In a significant safety breach on Arkansas highways, a truck driver was taken out of service after police discovered he was transporting a large, undeclared load of hazardous nitrous oxide, commonly known as "puff gas," without any legal authorisation. The incident, captured on official dashcam and bodycam footage, also revealed the driver's inability to pass a mandatory English proficiency test required for commercial operators.
Major Violations Uncovered During Routine Stop
The event unfolded during a standard inspection by the Arkansas Highway Police. The driver was operating a semi-truck with a non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) issued in California. When officers requested standard shipping documents and the bill of lading, the driver initially stated he was carrying "gas" and later specified it was nitrous oxide.
Upon opening the trailer, officers found large quantities of nitrous oxide cylinders. The cargo presented multiple critical violations. The tanks were not declared on any shipping papers, and the truck lacked the legally required hazmat placards. Furthermore, the driver did not possess a hazardous materials (hazmat) endorsement on his CDL, which is a federal mandate for transporting such compressed gas in bulk. Nitrous oxide is classified as a hazardous material (UN1078), and the officers confirmed the load exceeded weight thresholds triggering strict transport rules.
Driver Fails Federal English Proficiency Requirement
Adding to the list of violations, the officers administered a test of the driver's ability to read and understand English. Federal commercial driving regulations require drivers to be proficient in English to read road signs and safety warnings. The driver struggled significantly during this test, failing to read safety warnings or follow instructions properly. An officer explicitly told him, "You can’t drive because you don’t speak English well enough."
As a direct result of these combined failures, the driver was immediately placed out of service. This order meant the truck could not be moved until a fully qualified and legally compliant driver could take over. Notably, while the driver held a non-domiciled CDL, the officers did not conduct an immigration status check, stating it was "not our call unless criminal" and typically falls under ICE jurisdiction.
Safety Groups Call for Stronger Enforcement
The footage and details of the case were later shared by the advocacy group American Truckers United on social media platform X. The group used the incident to highlight broader safety concerns. They argued that the combination of non-domiciled CDLs, undeclared hazardous loads, and insufficient enforcement compromises public safety on roads.
American Truckers United is now urging Arkansas state leadership to reconsider policies that may hinder stricter checks and to implement more robust measures to ensure highway safety. This case underscores the potential dangers when multiple layers of transport regulation—from cargo declaration to driver qualification—are simultaneously ignored.
