Senator Jim Banks has created a public reporting system for highway safety concerns following multiple deadly crashes involving unauthorized drivers on Indiana roads.
New Safety Initiative Targets Transportation Violations
The Republican senator from Indiana launched the TruckSafe Tipline, an online portal where citizens can report carriers suspected of employing drivers without proper authorization or English-language proficiency. Banks’ office will review submissions and forward them to the Department of Transportation and its Office of Inspector General for investigation. The system specifically targets companies that may be cutting safety corners by hiring unqualified drivers who cannot read traffic signs or meet federal requirements.
🚨 I’ve launched the TRUCKSAFE TIPLINE.
If you’re a trucker or work in the industry and see something unsafe or know of shady carriers hiring illegals, I want to hear from you.
Go to https://t.co/eBw2RWXTP2 to help keep our roads safe: pic.twitter.com/QIAfnHOrDJ
— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) February 10, 2026
Banks stated that Indiana’s position as the Crossroads of America makes highway safety critical for residents. The initiative allows truckers and industry workers to report unsafe practices they witness on the roads. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed support for the effort, acknowledging the safety concerns raised by the senator.
Recent Fatal Accidents Spark Action
The program follows a deadly multi-vehicle crash in Jay County, where four people died, including several Amish victims. The truck driver, Bekzhan Beishekeev from Kyrgyzstan, entered the United States through the CBP One application process in December 2024 and was released on parole. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him after the February accident. Indiana State Police reported that Beishekeev failed to stop for traffic ahead and swerved into oncoming vehicles.
Pattern of Highway Safety Concerns
Banks’ office identified additional fatal incidents involving unauthorized drivers in Indiana. National Guardsman Terry Frye died in November in a crash involving a Georgian national who entered illegally in 2022. Another accident killed a 54-year-old victim when Borko Stankovic, an unauthorized resident from Serbia operating two trucking companies, caused a multi-car collision. Despite his illegal status since 2011, Stankovic’s businesses received over thirty-six thousand dollars in federal relief funding. Industry experts note that some drivers exploit regulatory gaps by obtaining commercial licenses from certain states, allowing them to undercut legitimate businesses with lower prices.