Tale Lites Issue 43

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🚛 ICE Raid in Oklahoma Leads to Arrests + FMCSA Writes letters to States

ICE and the State of Oklahoma teamed up again in November, and they’ve already had some results. Over a two day enforcement period there were 70 arrests, and 34 of those were truck drivers.

ICE says 26 of the drivers were issued CDLs they should have never been eligible for, and 8 others were driving commercially with no CDL at all.

This is the second coordinated raid in Oklahoma in the last month. The previous one resulted in around 125 arrests. The glaring issue validates the DOT’s concerns that this isn’t an immigration issue, it’s safety. CDL fraud, relaxed state licensing, and lack of English proficiency can have a direct effect on highway safety.

The drivers arrested came from 15 different countries, including India, Guatemala, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, China, and others. ICE also noted that 36 of the 70 individuals detained had prior convictions, ranging from assault to DUI. Which reminds me of when I was in CDL school, and instructors right at the beginning had a “Moment of Truth” regarding any sort of prior cases an individual might have had in another state, even any unpaid tickets

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt framed the operation as a public safety issue:

The DOT has been true to its word when it comes to compliance and enforcement, and the FMCSA has issued 4 letters to states of concern: Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and California. Could ICE be there next?

Across the 5 states, FMCSA auditors uncovered patterns of licenses being issued to drivers who were not legally eligible, or whose permits were valid long after their legal presence in the U.S. had expired.

Colorado

• 6 out of 99 records sampled showed CDLs issued beyond the driver’s legal stay

• One CDL was valid nearly 4 years past the expiration of the driver’s work authorization

• 18 cases of non-domiciled CDLs issued to Mexican citizens improperly

Colorado has now paused issuing or renewing any non-domiciled CDLs until further notice.

South Dakota

• 3 licenses valid past lawful stay dates

• 3 CDLs issued to Canadian citizens who were not eligible

• South Dakota has also halted issuance temporarily.

Texas

• Nearly half of the records reviewed had expiration dates well past legal residency limits

• One improperly licensed driver was later involved in a fatal 5 person crash

• Texas has now suspended issuing any non-domiciled CDLs to refugees, asylees, or DACA holders.

Washington

• A CDL was issued to a Ukrainian national without verifying lawful presence

• 685 drivers were mistakenly given regular CDLs when they should have received restricted ones

• Washington has now stopped processing non-domiciled CDL transactions entirely.

California…

California has been going back and forth with DOT over English proficiency enforcement. FMCSA has already withheld $41 million in federal funds from the state for failing to comply. California pushed back, saying “CDL eligibility is based on federal immigration documentation anyway, not state decisions.”

Read more at Landline

I want to hear from you! For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

Tale Lites Throwback

In honor of Veterans Day, Check out this snapshot from February 1966 - From what appears to be the wife of former Trucker and US Navy Veteran expressing gratitude for how proud her husband was to be a “Truckie”

UPS/FedEx Ground MD-11 Planes after Crash

UPS and FedEx both grounded their MD-11 cargo jet fleets this week following a fatal UPS crash in Louisville, KY. The decision comes at the recommendation of Boeing, which inherited the MD-11 program after acquiring McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

The crash occurred during takeoff from UPS Worldport. The left engine reportedly separated from the wing, leaving the aircraft unable to climb. It went down just outside the airport perimeter, killing 14 people, including all three UPS crewmembers.

Boeing responded by advising all MD-11 operators to suspend operations while engineers analyze the potential failure risk.

✈️ Who Still Operates the MD-11?

There are roughly 70 MD-11 freighters still flying globally:

🛬 Why This Matters

UPS and FedEx have already been phasing out the MD-11 for years. It’s older, burns more fuel, and requires more runway than modern two engine freighters.

UPS has been retiring MD-11s in favor of 767-300 freighters. FedEx had planned to retire its MD-11 fleet by 2028, but extended that to 2032 as international freight demand increased, but I see that timeline shifting.

Both carriers say they have contingency plans to cover capacity:

• More 767 and 777 flights

• Load consolidation

• Adjusted international routing

The FAA’s ongoing 10% flight reduction order at major airports isn’t expected to hit UPS/FedEx hard because their operations run mostly overnight, outside peak-hour restrictions.

📸 Trucker Catches Crash on Dash Cam!

Below you can see the reaction from this trucker in Louisville, KY

📩 Do you have a Crazy Dashcam video?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

Health Tip of the Week - What is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural compound your body uses to produce energy. Think of it like the spark plug that helps your cells turn fuel into actual power. Your heart, muscles, and brain rely heavily on it. Unfortunately, CoQ10 levels naturally decline as we age, and they’ll drop even faster if you’re stressed or taking statin cholesterol medications.

Why Truckers Should Care:
Life on the road demands stamina. You’re dealing with:

• Long hours of sitting

• Mental focus fatigue

• The need for steady energy

CoQ10 supports all three.

Key Benefits for Drivers:

• Better Energy Production: Helps reduce that afternoon crash without relying on more coffee.

• Heart Health Support: Crucial for cardiovascular function or cholesterol is a concern.

• Reduced Muscle Fatigue: Can help your muscles recover better from even small workouts, walks, or stretches on break.

• Brain & Focus Support: More efficient energy production = clearer thinking on the road.

When to Take It:

• 100-200 mg daily, ideally with food (it absorbs better with healthy fats).

• If you are on cholesterol meds (statins), CoQ10 supplementation is often recommended — talk to your provider.

You can find CoQ10 over the counter at any grocery/drug store!

Partner Post of the Week

Check out our Partner Nathan Rambler as he scopes out one of our locations in West Texas! Use the promo code rambler20 for $20 off your next booking!

@nate_rambler

Truck Parking Club Partner Program

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