Multi-state operation removes 78 commercial drivers from roads

A coordinated, four-state nighttime commercial motor vehicle enforcement operation resulted in 78 drivers and 25 vehicles being placed out of service following 568 inspections conducted on Saturday, Sept. 26, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety announced in a news release.

Operation Saturday Night Fever is a periodic overnight enforcement initiative aimed at identifying unsafe commercial motor vehicles and drivers during late-night and early-morning hours. The Sept. 26 operation marked the third initiative conducted by the South Carolina State Transport Police in 2026 and the first to expand beyond South Carolina through coordination with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and law enforcement partners in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

“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 S.C. State Transport Police Col. 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.”

In South Carolina, State Transport Police deployed 70 officers across the state’s interstate system to conduct inspections and enforce federal commercial motor vehicle safety regulations during off-peak hours. The coordinated effort extended along the I-95 corridor, with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Georgia Department of Public Safety and Florida Highway Patrol conducting simultaneous enforcement activities in their respective states.

“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.”

During the operation, officers conducted commercial motor vehicle inspections, verified driver credentials and assessed compliance with federal English Language Proficiency requirements. Enforcement efforts also focused on driver fatigue, electronic logging device manipulation, mechanical deficiencies, impaired and distracted driving, cargo securement and other violations that can jeopardize the safety of motorists and commercial vehicle operators.

“Unsafe carriers do not stop at state lines, and neither should our partnerships,” said Maj. Andrew Montgomery of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. “Operation Saturday Night Fever put those partnerships into action. 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.”

Across the four participating states, the operation resulted in 568 commercial motor vehicle inspections, 78 drivers placed out of service, including 12 for English language proficiency violations, 25 vehicles placed out of service, 173 moving violations issued and seven criminal arrests, including driving under suspension, trafficking of drugs (fentanyl) and possession of drugs and controlled substances.

Federal regulations require commercial motor vehicle drivers to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to communicate with the public, understand highway traffic signs, respond to official inquiries and make accurate entries on reports and records. During a roadside inspection, officers may assess a driver’s English language proficiency as part of determining compliance with federal law, which results in an immediate out-of-service violation if failed.