The Indiana State Police joined federal authorities and neighboring states in a three-day commercial vehicle enforcement effort that resulted in hundreds of unsafe drivers and vehicles being removed from the road.

Operation Highway Shield, conducted July 28 through July 30, brought together the Indiana State Police, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and law enforcement agencies in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.

The operation focused on identifying unqualified commercial drivers, unsafe vehicles, commercial vehicle fraud, and other criminal activity along major Midwest freight corridors.

Across the four participating states, authorities placed 766 drivers and commercial vehicles out of service. Officials also detained 51 people identified as being in the country illegally, including 21 commercial drivers operating with out-of-state non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.

In addition, 86 people were arrested on criminal charges, including allegations involving road rage and domestic violence. Officers also cited 36 drivers for failing to meet English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and recovered nearly $1 million in stolen cargo.

Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Commander Major Jon Smithers said the partnership helps troopers identify unsafe drivers and vehicles while ensuring commercial traffic operates safely and legally on Indiana highways.

Federal officials say Operation Highway Shield is part of an ongoing effort to improve highway safety, combat commercial driver’s license fraud, and enforce federal trucking regulations.