Maine Forest Rangers asked drivers to use caution when following GPS routes after they were called in to assist with a burning semi truck in a remote wooded area.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 9, Maine Forest Rangers Ryan Maker and Aaron Currier responded to a report of a tractor trailer on fire in T19 MD BPP, a remote township located within the unorganized territory of North Washington County, Maine.

Rangers said that limited cell service made it difficult to the find the tractor trailer, so a drone was used to locate the burning truck.

Rangers and firefighters were able to stop the vehicle fire from spreading, but the truck was a total loss.

While the Rangers did not detail how the truck caught fire in the remote wooded area, they did caution that “this is also reminder that GPS routes are not always accurate.”

The post Drivers warned about GPS routes after big rig burns in remote Maine forest appeared first on CDLLife.

Canadian police ordered a truck off the road for equipment violations only to find the same truck back on the road days later with new plates but the same serious defects.

On Monday, June 8, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped a commercial truck on King Street in Caledon, Ontario.

Officers learned that the truck was placed out-of-service the week before for “for multiple defects.”

“On inspection, the same major defects were found and had not been properly repaired. Somehow, this operator received new plates, and the vehicle had been certified to be back on the road,” OPP said.

Police seized the new plates and ordered the truck out-of-service again.

“The good news – no new defects. The bad news – none of the original defects were fixed!” police said.

The truck driver and trucking company were issued a total of 17 charges.

“Safety standards are not suggestions — they’re the law,” OPP said.

The post Driver and trucking company face 17 charges after defying out-of-service order and switching out plates, cops say appeared first on CDLLife.

A man caught using a Texas commercial driver’s license (CDL) under someone else’s name was sentenced on federal fraud charges.

On May 20, 2026, Atuchukwu Markrufus Onyeanusi, 32, was sentenced to time served of just under six months in custody, to be followed by one year of supervised release.

He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.

In December 2025, Onyeanusi was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of Fraud and Misuse of Visas, Permits, and Other Documents; False, Fictitious, Fraudulent Document or Writing; and Aggravated Identity Theft.

Onyeanusi pleaded guilty to the charges on February 27, 2026.

Officials said that Onyeanusi is a Nigerian national who is lawfully present in the U.S.

On November 10, 2025, Onyeanusi was stopped by Oklahoma law enforcement for speeding.

Onyeanusi was in possession of a Texas CDL with his own photo but someone else’s name, officials said. He also possessed employment identification documents with the same false name for the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board located in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The employment documents identified Onyeanusi ‘s role as a “Cyber Threat Analyst.”

“Onyeanusi used the false Texas CDL, along with a false Social Security card with the same false name, to gain employment at Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board. Onyeanusi also falsely asserted on an employment immigration form that he was a United States citizen,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Craig County Sheriff’s Office in Vinita, Oklahoma. 

The post Man sentenced for using fraudulent Texas CDL to gain employment appeared first on CDLLife.

Police accused three people of fraudulently using credit cards belonging to a truck driver the day after he died in a crash in South Carolina.

On June 3, 2026, truck driver Michael Nanna, 67, was operating a Freightliner truck on westbound I-26 in Laurens County, South Carolina. Around mile marker 49, Nanna’s semi truck veered off the road and overturned, WYFF4 reported.

Nanna passed away in the crash.

On June 4, Nanna’s wife contacted police and reported that “someone had been using her deceased husband’s financial transaction cards at various stores in Laurens County and Greenwood County,” according to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).

On Friday, June 5, a search warrant was executed at 702 Serene Dr. in Waterloo, South Carolina.

Samuel Roberts and Jordan Williams were arrested, and police recovered several items that had been purchased illegally.

Joshua Putman was not at the scene but was later arrested “after an interaction with another agency.”

See below for charges against the three individuals.

Samuel Allen Roberts:

• Financial Transaction Card Theft
• Financial Transaction Card Fraud value more than $500 in a six-month period
• Criminal Conspiracy
• Possession of methamphetamine

Joshua Neil Putman:

• Financial Transaction Card Theft
• Financial Transaction Card Fraud value more than $500 in a six-month period
• Criminal Conspiracy

Jordan Kayla Williams:

• Financial Transaction Card fraud value more than $500 in six-month period

“I want to send my condolences to the family of the deceased and to thank the Investigators for their quick work of bringing these individuals to justice. Stealing from anyone is bad enough, but this crime shows the heartlessness of these people who were willing to put this already grieving family through something like this,” said Sheriff Don Reynolds.

