Truck Drivers Hit With Nearly 2,000 Citations During Safety Crackdown

Nearly 2,000 citations issued to truck drivers during CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week

Commercial vehicle drivers received nearly 2,000 citations and more than 3,400 warnings during this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, according to results released by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance on October 5.

The enforcement and education campaign took place July 12-18 across 36 U.S. states, seven Canadian provinces and Mexico. Law enforcement officers interacted with 8,083 drivers during the week, focusing on unsafe driving behaviors among both commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle drivers.

Officers issued 3,409 warnings and 1,956 citations to commercial vehicle drivers. Passenger vehicle drivers received 559 warnings and 648 citations.

Operation Safe Driver Week is intended to improve driving behavior through traffic stops, education and enforcement. Officers look for violations such as speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and other actions that can increase the risk of a crash.

Speeding leads enforcement activity

Speeding was the most frequently cited unsafe driving behavior during the campaign. Commercial vehicle drivers received 772 warnings and 342 citations for speeding. Passenger vehicle drivers received 231 warnings and 349 citations.

Across both groups, officers issued 1,003 warnings and 691 citations for speed-related violations. The results show that speeding remained a central concern for enforcement agencies during the week, particularly as it affects the amount of time drivers have to react to changing traffic and road conditions.

For professional drivers, a speeding citation can also create consequences beyond the roadside stop, including potential effects on a driver’s record and a carrier’s compliance profile, depending on the violation and jurisdiction.

Seat belts and distracted driving also drew citations

Seat belt noncompliance was another leading violation recorded among commercial drivers. Officers issued 267 warnings and 270 citations to CMV drivers for failing to use a seat belt. Passenger vehicle drivers received 25 warnings and 41 citations for the same violation.

Texting or using a handheld device while driving resulted in 106 warnings and 136 citations for commercial vehicle drivers. Passenger vehicle drivers received 29 warnings and 45 citations for handheld-device violations.

Other violations recorded among commercial vehicle drivers included failure to obey a traffic control device, improper lane changes, following too closely and operating while ill or fatigued. Officers issued 652 warnings and 319 citations to CMV drivers for failing to obey a traffic control device.

• Improper lane change: 76 warnings and 22 citations for commercial vehicle drivers
• Following too closely: 86 warnings and 23 citations for commercial vehicle drivers
• Operating a CMV while ill or fatigued: 99 warnings and 66 citations
• Using or equipping a CMV with a radar or laser detector: 16 warnings and 10 citations

Reckless and dangerous driving was the campaign focus

The 2026 campaign’s focus area was reckless, careless and dangerous driving. Commercial vehicle drivers received 50 warnings and 22 citations for violations in that category. Passenger vehicle drivers received 33 warnings and 11 citations.

CVSA also reported that 12 warnings and 22 citations were issued to commercial vehicle drivers for drug or alcohol possession, use or impairment. Passenger vehicle drivers received five warnings and four citations for those violations.

Failure to stop at a railroad grade crossing was recorded among commercial vehicle drivers as well, with 11 warnings and two citations. Officers also cited commercial drivers for improper passing, improper turns and failure to yield the right of way.

Why the results matter to truck drivers

Operation Safe Driver Week gives law enforcement agencies a concentrated period to identify unsafe behaviors that can affect everyone sharing the road. The campaign is not limited to commercial vehicles; passenger vehicle drivers accounted for more than 1,200 warnings and citations combined during this year’s enforcement effort.

For truck drivers, the results reinforce the importance of managing speed, maintaining following distance, using seat belts and avoiding handheld devices while operating a commercial vehicle. They also highlight the range of behaviors that can lead to a roadside warning or citation beyond major moving violations.

CVSA said the dates for the 2027 Operation Safe Driver Week will be posted later this year. The alliance describes the annual initiative as a combination of education and traffic enforcement intended to reduce unsafe driving behaviors through direct interaction between officers and motorists.