Texas Attorney General investigating El Paso CDL school, others
UPDATE (2:13 p.m.) -- EP Texas Trucking sent ABC-7 the following statement in response to Attorney General Paxton opening an investigation into the school:
"We are aware of the concerns raised and take them seriously. Our school is committed to full compliance with all applicable state and federal standards and regulations.
We provide basic English instruction classes on-site, and our instructors are bilingual to support student learning and comprehension. Additionally, students are required to demonstrate English proficiency during the skills testing portion, which includes the pre-trip inspection, basic control- maneuvers, and the road test.
As a professional truck driver myself, I fully understand the importance of the English language in this industry. I have personally experienced being stopped by a DOT officer and being asked questions in English, including being asked to spell the state I was coming from. One of the first questions asked was whether I spoke English. These real-world interactions reinforce the necessity for drivers to be able to communicate effectively in English while operating in interstate and regulatory environments.
Our procedures align with federal safety standards, including the requirement that CDL holders must have a sufficient level of English to ensure road safety. While perfect fluency or native-level proficiency is not required, drivers must possess enough functional English to operate independently in an English-speaking environment. All skills evaluations at our school are administered in English by qualified examiners.
While some students may complete their written examinations in Spanish, this is permitted under state guidelines and is outside the control of our institution.
Regarding advertising, we aim to communicate effectively with the communities we serve, including Spanish-speaking individuals. Our understanding is that there are currently no specific prohibitions against advertising in Spanish. However, we remain open to guidance and will fully comply with any regulations or standards provided by the appropriate authorities.
We remain confident in our processes and our commitment to safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance. We will continue to fully cooperate with any review and remain dedicated to providing high-quality training to all students."
AUSTIN (KVIA) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into trucking schools, including one in El Paso, for allegedly "endangering Texans by providing inadequate commercial driver training, in violation of state and federal law."
Attorney General Paxton sent Civil Investigative Demands to EP Texas Trucking School and other companies across the state.
According to a statement by Paxton, EP Trucking told its students being proficient in English is not necessary to finish the program. Federal regulations require commercial driver's license holders to read, speak and understand traffic signs and signals in English.
CDL holders also need to answer official inquiries and make entries on reports and records in English, Paxton said.
“Putting non-English speakers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers in America can pose serious threats to public safety,” Attorney General Paxton said in a statement. “I will fight to ensure that Texans are safe and that only qualified, English-speaking truckers are operating commercial vehicles on our roads.”
EP Trucking has locations in El Paso and Odessa.
Paxton is also investigating companies in Amarillo, San Antonio, Arlington, Dallas-Fort Worth and other areas in the state.
