FMCSA and DHS pull 78 drivers off the road during overnight multi-state enforcement sweep

# What happened On the night of Saturday, September 26, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration teamed with state police and the Department of Homeland Security for a coordinated enforcement operation called "Operation Saturday Night Fever." The operation ran overnight on major freight corridors in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

# Results at a glance

• 552 commercial vehicle inspections were completed.
• 78 drivers were placed out of service.
• 12 drivers were cited for failing English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements.
• 25 vehicles were placed out of service.

# What inspectors checked Enforcement teams worked through nighttime hours to verify driver credentials and check for:

• fatigue and hours-of-service compliance, including electronic logging devices (ELDs),
• distracted driving,
• unsecured cargo,
• English language proficiency under recent FMCSA requirements,
• signs of criminal activity and non-domiciled or invalid commercial driver licenses.

# Officials' framing FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said the operation demonstrated cooperation across agencies and stressed that "safety comes first, and those who put the public at risk will be held accountable." State-level officials described the operation as a way to remove unsafe drivers and keep freight moving. South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia agency statements emphasized cross-border coordination and the focus on hours when risky driving behaviors can go unnoticed.

# Why ELP showed up in the results The operation cited 12 drivers for ELP violations. The ELP requirement has been a focus of FMCSA enforcement since it went into effect in June 2025, and recent enforcement actions have continued to target drivers who do not meet the standard. Across related reporting, ELP enforcement has been a frequent reason for out-of-service orders in multi-state operations.

# Practical implications for drivers and carriers If you operate or manage commercial vehicles in these corridors, the operation highlights areas that officers are actively checking:

• Keep driver credentials current and valid for the domicile they claim.
• Maintain accurate and compliant ELD records and hours-of-service logs.
• Ensure drivers meet ELP requirements where applicable and can communicate necessary safety-related information.
• Secure cargo properly and eliminate easily discovered vehicle defects that could trigger an out-of-service order.

An out-of-service designation means the driver or vehicle cannot legally continue until the violation is corrected or the driver is replaced.

# What to expect going forward

# Bottom line