FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce is now at the center of a new push in Tallahassee to tighten rules around undocumented commercial truck drivers.
The proposal — Senate Bill 86, formally titled Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens — spells out what Florida law enforcement would have to do if they stop a commercial truck driver who is in the U.S. illegally.
The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Don Gaetz (R–Crestview).
The bill would require officers to detain commercial drivers who are found to be in the U.S. illegally and transfer them to federal immigration authorities.
The truck would be impounded, the owner would face a $50,000 fine, and the motor carrier tied to that vehicle would be blocked from operating in Florida until the fine is paid and requirements are met.
Supporters say the change is partly in response to the crash involving truck driver Harjinder Singh, who investigators say made an illegal U-turn through an “official use only” access point on the Turnpike near Fort Pierce. Three people were killed.
Singh was questioned at the scene but not immediately arrested. He later left Florida before being tracked down and returned to the state to face charges — a sequence lawmakers say exposed a gap in current law.
Truckers say enforcement has already been tightening
Drivers who spend their days on Florida highways say they’ve already noticed shifts in enforcement.
“I’ve noticed within the last several months that the restrictions that they’ve implemented have affected the overall commercial side of transportation,” said Damian Smith, who runs a Georgia-based trucking company that frequently travels through Florida. “There’s less trucks on the road right now because of it.”
Smith also raised concerns about drivers who struggle to read signs or communicate in English, saying that can create confusion on the road.
Federal English-language rules back in focus
Earlier this month, CBS12 News reported that more than 9,500 commercial truck drivers nationwide have been taken out of service during roadside inspections after failing federal English-language proficiency requirements that have been written into federal regulations for years.
Transportation officials say the rule is intended to help ensure drivers can understand roadway signs and communicate during inspections and emergencies.
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Industry group: concerns not new
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) — a national advocacy group representing more than 130,000 small-business truckers and professional drivers — says many of the issues at the center of the debate have been discussed in the industry for years.
“The unfortunate thing is our system’s been broken for a long time,” said Lewie Pugh, OOIDA’s executive vice president.
Not everyone agrees
Some drivers worry stricter rules could cost people their livelihoods.
“I think it sucks if they lose their job because they’re not able to speak English,” said Jeff Ferdinand, who has been driving trucks for ten years.
What happens next
Senate Bill 86 is moving through the Florida Legislature and is scheduled for consideration during the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January. If it passes and is signed by the governor, it would take effect July 1, 2026.
As for Singh’s criminal case — he remains in custody, and proceedings are still underway.