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Arkansas lawmakers debate crackdown on undocumented truckers
The Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate are debating two bills to enact harsher punishments against truck drivers who are in the U.S. illegally and obtain or use CDLs. The post Arkansas lawmakers debate crackdown on undocumented truckers appeared first on FreightWaves.
The Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate are debating two bills to enact harsher punishments against truck drivers who are in the U.S. illegally and obtain or use commercial drivers licenses.
Arkansas House Bill 1569 (HB1569), filed in February, calls for commercial motor vehicle drivers operating in the state to “demonstrate proficiency in the English language.”
These drivers must be able to “read road signs and warning signs,” “understand traffic control devices” and “communicate effectively in an emergency” with emergency services, law enforcement and other drivers.
The bill, named the “Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025,” would fine truckers without sufficient English proficiency $5,000.
HB1569 also calls for harsher penalties for drivers operating without a valid CDL, including a fine of $5,000 and impoundment of their motor vehicle. In addition, it would stiffen laws against undocumented drivers who injure another person while operating their vehicle, making it a Class D felony carrying a minimum six-month prison sentence.
Undocumented drivers who commit vehicular homicide with a commercial motor vehicle – regardless of intent – would face a minimum 10 years in prison. This would be a Class B felony.
Additionally, carriers who “negligently provide” CMVs to individuals in violation of HB1569 would be fined $10,000.
HB1569 is strongly supported by the advocacy group American Truckers United. The group also opposes House Bill 1745 (HB1745), which passed in the House on Thursday, and has argued it would legalize foreign CDLs in the state.
