The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and partner agencies inspected hundreds of commercial vehicles during an overnight enforcement operation that took place in multiple states.
Over 500 Trucks Inspected In Four States
On Saturday, September 26, FMCSA partnered with state police and the Department of Homeland Security for “Operation Saturday Night Fever” on roadways in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.
The focus of the operation was on “improving roadway safety and addressing criminal activity along major freight corridors,” the agency said.
FMCSA and other agencies worked through the overnight hours 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).”
See below for key results from Operation Saturday Night Fever:
- 552 inspections
- 78 drivers placed out-of-service, including drivers with non-domiciled commercial driver licenses (CDLs)
- 12 drivers placed out-of-service for ELP violations
- 25 vehicles placed out-of-service
What Are They Saying?
“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.”
