Over 140 Truck Drivers Arrested in Indiana’s “Operation Midway Blitz” — What It Means for the Trucking Industry

By Safety Lane Editorial Team- October 2025 Issue

The Morning the Convoys Stopped

It started like any other autumn morning on Indiana’s I-80 corridor — until the convoys slowed, then stopped. Troopers waved semi-trucks to the shoulder. Agents in DHS jackets circled the weigh stations. Within hours, the chatter on driver radios had one name: Operation Midway Blitz.

By the day’s end, 223 people were in federal custody. Of them, 146 were commercial-vehicle drivers, and more than 40 held active CDLs issued in multiple states. It was the largest coordinated immigration enforcement action ever aimed at the trucking sector in the Midwest.

A Different Kind of Blitz

Unlike routine DOT inspections, this wasn’t about brakes, hours-of-service, or logbooks. This was about who was behind the wheel.

The joint DHS–Indiana State Police operation, months in planning, used commercial-vehicle checkpoints to identify undocumented individuals operating heavy trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles. Officials cited “public-safety concerns” — arguing that 80,000-pound vehicles in unqualified hands pose unacceptable risk.

Authorities also alleged secondary criminal activity ranging from DUI and theft to identity fraud. But for most carriers, the shock wasn’t the criminal charges — it was that immigration enforcement had moved directly onto the nation’s freight lanes.

A Wake-Up Call for Fleets

For years, carriers have lived and breathed DOT compliance: ELD accuracy, HOS limits, pre-trip inspections, and driver qualification files. Yet Operation Midway Blitz exposed a vulnerability few anticipated — the intersection of driver eligibility and immigration authority.

As one compliance director told Safety Lane, “We’re realizing that a CDL doesn’t always tell the full story anymore.”

What It Means for Carriers

1️⃣ The Era of Credential Accountability

Carriers can no longer rely on a valid CDL as proof of qualification. The issuing state matters. The legal status of the holder matters. Every safety file should confirm:

• License authenticity and issuance source

• Matching legal name and Social Security verification

• Work eligibility and residency documentation

In today’s enforcement climate, paperwork precision can be the difference between a compliant operation and a criminal inquiry.

2️⃣ Inspections Just Got More Complex

Because most arrests occurred at weigh stations and inspection points, carriers traveling through the Midwest may face broader questioning at roadside stops. What used to be a logbook check could now involve identity verification or cross-agency inquiries.

The takeaway: inspection readiness now includes credential readiness.

3️⃣ Safety Ratings and Insurance at Risk

Underwriters watch headlines like these. If a carrier employs a driver later found ineligible, insurers may view it as a failure of due diligence. Expect more questions during renewals, more demand for documentation, and potentially higher premiums for non-compliance exposure.

4️⃣ HR and Safety Must Speak the Same Language

Recruiting departments often handle background checks and work verification separately from safety teams. Operation Midway Blitz proves those silos can be dangerous. Every recruiter, dispatcher, and safety manager must understand how right-to-work, CDL issuance, and FMCSA qualification intersect.

A Shift in Enforcement Philosophy

Traditionally, the FMCSA governed safety, while immigration agencies operated elsewhere. Now, those worlds are colliding.

Federal and state officials describe the operation as part of a new “total-risk” enforcement model — combining vehicle safety, criminal violations, and immigration checks into one inspection pipeline.

That shift means carriers must think beyond brake pads and logbooks. The question is no longer just “Is the truck safe?” but also “Who’s driving it, and do they belong behind the wheel?”

Five Moves Every Carrier Should Make Right Now

1. Re-Audit Every Driver File – Verify not just CDL status but issuance state, expiration, and previous transfers.

2. Add Work-Eligibility Documentation – Keep I-9 or equivalent verification proof in your confidential HR file.

3. Create a Credential Verification Policy – Define how licenses, IDs, and background checks are validated before orientation.

4. Educate Your Team – Train safety, recruiting, and dispatch on how immigration and licensing laws overlap.

5. Prepare for Broader Audits – Expect mixed-agency inspections at weigh stations and during compliance reviews.

The Industry Reaction

Reaction within trucking has been mixed. Some carriers welcomed the focus on unqualified drivers, arguing it levels the field for compliant operators. Others fear it could stigmatize foreign-born drivers who follow every rule.

Independent driver associations warn that if enforcement expands without clear FMCSA guidance, confusion could spread fast: “We need consistency,” said one safety advocate. “If a CDL is valid, carriers must know it won’t trigger a federal confrontation on the highway.”

From Compliance to Confidence

For compliance managers, Operation Midway Blitz isn’t a political issue — it’s an operational one. It’s a reminder that compliance now spans legal status, licensing, and highway safety.

Carriers that treat this as a one-off story risk being caught off guard when the next “blitz” comes to their state. The smart ones will turn it into a catalyst: tightening driver-file audits, retraining staff, and reinforcing a safety culture built on full transparency.

The Bigger Picture

America’s freight system runs on trust — trust that the person hauling 80,000 pounds of goods is trained, licensed, and accountable. Operation Midway Blitz may have disrupted traffic for a week, but its echoes will ripple for years.

The question for carriers isn’t if enforcement expands — it’s whether you’ll be ready when it does.

Pull-Quote for Layout:

“An 80,000-pound truck in untrained hands isn’t just unsafe — it’s a weapon on wheels.”— Indiana State Police Commissioner

Closing Thought

In the modern era of trucking, compliance isn’t a checklist — it’s a shield. And as Operation Midway Blitz proved, it’s the only one strong enough to protect carriers from every side of enforcement, old and new.