(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator for Indiana Jim Banks has launched a new online tipline aimed at identifying trucking companies suspected of violating federal law, following a deadly crash in Jay County that killed four people.
According to reporting from WANE-TV, Banks announced the creation of the TruckSafe Tipline on Tuesday. The move comes one week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Kyrgyzstani immigrant truck driver in connection with the Jay County crash.
The tipline allows truckers and the public to report concerns about carriers that may be employing drivers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States or who are operating unsafely. Submissions will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Banks said Indiana's role as a major transportation corridor makes enforcement critical, arguing unsafe and unlawful trucking practices put lives at risk.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the trucking company involved in the fatal crash -- along with several related carriers -- is under investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Duffy said the companies may be operating as "chameleon carriers," a term used for businesses that change names or DOT numbers to avoid enforcement.
The TruckSafe Tipline is available through Senator Banks' official website.