Federal transportation officials removed nearly 2,000 unqualified truck drivers and vehicles from U.S. highways during a coordinated, multi-state enforcement blitz. The operation was aimed at improving road safety, according to the Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the results of Operation SafeDRIVE. The effort was carried out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state law enforcement agencies. It ran from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15 across 26 states and Washington, D.C.
Inspectors conducted 8,215 roadside inspections during the operation. Those inspections resulted in 704 drivers being placed out of service. Another 1,231 vehicles were removed after failing safety requirements. Authorities also reported 56 arrests. Those included DUI cases and arrests for illegal presence in the United States.
Nearly 500 drivers were penalized for failing federal English-proficiency standards. The rule requires commercial drivers to read road signs and understand safety instructions. It also requires them to communicate with law enforcement during inspections and traffic stops.
“Operation SafeDRIVE shows what happens when we work together with our law enforcement partners to pull unqualified drivers and vehicles off American roads,” Duffy said. He said a whole-of-government approach is needed to keep safety standards in place. He added that the goal is to protect American families and reduce serious accidents.
Additional details of the crackdown were first reported by Fox News, which described how routine weigh-station checks uncovered widespread violations. According to the outlet, otherwise standard inspections frequently escalated into major enforcement actions. Those stops revealed drivers who could not communicate in English and others who were not legally authorized to be in the country.
Fox News also detailed several recent deadly crashes involving truck drivers later found to be unqualified or unlawfully present. In Indiana, a Kyrgyz national caused a fatal wreck after failing to brake for stopped traffic. The driver had entered the U.S. in 2023 and later obtained a commercial license. In Oklahoma, an Indian national was arrested after a weigh-station stop revealed illegal presence. His commercial license listed him as “NO NAME.”
Federal officials said these cases highlight systemic enforcement failures. They also point to the risks posed when licensing standards are not strictly enforced. The Transportation Department said Operation SafeDRIVE is only the first phase. Officials indicated more enforcement actions are expected as part of the administration’s broader road safety push.