"Trooper in a Truck" Enforcement Joins Safety Week in Wisconsin

Trooper in a Truck Returns During Wisconsin Safety Enforcement

Wisconsin State Patrol is once again partnering with the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association (WMCA) for its annual Trooper in a Truck campaign, giving troopers a higher vantage point to identify dangerous driving behaviors around commercial vehicles during Operation Safe Driver Week.

The enforcement effort runs July 13 through July 17 and is part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) nationwide Operation Safe Driver Week, which takes place July 12-18. During the campaign, law enforcement agencies across North America are focusing on unsafe driving behaviors by both commercial truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.

How the Trooper in a Truck Program Works

Unlike traditional traffic enforcement, the Trooper in a Truck program places Wisconsin State Patrol troopers inside semi-trucks and buses operated by professional drivers.

From the elevated passenger seat, troopers have a clear view into surrounding traffic, making it easier to spot dangerous behaviors that are often difficult to see from a patrol car. When a violation is observed, the trooper radios nearby patrol officers, who then conduct the traffic stop.

According to the Wisconsin DOT, the program is designed to improve safety around CMVs by identifying motorists whose actions increase the risk of crashes.

Drivers Can Expect Enforcement Across Wisconsin

This year’s Trooper in a Truck campaign will be conducted in several regions across the state:

• Monday, July 13: Northwest Region
• Tuesday, July 14: Southeast Region
• Wednesday, July 15: Madison Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility
• Thursday, July 16: Northeast Region
• Friday, July 17: North Central Region (Wausau)

Wisconsin officials say troopers and inspectors regularly conduct enforcement efforts aimed at reducing crashes involving CMV, especially in areas with known safety concerns.

What Violations Are Officers Looking For?

During Trooper in a Truck, enforcement is not limited to commercial drivers.

Troopers will be watching for unsafe driving behaviors committed by anyone sharing the road with large trucks, including:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Following too closely
• Seat belt violations
• Reckless or careless driving

Because of their higher seating position inside a commercial truck, troopers are often able to observe actions such as texting behind the wheel or other distracted driving behaviors that may not be visible from a standard patrol vehicle.

Trooper in a Truck Part of Operation Safe Driver Week

The Trooper in a Truck initiative coincides with CVSA’s annual Operation Safe Driver Week, a safety campaign focused on reducing dangerous driving behaviors through both education and enforcement.

For 2026, CVSA selected reckless, careless, or dangerous driving as the campaign’s primary emphasis. Officers throughout North America are encouraged to stop drivers demonstrating behaviors such as excessive speeding, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, following too closely, impaired driving, and other actions that increase crash risks.

Why It Matters to Truck Drivers

Professional truck drivers often have a better view of unsafe driving around their vehicles than law enforcement officers traveling in standard patrol cars. The Trooper in a Truck program uses that same advantage to identify motorists whose actions create dangerous situations near commercial vehicles.

While commercial drivers may also be stopped for traffic violations during Operation Safe Driver Week, Wisconsin officials say the program is intended to improve safety for everyone sharing the road by addressing risky driving behaviors around large trucks.