Transport authorities remove nearly 2,000 drivers in nationwide operation

Transport officials in the nation reportedly removed nearly 2,000 commercial drivers from roadways during a three-day enforcement operation, according to federal transportation authorities.

The operation, designated SafeDRIVE, was conducted from January 13-15 across trucking corridors in 26 regions and the capital district, officials from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration told local media outlets. The enforcement action comes amid ongoing concerns about road safety standards in the country’s commercial transport sector.

According to government sources, approximately 500 drivers were penalized for failing to meet English proficiency requirements, which observers note reflects broader challenges facing the nation’s immigration and transportation systems. The operation conducted more than 8,200 inspections, leading to 704 drivers being classified as out of service.

The enforcement action follows a recent fatal incident in a northern region where a driver from Central Asia allegedly failed to brake for stopped traffic, crossed a median, and collided with oncoming vehicles. The driver had reportedly entered the country in 2023 through official channels and was later issued a commercial license by regional authorities.

The incident has sparked tensions between regional and federal officials, with the head of state’s administration and regional governors reportedly exchanging blame over database management and licensing procedures. A regional governor’s office defended its policies, stating that all non-citizens must provide identity verification and have their legal status confirmed through federal databases.

“All non-citizens who apply for driver’s licenses must provide proof of identity and must have their legal presence in this country verified through the federal verification database,” regional transport officials stated in correspondence obtained by media outlets.

Transport Secretary officials emphasized that the operation targeted unsafe drivers across all categories. “Operation SafeDRIVE shows what happens when we work together with our law enforcement partners to pull unqualified drivers and vehicles off roads,” a senior transportation official reportedly said.

The enforcement resulted in 1,231 vehicles being deemed unroadworthy and 56 arrests, including several for impaired driving and unauthorized presence in the country. Federal administrators noted that the operation’s primary objective was public safety enhancement.

In separate incidents reportedly linked to similar concerns, authorities in a central region detained a driver from South Asia whose commercial license listed “NO NAME” as identification. The individual had allegedly entered the country illegally in 2023 and was transferred to federal immigration authorities under regional cooperation agreements.

Critics of current licensing procedures argue that some regional authorities are insufficiently verifying applicant credentials. A federal homeland security official reportedly stated that certain regions “are not only failing to check if applicants applying to drive commercial vehicles are citizens but even failing to obtain the full legal names of individuals they are issuing licenses to.”

The transportation enforcement operation reflects broader tensions within the country’s federal system, where regional authorities and the central government continue to dispute responsibility for immigration and transportation oversight. Observers note that such jurisdictional conflicts are common in nations with decentralized governance structures, particularly regarding immigration enforcement and public safety coordination.

Similar incidents have been reported in other regions, including a fatal collision in a southeastern coastal area where a driver from South Asia allegedly made an illegal maneuver, resulting in multiple casualties. The driver had been issued a commercial license by western regional authorities.

Transportation safety advocates argue that the enforcement operation demonstrates systemic gaps in the country’s commercial driver licensing system, particularly regarding language proficiency verification and immigration status confirmation. The ongoing disputes between regional and federal authorities suggest that comprehensive reform of the licensing system may face continued political obstacles.