Driving out Terrorism. (In the News).

Given that 75 percent of U.S. communities rely solely on the trucking industry for safe delivery of their goods, it's welcome news indeed that truckers have officially enlisted in the war on terrorism. American Trucking Associations (ATA), Alexandria, Virginia, has launched a multiphase Anti-Terrorism Action Plan, whose goal is to prevent trucks from being used as terrorist weapons and to keep the "wheels of commerce" rolling.

The plan's first phase will link trucking security activities to the color-coded threat-alert system recently activated by the U.S. Office of Homeland Security. According to ATA, the "trucking security plan escalates as alert levels rise by increasing driver vigilance of interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and seaports; activating driver-dispatch check-ins; and adding regular broadcasts of cargo theft and hijackings. Updated threat information from federal authorities would also be broadcast to drivers."

Truck drivers will initially report suspicious activities to an industry-sponsored toll-free number; the information will be forwarded to federal and state authorities. During the second phase of the plan, a Highway Watch Operations Center will be established to facilitate two-way communication between the trucking industry and various government agencies. ATA's existing Highway Watch program, which trains drivers to spot and report emergency and safety situations, will be expanded to include additional training in communication and observation procedures to enhance national security.