“As Coroner of Laurens County, I have always said that I will be a voice for both the deceased and their families. What happened to this family and their loved one who tragically passed away is both shameful and deeply disrespectful. During a time when this family was grieving the loss of their loved one, these individuals chose to take advantage of the situation by stealing the victim’s credit cards and used them for their own personal benefit. My thoughts remain with the family as they continue to navigate this difficult time, and I will continue to stand up for victims and their loved ones,” said Coroner Patti Canupp.

The post Three arrested for fraudulently using trucker’s credit cards after he was killed in South Carolina crash appeared first on CDLLife.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) found multiple carrier and driver hazardous materials violations after a trailer caught fire while traveling on I-75 over the weekend, igniting the fireworks inside.

The vehicle fire took place on the night of Saturday, June 6, on northbound I-75 near the Ooltewah Exit in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Troopers said that a fireworks shipment, driven by Dalton Beeler, of Tennessee, was traveling from South Pittsburg to Knox County when the fire occurred.

“What looked like an unexpected fireworks show along Interstate 75 on Saturday could have had far more serious consequences,” troopers said.

The Chattanooga Fire Department said that “fireworks that were going off in different directions, endangering drivers.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, known as Motor Carrier Plus, responded to the scene to conduct a post-incident inspection.

Several carrier hazardous materials violations were found, including:

“This incident looked like a fireworks show, but it could have been much worse,” said Col. Matt Perry, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Hazardous materials regulations exist to protect both the public and the first responders who rush toward danger when everyone else is moving away from it. The work performed by our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division helps identify safety violations and reinforces the importance of compliance with federal and state transportation laws.”

“The images from Interstate 75 drew attention across Tennessee. Behind those images was a commercial vehicle carrying regulated explosives on a public highway without several of the safety requirements federal law requires for hazardous materials transportation,” said THP.

The post Multiple hazmat violations uncovered following ‘unexpected fireworks show’ on I-75 appeared first on CDLLife.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) shared a dash cam video of a serious truck vs. train crash to remind drivers to use extra caution at rural railroad crossings.

On June 8, TXDPS shared dash cam video from a vehicle following a commercial vehicle that was struck by a BNSF train at an uncontrolled railroad crossing.

Officials shared the video to remind drivers to listen for trains in rural areas.

“Rural railroad crossings may not have gates or crossing arms, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less dangerous. If you hear a train’s audible warning, stop and wait. Trains can’t stop quickly, and taking a chance isn’t worth the risk,” TXDPS said.

Take a look at the video below.

The post Texas DPS shares video to warn truckers of the dangers of rural railroad crossings appeared first on CDLLife.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) impounded a semi truck after finding licensing and seatbelt violations during a traffic stop for speeding.

Over the past weekend, a CHP Commercial Officer stopped a semi truck after clocking it at 71 m.p.h. on southbound SR-99 near Salida, California.

During the traffic stop, the CHP officer discovered that the truck driver did not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Additionally, “the passenger was found unrestrained on the floorboard of the cab, which only had one seat.”

The truck was impounded due to the speed violation, the licensing violations, and the unsafe transport of a passenger, CHP’s Modesto Division said on June 8.

“Safety Reminder: Commercial vehicle laws are in place to keep everyone safe. Slow down, buckle up, and remember, the speed limit is 55 MPH when towing a trailer in California,” troopers said.

California state law restricts commercial vehicles, three axle vehicles, and vehicles towing a trailer to 55 m.p.h.

The post CHP officer stops speeding semi truck, finds no CDL and unrestrained passenger sitting on floorboard appeared first on CDLLife.

A wine and spirits company reported a major cargo theft incident involving more than a dozen pallets of premium bourbon.

A21 Wine & Spirits said that a “coordinated cargo theft operation” was carried out during “broad daylight” at a Philadelphia-area warehouse on Friday, June 5, 2026, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The company said that 18 pallets containing approximately 1,800 cases of Noble Oak Bourbon were stolen in a “major daylight heist.”

“The stolen inventory represents one of the largest known bourbon thefts in the region this year and highlights growing concerns throughout the beverage alcohol and transportation industries regarding organized cargo theft targeting high-value consumer products,” said A21 Wine & Spirits.

The company is working with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to try to recover the stolen spirits and hold the cargo thieves accountable.

