In a sweeping enforcement effort, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed roughly 500 truck drivers from the road over a three-day period for failing to meet English proficiency standards, part of a nationwide operation aimed at improving road safety.

Operation SafeDRIVE, conducted from January 13–15 across 26 states and Washington, D.C., involved 8,215 inspections and resulted in 704 drivers and 1,231 vehicles being taken out of service. Authorities also arrested 56 individuals, including undocumented immigrants and drivers operating under the influence.

“Operation SafeDRIVE shows what happens when we work together with our law enforcement partners to pull unqualified drivers and vehicles off American roads,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “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.”

The crackdown aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to enforce Commercial Driver’s License requirements for English proficiency and other safety standards, especially following incidents like the Florida turnpike crash last year allegedly caused by an unqualified foreign national.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs emphasized the public safety rationale, stating, “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.”

The operation represents the first phase of what officials describe as an ongoing commitment to ensuring that all truck drivers meet federal safety and language standards, a key component of reducing accidents and protecting American families on the nation’s highways.