September 3, 2026

Statewide Crack Down on Illegal Commercial Drivers Results in 561 Arrests

By J. Thomas Wade
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

September 3, 2026

MONTGOMERY, Ala. In recent months we have written about the statewide ALEA operations to combat the growing number of commercial vehicle drivers who are undocumented, can not speak English, driving without valid driver’s licenses and other US drivers who do not have a valid Commercial Driver’s License or have never taken the training.

The operation has taken at least 560 of these drivers off the road, thus making our roads and Interstates safer.

Alabama Trucking Association president and CEO Mark Colson said that honest, hardworking truckers have been happy with this action and agree that this should be a nationwide program.

Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation, DHS and DOJ for recent efforts to crack down on illegal and unsafe practices in the commercial trucking industry.

The recent federal action shut down a handful of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training schools after DHS investigated hundreds of schools for identity fraud, document forgery, and unauthorized employment.

This operation involves the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Motor Carrier Safety Unit officers and other agencies.

Much of the investigation focused on ensuring compliance with English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for CDL operators, an effort led by the state of Alabama, which received recognition from the White House.

Alabama law enforcement has been partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to improve safety by reducing illegal alien operators.

Since the beginning of the year, statistics show a 24% reduction in commercial vehicle-related fatalities compared to last year.

In March, Ivey signed the Highway Safety and Fairness Act into law, which requires foreign CDL holders operating in Alabama to have valid United States work authorization, requires all CDL holders to meet ELP requirements, and makes presenting a fraudulent foreign CDL during an enforcement encounter a criminal offense. The law takes effect October 1.

The recent federal action also received praise from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) for their efforts to cut down on fraudulent training in the industry.

“Nobody cares more about highway safety than professional truck drivers and it is basic common sense that anyone operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public roadways should be properly trained, able to read critical road signs, follow emergency instructions, and communicate with law enforcement and first responders in English,” OOIDA president Todd Spencer said. “OOIDA and professional truck drivers across America commend Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs for taking concrete actions to crack down on fraudulent training operations and restore rigorous English language proficiency enforcement. Congress must now do its part and pass Dalilah’s Law to ensure CDL mills remain closed and English language proficiency enforcement is permanently made the law of the land.”

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