Senator Banks Launches Trucking Tipline After Fatal Crash

The new online form aims to report carriers employing drivers not legally in the U.S.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has announced the launch of an online form called the TruckSafe Tipline, which will allow truckers to report carriers suspected of employing drivers who are not legally in the United States. This comes after a recent fatal crash in Jay County, Indiana involving a Kyrgyzstani immigrant driver. The Department of Transportation is investigating the carrier involved, AJ Partners, and several other companies for potential fraud and being "Chameleon Carriers" that swap names and DOT numbers to avoid enforcement.

Why it matters

Indiana is a major transportation hub, and Senator Banks says Hoosiers are being killed by drivers who shouldn't be on the roads. The tipline aims to improve safety and ensure trucking companies are following federal laws around employing legal drivers.

The details

The TruckSafe Tipline will allow truckers to share concerns about carriers employing drivers who are not legally in the U.S. Reports submitted will be shared with the U.S. Department of Transportation to help ensure a safe and fair trucking industry. Senator Banks says drivers need to be legal, able to read traffic signs, and follow the law.

  • The Tuesday announcement comes a week after a Kyrgyzstani immigrant was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for his role in a Jay County crash that killed four people.
  • The form is available to access through Senator Banks' website.

The players

Senator Jim Banks

A Republican senator from Indiana who announced the launch of the TruckSafe Tipline.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, who stated that the carrier involved in the Jay County crash, AJ Partners, and several other companies are under investigation for potential fraud and being "Chameleon Carriers".

AJ Partners

The trucking carrier that employed the semi driver involved in the fatal Jay County crash, which is under investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

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What they’re saying

“Indiana is the Crossroads of America, and Hoosiers are getting killed because drivers who shouldn't be here in the first place are behind the wheel. If you're driving a truck on our roads, you need to be legal, you need to be able to read traffic signs, and you need to follow the law. The TruckSafe Tipline gives people on the ground a way to speak up when they see carriers cutting corners and putting lives at risk.”

— Senator Jim Banks (wane.com)

“These interconnected carriers have all the markings of fraud and are accused of being Chameleon Carriers. This is when companies swap names and DOT numbers to avoid enforcement.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary (wane.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the Kyrgyzstani immigrant driver out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger enforcement and oversight of the trucking industry to ensure drivers are legally authorized to operate commercial vehicles and companies are not exploiting loopholes to avoid accountability. The new tipline provides a way for those on the ground to report suspected violations.