“We are treating this as a serious criminal matter and are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities,” said a spokesperson for A21 Wine & Spirits. “The theft involved a significant quantity of premium bourbon from our newly acquired brand, Noble Oak, and appears to have been executed with knowledge of logistics operations and product movement schedules.”

Freight operators and brokers are asked to be on the lookout for the following:

• Unusually discounted offers of Noble Oak Bourbon
• Large-volume inventory offered by unauthorized sellers
• Suspicious warehouse storage activity involving alcohol products
• Transportation or brokerage activity involving recently acquired Noble Oak inventory
• Online listings offering significant quantities of Noble Oak Bourbon

Anyone with information is asked to call local law enforcement or A21 Wine & Spirits at 702-799-9432 or contact@apogee21.

The post Company says 1,800 cases of high-end bourbon stolen from Philadelphia warehouse in ‘major daylight heist’ appeared first on CDLLife.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) exempted more than a dozen commercial vehicle drivers from epilepsy and seizure disorder rules.

FMCSA announced that 14 drivers will be exempted from regulations that require that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have “no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.”

In a Notice to be published in the Federal Register on June 9, FMCSA noted that the agency reviewed the medical records of each of the 14 drivers, including each applicant’s seizure history, the length of time that has elapsed since the individual’s last seizure, the stability of each individual’s treatment regimen and the duration of time on or off of anti-seizure medication.

FMCSA also reviewed recommendations from medical providers and each applicant’s driving record for moving violations or reported crashes.

Officials said that each of the 14 applicants have been seizure-free for between 9 and 27 years while taking anti-seizure medication and have maintained a stable medication treatment regimen for the last 2 years.

Each of the applicants have the support of a doctor to drive commercially, FMCSA said.

“The Agency acknowledges the potential consequences of a driver experiencing a seizure while operating a CMV. However, the Agency believes the drivers granted this exemption have demonstrated that they are unlikely to have a seizure and their medical condition does not pose a risk to public safety in the operation of a CMV,” FMCSA said.

FMCSA requires that each of the 14 exempted individuals continue treatment and remain seizure-free, submit to FMCSA annual reports from their treating physicians attesting to the stability of treatment and that the driver has remained seizure-free, undergo an annual medical exam, and report any crashes, citations, or convictions to FMCSA.

The medical exemption is valid for a two year period, though it can be revoked if drivers fail to comply with terms.

The post FMCSA gives okay to drive trucks to 14 applicants with seizure history appeared first on CDLLife.

Georgia troopers seized a large quantity of marijuana products from a tractor trailer initially stopped for a traffic violation.

Troopers recently stopped a tractor trailer for a traffic violation on I-20 in Carroll County, according to a June 8 statement from the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS).

After speaking with the truck driver, a canine unit was brought to the scene.

K-9 Draco alerted to the presence of illegal substances on the truck.

A subsequent search of the trailer uncovered “four suspicious pallets hidden amongst other cargo in the trailer.”

“Thanks to the efforts of CIU and K-9 Draco more than 1800 pounds of marijuana and over 4,000 illegal THC vape cartridges were taken off the streets and helped to make our communities safer,” Georgia DPS said. “Every day our Troopers and Officers are out there working hard to make Georgia safer. While every stop has the potential to change one life, some stops have a far greater reach.”

The post Georgia troopers seize 1,800 pounds of marijuana and 4,000 THC cartridges from semi truck on I-20 appeared first on CDLLife.

Iowa troopers discovered numerous violations while responding to a semi truck that crashed into a ditch along I-80.

This past week, an Iowa State Patrol (ISP) trooper responded to a semi truck partially in a ditch along I-80.

The trooper discovered that the truck had been driven by a passenger with no commercial driver’s license (CDL) who “‘just wanted to go home’ and started driving the truck while the actual driver was asleep in the sleeper.”

The trooper then discovered that the CDL of the actual truck driver had been suspended.

“Subsequently, they did not return home as soon as the passenger had hoped,” said ISP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Unit in a June 6 post.

The trooper issued “numerous violations and out-of-service violations” following an inspection.

The post Passenger with no CDL drove while truck driver slept, crashed into ditch along I-80 in Iowa appeared first on CDLLife.

Volvo Trucks will offer unattended over-the-air software updates later this year.

On June 4, Volvo introduced unattended over-the-air software updates that will allow drivers and fleets to continue operations while keeping trucks up-to-date.

The feature will be launched sometime in 2026.

