Some police encounters begin with a tragic pileup or high-speed chase. Recently in Indiana, though, they start with troopers pulling over a perfectly ordinary semi-truck on an ordinary stretch of I-70. The plate checks out and the trailer looks fine. Then the driver hands over a commercial license that lists the first name as “No Name Given.” That’s when the ordinary part ends.

Indiana State Police says it’s been spotting these strange credentials often enough to raise concern

Sgt. Matt Ames explained that troopers were warned that California and Pennsylvania may have allowed fraudulent commercial licenses into circulation.

According to WTHI 18 News, California later confirmed that more than 17,000 of them made it through its system. Once that number hit the wire, Indiana told its state troopers to pay closer attention during commercial truck stops.

ISP now works under a 287G agreement that requires it to help ICE detain suspected illegal immigrants

Ames explained that troopers have already detained or “helped” deport 21 people statewide through this program.

Many of those encounters began with routine traffic stops involving semi-trucks. The red flags might start with the driver’s license. Ames explained that phony CDLs often fail the basics, including something as obvious as having an actual name printed on them.

The police sergeant pointed out that improperly licensed semi-truck drivers pose a risk to everyone sharing the road

A tractor trailer requires legitimate training and legal authorization. When a driver hands over a document that looks improvised, troopers treat the situation seriously.

ISP now watches for unusual paperwork, odd license formatting, or inconsistent personal information during inspections and roadside checks. If a CDL proves fraudulent and the driver is suspected of being in the country illegally, ISP transfers that person to a local jail that holds a federal agreement. Clay County Jail is one of the facilities used.

All of this unfolds as federal CDL rules have tightened

An emergency rule that took effect in September 2025 limits non-domiciled CDLs to immigrants with only three specific visas: H 2A, H 2B, and E 2.

Applicants must show an unexpired foreign passport, a valid I 94 record, pass a federal immigration status check, and renew in person every year. The license lasts only until the I 94 expires or for one year, whichever comes first.

Refugees, asylees, and workers who once qualified for semi-truck licensing through employment authorization documents no longer can. States must revoke CDL privileges within 30 days if the federal government reports a status problem.

The rule is not retroactive, but renewals will tighten the pipeline even more.

Courts are already hearing challenges, yet the trucking industry is feeling the strain now. Fewer qualified applicants make an already shorthanded field even tougher.

In the meantime, when a semi-truck driver moseying through Indiana hands a police officer a license that literally says “No Name Given,” the investigation begins.