Unlicensed Truckers Caught in Stops and Crashes Across the U.S.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are reporting a surge in incidents involving commercial truck drivers operating without valid credentials, as stricter federal regulations and revoked non-domiciled CDLs remove thousands of drivers from the workforce. Recent crackdowns in seven states have exposed widespread violations, including suspended licenses, missing documentation, and unsafe operating conditions, with authorities linking these trends to the tightening of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The removal of 28,000 foreign truckers’ illegally issued licenses and anticipated federal rules could strip nearly 200,000 drivers of their ability to haul freight, exacerbating an already strained labor pool.

In Oregon, a newly released video by the Washington State Patrol shows Trooper Kameron Watts citing Juan Hernandez-Santos, an undocumented Mexican trucker, for lacking a CDL, logbook, or medical card. The video, which surfaced publicly, revealed Hernandez-Santos’ limited English proficiency and an order to refrain from driving. Despite this, he allegedly drove an 18-wheeler into another vehicle on Interstate 5 in December, causing a six-car pileup and striking a school bus (no children were aboard). The incident occurred after Hernandez-Santos had reportedly driven through Oregon weeks earlier. Trooper Watts attributed the crash to “speeds too fast for conditions,” claiming the semi lost control and jackknifed.

Iowa State Patrol officers responded to a call about a semi stuck in a ditch on Interstate 80 in early June. The investigation uncovered that a passenger—who allegedly lacked a CDL—drove the truck while the actual driver slept in the sleeper berth. The passenger’s stated goal was simply to “go home.” Officers also discovered the actual driver’s CDL was suspended. The incident resulted in numerous violations and out-of-service orders.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers intervened in two separate incidents involving unlicensed truckers. On June 11, CHP officers near Willows found a trucker with no driver’s license operating a red big rig and trailer that had overturned on Interstate 5, blocking the road. The driver had drifted onto the right shoulder before swerving left, causing the rig to overturn and spill its cargo into the median. The unlicensed driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to Enloe Medical Center. Cleanup efforts closed one traffic lane until 8 a.m. the next day, with CHP warning truckers to pull over safely to rest.

In another California incident on June 8, a CHP commercial vehicle officer stopped a trucker driving 71 mph on State Route 99 near Salida—21 mph over the 55 mph speed limit for vehicles towing trailers. The driver was unlicensed, and the passenger was found unrestrained on the floorboard of a cab with only one seat. The combination of speeding, unlicensed driving, and unsafe passenger transport led to the vehicle being impounded.

Georgia deputies arrested Kheino Bennett, 44, of Florida, on May 6 after responding to an overturned tractor-trailer on State Route 83. Bennett was cited for operating a CMV without a valid license or driving privileges, in addition to possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He claimed he saw a railroad crossing arm down with flashing lights and an approaching train too late to stop, applied the brakes abruptly, and steered to avoid a collision—causing the truck to overturn and strike a train cargo car. The impact derailed the train car, halting the train and closing two roads for an extended investigation.

Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol recounted a May 28 encounter with an unlicensed trucker, stating, “We really can’t make this one up.” A CMV Enforcement Unit trooper stopped a truck on Interstate 10 carrying an oversize load. The Arizona DPS did not provide further details about the outcome of the stop.

These incidents underscore the growing challenges facing the trucking industry as regulatory scrutiny intensifies and the driver shortage deepens. Authorities emphasize that the combination of unlicensed driving, fatigue, and unsafe practices poses significant risks to public safety on highways across the country.