CarriersEdge adds English proficiency assessment

CarriersEdge recently released an online English language proficiency assessment to help carriers prepare for enforcement of new proficiency requirements under 49 CFR §391.11(b)(2) in the United States.

“Many of our customers have contacted us to say they are very worried about the new enforcement rules and the ambiguity regarding how they will be applied,” CarriersEdge CEO Jane Jazrawy said in a news release. “The easy-to-administer assessment is a diagnostic tool carriers can use to understand what sort of risk they are facing with their drivers.”

The test, available to all CarriersEdge customers, utilizes a series of visual cues and audio questions to assess a driver’s ability to understand and respond to the types of questions they may encounter during a roadside inspection, the company reported. It includes identifying the meaning of various road signs and responding to questions they may be asked. The results can provide carriers with insights into how their drivers may perform in a real-world scenario.

Understanding the level of risk based on a driver’s English proficiency is the first step in preparing for the new enforcement rules. Jazrawy and Mark Murrell, CarriersEdge president and co-founder, discussed what is known about the rule and how carriers can plan in uncertain times during a recent webinar, “Inside the U.S. Language Proficiency Requirements.”

Passing the assessment is not a guarantee that a driver’s English proficiency is sufficient to pass an actual roadside inspection and avoid being marked out of service, CarriersEdge cautioned. Carriers should evaluate their risk and plan accordingly. There is still much that remains unknown about how the rule will be enforced.

CarriersEdge customers can access the test by logging into the system and searching for the English Proficiency Test. Non-customers can sign up for a free trial at carriersedge.com.