Operation Guardian: Over 125 Drivers Arrested on Highway I-40 — What Carriers Must Know Now

By the SafetyLane Editorial Team

A Sweep That Sent Shockwaves Through the Industry

In late September 2025, more than 125 individuals were taken into custody during a high-profile enforcement action along Interstate Highway I-40 in western Oklahoma. The operation, known as Operation Guardian, was a joint effort between the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Unlike routine roadside inspections, this was a coordinated sweep directly targeting commercial drivers. Officers reported seizing “unverifiable” commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs)—including one bizarre case from New York that listed the driver’s name as “No Name Given.”

According to authorities, drivers came from India, China, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Mauritania.

Governor Kevin Stitt emphasized:

“We cannot allow unverified drivers behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks. When you have licenses issued with names like ‘No Name Given,’ it’s clear that something is broken. Oklahoma will not stand by while unsafe practices from other states put our citizens at risk.”

He added:

“Our priority is safety. If the federal government won’t fix the system, Oklahoma will take action to protect the people on our roads.”

Why Commercial Drivers Were Targeted

1. Public Safety Risk – Heavy trucks operated by drivers without verifiable training, legal status, or authentic credentials pose a major danger.

2. License Integrity – States issuing licenses without immigration verification create a patchwork of standards. When those licenses cross state lines, enforcement becomes uncertain.

Commercial Impact: A New Era of Scrutiny

• SAVE Verifications – Expect more states to require Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) checks.

• Immigration Status Audits – Companies with many non-domiciled CDL drivers could face audits or surprise inspections.

• Mail Notices & Revocations – CDLs issued without lawful presence proof may be revoked.

• Shortened CDL Validity – Some states may limit CDL validity to the visa expiration date.

Ripple Effects Beyond Oklahoma

• Texas – Operation Lone Star is already scrutinizing commercial drivers near the border.

• Illinois – Operation Midway Blitz led to CDL holders being detained.

• Federal Changes – FMCSA’s English Proficiency Rule and non-domicile CDL restrictions 

  
  

What Carriers Must Do Now

• Verify immigration status via SAVE, E-Verify, or compliance partners.

• Document English proficiency in driver qualification files.

• Audit driver files for expiring documents.

• Tighten hiring processes to screen questionable CDLs.

• Train staff to respond if a driver is detained or placed out of service.

The SafetyLane Takeaway

Operation Guardian is more than a local crackdown — it’s a turning point in commercial driver oversight. The risks of ignoring compliance are high: out-of-service orders, lost contracts, higher insurance, and liability exposure.

For today’s carriers, compliance isn’t optional. It’s the cost of doing business.