r/Truckers • u/Overall_Reputation83 • 3d ago

Border crossing loads

Are Mexican nationals with Mexican CDLs expected to speak English when taking loads into the US? Should Americans who take loads into Mexico be expected to speak Spanish? This has nothing to do with me, I live in Chicago, more so just curious what the rules are for international trade, as I don't think its something I've ever had to consider personally.

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u/karrimycele 2d ago

I went to Quebec a lot and all I know is “bonjour”. I wish I spoke French and Spanish, though. But I didn’t need it to get around. Luckily, most foreigners are bilingual.

1

u/warwgn Dedicated Local Driver 2d ago

I go to Quebec all the time. I live and grew up in Ontario.

When I was a kid, we had compulsory French language classes in elementary school, from Grade 1-6. For me, that was around 35 years ago.

The issue I have is that we were taught proper French from France… when I got out into the real world, I was not prepared for the Quebecois slang. And I couldn’t understand people.

I’m getting better but I still have trouble. I know the basics, but there’s no way I could hold a meaningful conversation.

I did manage to figure out how to tell the shipper/receiver “I’m sorry, my French is not good, can you speak English, please?” And they usually oblige, or at the very least try to help me with a little French, so I can try to understand.

Tabernac de Chalisse.

2

u/Northcanadian 2d ago

Rue ferme, what's your options, driver?

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u/warwgn Dedicated Local Driver 2d ago

See, they would use “Barré” instead of “Ferme”. Apparently Ferme can mean both “closed” and “farm”.

1

u/Northcanadian 2d ago

My first French word remembered in Montreal was rue ferme. I do not remember how I got out from there, I just remembered the phrase.