INDIANAPOLIS (WLKI) - Indiana State Police joined federal and regional law enforcement agencies in a three-day commercial vehicle enforcement initiative that resulted in hundreds of unsafe drivers and vehicles being removed from the road across four Midwestern states.
Operation Highway Shield, conducted July 28-30, brought together the Indiana State Police, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio.
The coordinated enforcement effort focused on identifying unqualified commercial drivers, unsafe vehicles, fraudulent commercial driver's licenses and other violations along major freight corridors throughout the Midwest.
According to officials, the operation resulted in 766 unsafe drivers and vehicles being placed out of service. Authorities also detained 51 people identified as being in the country illegally, including 21 commercial drivers operating with non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses issued outside their state of residence.
In addition, officers arrested 86 commercial vehicle operators on criminal charges, including allegations involving road rage and domestic violence. Inspectors also cited 36 drivers for failing to meet federal English Language Proficiency safety standards. Authorities said the operation also led to the recovery of nearly $1 million in stolen cargo.
"As a former state trooper who has walked these highways at 2 a.m., I've seen firsthand the devastation caused when bad actors cut corners or use commercial trucks as cover for illegal activity," FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said in a statement. "This is about saving lives. We are taking the fight directly to corrupt dispatch rings, manipulated logbooks and unqualified drivers who threaten law-abiding truckers and everyday commuters alike."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the operation reflects a continued partnership between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security aimed at improving highway safety and enforcing commercial driver qualification standards.
"Our new partnership with DHS builds on President Trump's progress to secure our roads, eliminate fraud and restore the integrity of trucking in America," Duffy said. "If you continue to illegally operate a big rig, your days on America's streets are numbered."
Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Commander Major Jon Smithers said the partnership strengthens the agency's ability to identify dangerous drivers and unsafe commercial vehicles.
"Our troopers are committed to keeping Indiana roadways safe for everyone," Smithers said. "Partnering with federal agencies on Operation Highway Shield allows us to effectively identify high-risk drivers and unsafe rigs, ensuring that commercial transportation on our highways operates lawfully and safely."
Officials said Operation Highway Shield is part of an ongoing effort by federal and state agencies to improve commercial vehicle safety, combat commercial
driver's license fraud and enforce federal transportation regulations across the nation's highways.