Homeland Security Awards ATA $21 Million Grant for Highway Watch
he Department of Homeland Security has announced an additional $21 million grant for American Trucking Associations’ Highway Watch program available for use starting in March 2005.
America's truckers and other transportation workers are in a unique position to contribute to our homeland security," said C. Suzanne Mencer, executive director of the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness. "As they travel our nation's highways, they must be alert to a possible terrorist attack and know how to respond appropriately, how to take safety precautions, and how to report suspicious activity."
Homeland said in a statement late Monday the grant would help ATA expand the Highway Watch security training and awareness program, which trains highway professionals including truck drivers to identify and report potential security situations on roads to first responders, law enforcement and the intelligence community.
"We are honored to be on duty for America," said Bill Graves, ATA president. "It makes sense to have a plan that coordinates the efforts of the entire transportation sector to keep our highways safe and secure—and to keep rolling. Otherwise, given the country's dependence on transportation, America stops."
Highway Watch was started in 1998 and was a joint project of ATA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