Volvo says the new feature will allow the updates “to run overnight, during driver breaks, or while trucks are parked, without requiring drivers to remain with the vehicle.”

“We are always striving to maximize our customers’ uptime, and this is an important milestone,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “Drivers will be able to start a software update, lock the truck and walk away, whether that’s for a break or at the end of the day, and return to an updated vehicle. It’s a simpler way for fleets to keep trucks current without interrupting operations.”

The company said that the unattended updates are made possible by Volvo Trucks’ new, connected 24-volt platform in North America.

“While this type of functionality is becoming standard in the passenger car industry, its impact is significantly greater in trucking, where vehicles are in operation for eight to eleven hours a day. Any time saved directly translates into increased productivity for our customers,” said Voorhoeve.

The post Volvo’s new over-the-air software updates won’t require drivers to stay with trucks appeared first on CDLLife.

North Dakota troopers who responded to a semi truck rollover on Thursday night arrested the driver for an alcohol violation.

At 10 p.m. on June 4, 2026, the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) responded to a commercial motor vehicle rollover near a truck stop in Valley City.

Troopers said that the driver’s preliminary blood alcohol test was .259, which is over three times the legal limit for a passenger vehicle driver and over six times the limit for a CDL driver.

The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

“Impaired driving is dangerous in any vehicle. When it involves a commercial motor vehicle, the risks increase significantly due to the size and weight involved,” NDHP said.

The post Driver who rolled semi near truck stop was 6 times the legal limit for CDL drivers: North Dakota troopers appeared first on CDLLife.

Kentucky transportation officials have installed several new signs in hopes of stopping trucks from hitting a low bridge in Louisville amid a major interstate closure for construction.

Drivers in Louisville, Kentucky, are currently contending with the two-month closure of a five-mile stretch of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street).

Since the closure began on June 1, at least 12 trucks have hit the 3rd Street bridge near Winkler Avenue and Eastern Parkway, which is marked at 11 feet, 8 inches, according to local outlet WLKY.

The bridge has been nicknamed “the can opener” by locals for the trouble that it causes for trucks.

On June 5, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that there are now more than 30 signs in place on South Third Street, Eastern Parkway, and Winkler Avenue in Louisville to warn truckers away from the low bridge.

The signed I-65 detour takes traffic to I-264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville.

You can learn more about the I-65 closure here.

The post Officials install new warning signs after a dozen trucks hit low Louisville bridge during I-65 closure appeared first on CDLLife.

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) provided details on a thwarted human smuggling attempt that started at a Texas immigration checkpoint and ended in a tractor trailer fire.

At 8:36 p.m. on June 4, a semi truck entered the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint in Encino, Texas.

After a canine unit alerted to the trailer, the truck driver was referred for a secondary inspection.

According to USBP’s RGV Sector, the truck driver refused to comply and fled the scene.

Officers pursued the truck with lights activated, attempting to perform a traffic stop, but the truck driver continued northbound on Highway 281 before turning southbound south of Falfurrias.

At this point, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers joined the pursuit and used a tire deflating device to try to end the pursuit.

“Despite deflated tires, the suspect continued driving until the tractor caught fire,” USBP said.

The two people in the cab of the burning truck were removed and placed under arrest.

Officers learned that there were people inside the truck’s trailer.

“Agents and troopers were able to open the locked trailer and rescue 39 suspected illegal aliens before the tractor and trailer were engulfed in flames,” USBP said.

All of the people in the trailer were medically screened before being placed in custody.

The incident is under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and USBP.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility is also reviewing the incident.

The post Driver hauling 39 people in locked trailer fled police with deflated tires until semi truck caught fire appeared first on CDLLife.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) asked truckers to pay attention to the condition of their brakes after finding a “critical commercial vehicle safety violation.”

On June 5, 2026, THP took to social media to detail a violation discovered during a recent roadside inspection in the Cookeville area.

“Troopers discovered that a slack adjuster was completely missing from one brake assembly, rendering that brake inoperative. Additionally, the brake on the passenger side drive axle measured approximately 3½ inches of pushrod travel, far exceeding allowable adjustment limits and significantly reducing braking effectiveness,” THP said.

The agency warned that brake defects like this one “can dramatically increase stopping distances and create a substantial safety risk for the driver and everyone sharing the roadway.”

The post Tennessee trooper finds ‘serious brake system defect’ during roadside commercial vehicle inspection appeared first on CDLLife.