The Department of Homeland Security has announced an additional $21 million grant for the Highway Watch Program of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The funds will be 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."

The grant will help ATA expand the Highway Watch security training and awareness program. HW trains highway professionals including truck drivers to identify and report potential security situations on roads to first responders, law enforcement and the intelligence community. The program was started in 1998 as a joint project of ATA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.