When a trailer full of fireworks burned on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga on June 6, the Tennessee Highway Patrol found that the driver had no hazardous materials endorsement, no placards, no shipping papers, and no emergency response information, according to FreightWaves. That incident is part of a broader pattern: a large and growing share of drivers hauling placarded hazmat in the U.S. have been cited repeatedly for being unable to read and speak English, creating a public safety risk.
The Structural Failure in Hazmat Enforcement
FreightWaves reporter Rob Carpenter ran every carrier in the FMCSA inspection database that has been written up for both English-language proficiency and hazardous materials violations. Two hundred carriers came back, carrying more than 3,000 English proficiency citations and more than 600 hazmat out-of-service orders. An English proficiency violation under 49 CFR 391.11 means an inspector determined the driver could not read highway signs, could not understand the officer’s instructions, or could not make required entries in his record. A hazmat violation means the load was explosives, gases, flammables, corrosives, or worse, and something about how it was being carried broke federal law. "A driver who cannot read DO NOT ENTER is hauling material that requires a placard he also cannot read," Carpenter wrote.
The Quality Tank Example
One carrier stands out in that group: Quality Tank, a Mexican tank truck operator, carries 98 English proficiency violations and 86 hazmat violations, with the most recent English citation logged in April of this year. 98 enforcement actions determined that this carrier’s driver could not communicate in English. The equipment is a tanker, meaning the cargo is bulk hazmat — a years-long pattern of a company hauling the most dangerous category of freight, according to FreightWaves. The report notes that commercial zone exemptions from English-language proficiency (ELP) enforcement allow such carriers to remain in service.
| Carrier | English Proficiency Citations | Hazmat Violations | Latest English Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Tank | 98 | 86 | April 2026 |
| All 200 carriers combined | 3,000+ | 600+ hazmat out-of-service orders |
How the Endorsement Exists
To haul hazmat, a driver must hold a hazardous materials endorsement (HME), which requires passing a written knowledge exam in English on federal regulations, packaging, quantity limits, and emergency procedures, plus a fingerprint-based background check through the Transportation Security Administration. How does a driver cited 98 times for not being able to read or speak English hold an HME? The report poses two possibilities: either the driver does not hold the endorsement and is hauling placarded freight illegally (like the driver on I-75), or the driver does hold it, raising questions about how the endorsement was issued and whether the exam meant anything.
Implications for Shippers and Operators
"The papers exist for the worst day. They’re the only information a first responder has in the first minutes of a hazmat emergency, and those first minutes are when people die."
For freight forwarders, logistics managers, and 3PL operators, the FreightWaves analysis underscores the need to verify that carriers have valid HMEs and that drivers can communicate effectively in English. Shipping papers and placards remain critical for emergency response; their absence, as in the I-75 fire, puts lives at risk. Carriers operating in the commercial zone should scrutinize their hiring practices and ensure compliance with 49 CFR 391.11, despite exemptions that may limit enforcement.
Watch List
- TSA background check processes: How fingerprint-based checks reconcile with language proficiency gaps.
- FMCSA enforcement actions: Potential increased scrutiny on carriers with multiple English citations.
- Congressional or regulatory reviews: Possible changes to commercial zone exemptions for ELP enforcement.
- Hazmat endorsement exam integrity: Calls for verifying exam takers' English comprehension through alternate means.
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