent english speaker? I am a native spanish speaker.

I really like driving and being alone all the time is not a problem for me. I've been living in west texas for more than a year and i would like to find a better job and I see too many jobs offers for those with cdl and not much experience.

What does not fluent mean, as in no English at all or little. This could be a problem

The problem would be communication, I am not saying it is not possible, but you do need to learn basic English for most if not all jobs in the USA

Is there any company out there that train you and hire even you if you are not a fluent english speaker? I am a native spanish speaker.

I really like driving and being alone all the time is not a problem for me. I've been living in west texas for more than a year and i would like to find a better job and I see too many jobs offers for those with cdl and not much experience.

It sounds to me like you already know English well enough...

Spoken/conversational English is different than written English and reading it. As long as you can read and pass the written test, read traffic directions and follow simple directions from someone else ("Turn left at the second signal.") you can drive.

I have met many people from other countries as a driver. Sure, there's a lot of "What?" and smiles and re-stating things, but that's conversation you can have anywhere. As for Spanish, yes (closing my eyes and taking a breath) it's a second language in most of the USA.

Spoken/conversational English is different than written English and reading it. As long as you can read and pass the written test, read traffic directions and follow simple directions from someone else ("Turn left at the second signal.") you can drive.

I have met many people from other countries as a driver. Sure, there's a lot of "What?" and smiles and re-stating things, but that's conversation you can have anywhere. As for Spanish, yes (closing my eyes and taking a breath) it's a second language in most of the USA.

That's what I meant. If you can read/write in English then you would be good

General Qualifications to Drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drivea commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in §391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

Except as provided in Subpart G of 49 CFR 391, a person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if he/she:

Is at least 21 years old;

Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;

Can, by reason of experience, training, or both, safely operate the type of commercial motor vehicle he/she drives;

Is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with Subpart E — Physical Qualifications and Examinations of 49 CFR 391;

Has a currently valid commercial motor vehicle operator's license issued only by one State or jurisdiction;

Has prepared and furnished the motor carrier that employs him/her with the list of violations or the certificate as required by §391.27;

Is not disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle under the rules in §391.15; and

Has successfully completed a driver's road test and has been issued a certificate of driver's road test in accordance with §391.31, or has presented an operator's license or a certificate of road test which the motor carrier that employs him/her has accepted as equivalent to a road test in accordance with §391.

In most states you can get the CDL manual to study in spanish and take your exams in Spanish if that makes you more comfortable. My state offers this as well.

The CDL school I attend has taught a student who is deaf to drive, and yes he obtained his CDL. The instructors questioned whether it was ok to do that, because, all drivers should be able to communicate with shippers, receivers, law enforcement, hear, etc. They said it was difficult, but they did it. They're currently struggling trying to communicate/instruct a classmate from Somalia.. it's exciting to say the least.

Some states, obviously have way more spanish speakers.. like Texas, California, parts of Georgia, Southern Florida. I think it would be doable, but get a nice translator app for your smartphone. My Spanish is laughable and a translator app saved me many times when I worked in healthcare and had to be able to communicate complicated information to non English speakers.

But obviously you are posting in English. . You'll be ok.

As for Spanish, yes (closing my eyes and taking a breath) it's a second language in most of the USA.

Yes, and now all we have to do is prepare our children by teaching Spanish at an early age, like our wise, multi-lingual brethren across the pond. A predominantly English-speaking America is a thing of the past.

Randy, if you can speak half as good as you can write, you'll do better than some of these folks that claim "American" as their native tongue. I've come across a lot of international drivers that know enough to get by. As with all languages, immersion is one of the best ways to learn. The more English you're around, the more you'll pick up. You'll learn plenty of the trucker vernacular by hanging around truck stops and shippers / receivers - for better or worse. Just don't pick up that nasty trucker habit of whining and complaining!