Federal and state officials say a recent nationwide enforcement push took thousands of unsafe truck drivers and vehicles off U.S. roads, a move supporters say could help address a larger safety problem on America’s highways.
The effort, known as Operation SafeDRIVE, was carried out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state law enforcement agencies in a coordinated, high-visibility crackdown focused on dangerous driving, driver qualifications and unsafe vehicles.
The first phase of the operation ran Jan. 13–15 across 26 states and Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
During the three-day effort, inspectors targeted major freight corridors and other high-risk locations. The operation led to nearly 2,000 unqualified truck drivers and vehicles being removed from service, an action officials say is aimed at preventing crashes before they happen.
“Operation SafeDRIVE shows what happens when we work together with our law enforcement partners to pull unqualified drivers and vehicles off American roads,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a news release. “We need a whole-of-government approach to ensure the Trump Administration’s strong standards of safety are in place to protect American families and reduce road accidents.”
By the end of the operation, teams had completed 8,215 inspections. Authorities placed 704 drivers out of service, including nearly 500 for English proficiency violations, and sidelined 1,231 vehicles for safety issues. The effort also resulted in 56 arrests, including cases involving driving under the influence and illegal presence in the United States.
Large trucks continue to play a significant role in highway safety statistics. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, crashes involving large trucks were linked to more than 4,300 deaths in 2023, with the majority of those killed riding in smaller passenger vehicles rather than in the trucks themselves.
Another set of federal data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses have increased in recent years, with thousands of police-reported crashes each year resulting in serious injuries or deaths. Officials say the numbers highlight why stronger enforcement remains a priority.
FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs described the operation as centered on public safety.
“This operation was about safety,” Barrs said in a news release. “When drivers ignore the rules, operate without proper qualifications, or get behind the wheel impaired, they put all of our lives at risk.”
Operation SafeDRIVE spanned enforcement routes in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, along with Washington, D.C.
The FMCSA’s broader mission is to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths involving large trucks and buses. The agency sets safety standards for commercial driver’s licenses, analyzes safety data, supports research and works with state and local partners on inspections, training and enforcement.
Officials say Operation SafeDRIVE supports that broader goal by pairing enforcement with education to make highways safer for everyone.
