Jackson EMC commercial drivers license holders are part of Highway Watch®

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation employees are joining other commercial drivers license (CDL) holders across the country in helping keep America's roads, highways and thoroughfares safe through Highway Watch®, a new training program created by the Department of Homeland Security.

"In the wake of September 11, we have to ask ourselves what would happen if our roads, bridges, tunnels and facilities were compromised or destroyed by people intending us harm," says Tim Sweat, Jackson EMC job training and safety director. "This training prepares Jackson EMC employees to take notice of suspicious activity and notify the authorities, if the need arises."

According to Department of Homeland Security officials, CDL holders represent three percent of the nation's population. Co-op personnel represent a large part of this group, since many EMC linemen drive and operate commercial trucks.

"Having this group watch and monitor the nation's highways is another strategy to detect the threat of terrorist activity," says Sweat. "Because they're in the community every day, they're perfect 'eyes and ears' to monitor suspicious activities."

The new Georgia law, which went into effect July 1, requires CDL holders to complete Highway Watch training in order to renew or apply for a new CDL. EMCs will complete the Highway Watch training in the next few months, with an emphasis on those commercial licenses set to expire in July and August 2006. "All of our CDL holders are already trained," Sweat notes.

Highway Watch trains transportation professionals like EMC linemen, commercial truck drivers, highway workers, city transit workers, bus drivers, law enforcement personnel and first responders to recognize and respond to potential safety and terrorist activity they may witness in the normal course of doing their jobs. Once trained, Highway Watch participants can contact emergency personnel through a special telephone hotline, providing emergency responders with precise location and incident information. A trained Highway Watch Call Center operator verifies the participant's identity (each participant has a unique Highway Watch ID number) and location, then routes the call to appropriate authorities. If a call is security-related, a report of the incident is forwarded to the Highway Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) where it is shared with intelligence officials and other law enforcement agencies.

The Highway Watch program is offered at no cost and available through classroom training and self study modules available in DVD and VHS, by request.