Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma have launched high-visibility crackdowns on English-language proficiency (ELP) and commercial driver’s license (CDL) violations, removing drivers and vehicles from service and making multiple arrests.
On Sept. 30, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) coordinated an enforcement sweep focused on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules, including the ELP requirement for commercial drivers.
CSP said commercial vehicle safety is a top priority, and drivers with repeat, critical violations—such as failing to meet ELP standards—risk arrest and being taken out of service. WHP added that the driver arrested for ELP violations had been cited in Colorado for the same issue on Sept. 13.
Colorado is among six states that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized for not following FMCSA rules on licensing non-domiciled drivers. On Sept. 26, Duffy declared a national emergency and ordered all states to halt the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs after preliminary FMCSA audit findings pointed to systemic problems. States that fail to comply could lose U.S. Department of Transportation funding.
From Sept. 25–28, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) led a separate enforcement push along Interstate 40, working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The campaign focused on immigration status and compliance with the ELP rule.
ICE leaders praised the state-federal coordination and said the goal is to keep unlicensed or unlawfully present drivers from operating heavy trucks on U.S. highways. Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt reported that more than 125 undocumented immigrants from countries including China, Georgia, India, Mauritania, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan were apprehended during the operation. ICE said 91 of those arrested had CDLs and were driving commercial motor vehicles. Some individuals also had prior convictions, including assault, multiple DUIs, illegal re-entry, human smuggling, money laundering, drug-related offenses, and conspiracy charges.
Oklahoma officials said troopers encountered drivers holding licenses from “sanctuary” states, citing one New York CDL that displayed “No Name Given.” New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles responded that the license followed federal identification rules and was issued to a person with lawful status under federal employment authorization. The DMV added that some foreign nationals legally have a single name and that federal documents can reflect that, noting the license was not issued under New York’s Green Light Law.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which joined the three-day effort, stressed that drivers who cannot read English-language road signs pose safety risks. Commission leaders said multi-agency enforcement helps reduce danger for everyone on the road.
Bottom line: Multi-state dragnets in Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma show a coordinated push to enforce ELP and CDL rules, verify immigration status, and remove unsafe or unauthorized drivers from the road. Carriers should review driver qualification files, ensure training on ELP requirements, and keep credentials current to avoid out-of-service orders and delays.
