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ATA defends Highway Watch, notes accomplishments

The American Trucking Associations today defended its Highway Watch program, which was criticized in a government report issued last fall but only recently released to the public.

While the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General report applauded the fact that the program enrolled more than 800,000 members, it found fault with the program’s enrollment strategy; documentation of security incidents and internal tracking of the program.

In a formal response, ATA stated that:

“On Jan. 8, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Inspector General (IG) released the second part of a review required by Public Law No. 110-53.  The review addressed the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Trucking Industry Security Grant Program, which had been awarded to the American Trucking Associations’ Highway Watch program from fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2007.

“The report recognizes the value of ATA’s Highway Watch program, which was significantly expanded and modified to address the Nation’s highway and motor carrier security needs.  From the time ATA first received federal funds in mid-March 2004 through mid-2008, ATA trained and enrolled well over 800,000 highway and motor carrier professionals in the domain awareness and reporting program.

“As the report notes, ATA successfully accomplished this in spite of difficulties posed by numerous changes in agencies responsible for overseeing the program, changes in government-dictated program priorities and management, and uneven DHS involvement in the cooperative venture.  Although the IG made recommendations for improving performance in the future, ATA had already begun assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the program and implementing changes to better address the highway and motor carrier sector’s needs.

“ATA provided significant funding to supplement the government’s funding and continue the program while government funding was delayed.  ATA is justifiably proud of its contributions to highway and motor carrier sector security.  While DHS elected to fund another vendor in FY 2008, ATA has pledged its cooperation in supporting the highway and motor carrier sector security goals.”