Nearly 2,000 unqualified truckers and commercial vehicles were pulled off the roads in a recent three-day targeted enforcement event.

It was the first wave of the new Operation SafeDrive, a high-visibility, multi-state enforcement and education effort, a collaboration between the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and law enforcement partners in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

Targeted enforcement actions were conducted along major freight corridors and other high-risk locations, resulting in:

• 8,215 inspections
• 704 drivers placed out of service (including nearly 500 for English proficiency violations)
• 1,231 vehicles placed out of service
• 56 arrests (including DUI and illegal presence in the U.S.)

The operation took place January 13-15.

The Value of Focused Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement

“This operation was about safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs. “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 demonstrates the value of focused enforcement and strong partnerships in removing these drivers and vehicles from our roads.”

Operation SafeDrive covered routes in D.C. and 26 states: 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.