FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: FMCSA.PublicAffairs@dot.gov

Operation conducted 552 inspections that placed 78 drivers and 25 vehicles out of service

COLUMBIA, SC — The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) participated in ‘Operation Saturday Night Fever,’ a coordinated, overnight commercial motor vehicle enforcement initiative focused on improving roadway safety and addressing criminal activity along major freight corridors. The operation took place on U.S. highways across South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, and targeted unsafe drivers, hazardous vehicles, and violations that put motorists at risk.

FMCSA Safety Investigators worked alongside the Department of Homeland Security and state police to conduct inspections, verify driver credentials, check for fatigue, evaluate electronic logging devices, look for distracted driving or unsecure cargo, and assess English Language Proficiency (ELP).

The operation resulted in:

• 552 inspections
• 78 drivers placed out of service (including 12 for ELP violations), including drivers with non-domiciled commercial driver licenses (CDLs)
• 25 vehicles placed out of service

“This operation reflects the strength of our law enforcement partnerships and our shared responsibility to keep America’s roads safe,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs. “By working together and focusing our enforcement, we can identify unsafe drivers and vehicles, disrupt criminal activity, and protect the integrity of our transportation system. Our message is simple: safety comes first, and those who put the public at risk will be held accountable.” 

“On behalf of the South Carolina State Transport Police and South Carolina Department of Public Safety, we are grateful for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s support of the South Carolina State Transport Police’s Operation Saturday Night Fever, a periodic nighttime enforcement effort focused on commercial motor vehicle safety in high-crash corridors,” said South Carolina State Transport Police Colonel Dwayne Wilson. “Late evening and early morning hours are often when dangerous driving behaviors go unnoticed, and collisions can have serious — even deadly — consequences. Our goal, as always, is to reduce crashes while keeping trucks safely moving, recognizing that commercial vehicles are vital to South Carolina’s supply chain and to our nation’s economy.” 

“This enforcement initiative showcases North Carolina’s continued commitment to working alongside local, state and federal agencies in the pursuit of saving lives on our roadways,” said  North Carolina State Highway Patrol Commander Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “Combining resources, sharing ideas and working in consort with law enforcement partners to promote the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles is not just practical, but indispensable in furthering our ongoing educational and enforcement efforts."

“At the Florida Highway Patrol, we are proud to once again work alongside our law enforcement and public safety partners in combatting illegal, unsafe driving practices and taking unfit drivers out of service,” said Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze. “Our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers lead the way in keeping Florida’s roadways safe, enforcing rigorous standards that hold commercial drivers accountable and safeguard everyone who travels through our state.”

“Unsafe carriers do not stop at state lines, and neither should our partnerships,” said Georgia Department of Public Safety, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Major Andrew Montgomery. “Operation Saturday Night Fever put those partnerships into action along the I-95 corridor. By working together across state lines, our agencies can share information, focus resources where they are needed most, and take action when we find serious safety issues. The overwhelming majority of professional drivers take their responsibilities seriously every day. Our goal is to hold the bad actors accountable, protect everyone who shares the highway, and allow the drivers and carriers who follow the rules to keep freight moving safely.” 

Additional Information:

‘Operation Saturday Night Fever’ was conducted Saturday, September 26.

Since President Trump issued an Executive Order to restore integrity to the trucking industry in April 2025, Secretary Duffy and FMCSA have:

• Placed 31,200 drivers out of service who could not speak basic English or read road signs;
• Shut down nearly 10,000 driving schools; and
• Revoked more than 31,000 illegally issued licenses to unvetted foreign drivers.

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Under U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is dedicated to reducing crashes, fatalities and injuries involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA oversees the safety of the nation’s 9 million commercial motor vehicle drivers and ensures compliance across the trucking industry that serves as the backbone of the American economy. Visit FMCSA.dot.gov for more information.