CHICAGO, June 3 (UPI) -- At least 800 Illinois truckers are joining the war against terrorism by participating in a federal Highway Watch program to protect U.S. highways.
Highway Watch enlists thousands of truckers coast-to-coast to watch the roadways and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Drivers in the program must attend seminars sponsored by the Transportation Security Administration and the American Trucking Associations.
Anti-terrorism and safety training in the Chicago-area is conducted by the Illinois State Police, Illinois Trucking Association and the Mid-West Trucking Association.
Truckers received an alert last month when U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a warning that seven al-Qaida terrorists might be planning a large-scale attack on U.S. soil.
The Highway Watch Web site, Highwaywatch.com, posts photographs and updates on suspected terrorists believed operating in the United States.
