Operation SafeDRIVE Removes Thousands of Unsafe Truckers

North Carolina was among 26 states targeted in a nationwide U.S. Department of Transportation effort in January that removed nearly 2,000 unqualified commercial drivers and unsafe vehicles from the roads.

The three-day campaign, known as Operation SafeDRIVE, was led by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Inspectors conducted more than 8,000 checks nationwide, taking action against hundreds of drivers and over 1,200 vehicles for serious safety violations. Dozens of arrests, including DUIs and illegal presence in the U.S., were reported across participating states.

Officials say the operation targeted high-risk trucking routes to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. “Drivers who operate without proper qualifications or drive impaired put all of our lives at risk,” FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said.

North Carolina has not yet released state-specific totals for inspections, license removals, or vehicle seizures. 

The crackdown comes as the state faces scrutiny over commercial driver licensing. A federal audit found that roughly 54% of certain non-domiciled commercial licenses failed to meet federal standards, potentially putting nearly $50 million in federal funding at risk.

Over the course of three days, officials conducted 8,215 inspections, resulting in 704 drivers having their license revoked. 500 of those drivers failed to meet English proficiency requirements. A total of 56 arrests were made, which included charges like driving under the influence.

U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., said the results underscore the need for stricter oversight. “These are 80,000-pound trucks sharing roads with families every day. Inspectors found hundreds of drivers who failed basic English tests, over 700 with serious safety violations, and more than 1,200 unsafe vehicles,” Harrigan said. He also promoted his SAFE Drivers Act, which would strengthen licensing standards to prevent unqualified drivers from taking to the road.

Federal and state officials say operations like SafeDRIVE aim to protect drivers and the public by removing unsafe vehicles and ensuring companies comply with safety rules. More detailed North Carolina data will be released as the operation’s results are finalized.