If your trucks run nationwide, you know that enforcement intensity varies dramatically by state. Some states barely look at ELP during inspections. Others have made it a priority. Knowing where the hot spots are helps you prepare your drivers for the routes they'll actually run.
We analyzed FMCSA inspection data to identify the states with the highest ELP enforcement activity.
Top 10 States for ELP Violations (2024-2025)
1
Texas
1,847 violations
2
California
1,423 violations
3
Arizona
892 violations
4
New Mexico
634 violations
5
Florida
587 violations
6
Georgia
445 violations
7
North Carolina
398 violations
8
Tennessee
356 violations
9
Illinois
312 violations
10
New Jersey
289 violations
Why These States?
Border State Effect
Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico all share the US-Mexico border. These states see high volumes of cross-border trucking and have historically focused enforcement resources on driver qualification issues, including ELP.
Major Freight Corridors
States along I-10, I-40, and I-95 corridors see massive truck traffic. More trucks means more inspections, and more inspections mean more opportunities to catch violations.
Port Traffic
California (Long Beach, Oakland), Georgia (Savannah), and New Jersey (Newark) handle significant container port traffic. Drayage operations and intermodal freight often involve drivers who may be newer to the US market.
Violations Per 1,000 Inspections
Raw violation counts favor high-traffic states. A more useful metric is violation rate—how often ELP comes up when inspections happen:
- New Mexico: 4.2 ELP violations per 1,000 inspections
- Arizona: 3.8 per 1,000
- Texas: 3.1 per 1,000
- California: 2.4 per 1,000
- National average: 1.7 per 1,000
New Mexico has the highest rate despite lower total volume. Inspectors there appear to be particularly focused on ELP compliance.
If your routes go through the Southwest corridor, your drivers are 2-3x more likely to face ELP scrutiny than the national average.
Seasonal Patterns
ELP enforcement isn't constant throughout the year:
- Q1 (Jan-Mar): Lower enforcement, post-holiday slowdown
- Q2 (Apr-Jun): Ramping up with Roadcheck preparation
- Q3 (Jul-Sep): Peak enforcement, including CVSA International Roadcheck
- Q4 (Oct-Dec): Sustained high levels through holiday freight surge
Out-of-Service Rates by Region
Not all violations result in OOS orders. Regional variation exists here too:
- Southwest (TX, AZ, NM): 34% OOS rate for ELP violations
- Southeast (FL, GA, NC): 26% OOS rate
- Northeast (NJ, PA, NY): 22% OOS rate
- Midwest (IL, IN, OH): 19% OOS rate
Southwest inspectors are more likely to place drivers OOS for the same violation. This may reflect more severe cases or stricter interpretation of the standard.
Running Southwest Routes?
Drivers on TX, AZ, NM, and CA routes face elevated ELP scrutiny. Pre-assess before they hit the road.
Assess Your Drivers
Implications for Fleet Planning
Route Assignment
Consider driver ELP confidence when assigning routes. A driver who's borderline may do fine on Midwest runs but face issues on Southwest lanes.
Training Priorities
If your fleet is concentrated in high-enforcement states, ELP preparation should be a higher priority in your training program.
Pre-Trip Briefings
Include ELP awareness in pre-trip briefings for drivers heading to high-enforcement zones, especially if they haven't run those lanes recently.
Key Takeaways
- Texas and California lead in raw ELP violation counts
- New Mexico has the highest per-inspection violation rate
- Southwest states show 2-3x national average enforcement intensity
- Border states and major freight corridors are hot spots
- OOS rates vary by region—Southwest is strictest
- Q3 sees peak enforcement activity nationwide