Sgt. Dale Turner and Master Trooper Jim Strong passed out 1,000 masks at the I-94 rest park in LaPorte County. They were assisted by Darin Jones, Regional Field Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Major Jon Smithers, Commander of the Indiana State Police CVED commented, “We are extremely proud to be a part of this tremendous effort to help ensure safety for those who are working tirelessly over the road while making sure America has what it needs to sustain itself during this difficult time”.
The FMCSA, after working with FEMA and trucking stakeholders, recently acquired 1,000,000 cotton face masks and selected Indiana as one of eight states to receive a shipment of 100,000 of them. The masks were distributed to personnel from the three agencies, who then handed them out to truck drivers at the five rest areas identified with truck parking below:
- I-65 southbound at 150 mile marker (Thorntown)
- I-65 northbound at 72 mile marker (Columbus)
- I-70 westbound at 107 mile maker (Greenfield)
- I-70 eastbound at 65 mile marker (Plainfield)
- I-94 westbound at 43 mile marker (Michigan City)
“The Indiana Motor Truck Association is thankful to have these federal and state partnerships that allow us to come together to provide masks and other items where we can. There are 3.5 million professional truck drivers on the road that deliver life’s necessities”, said Barbara Hunt, Vice President of IMTA.
“The Department of Transportation’s FMCSA worked closely with FEMA and trucking stakeholders to coordinate and ship 1,000,000 protective masks to truckers all over the country. The Agency is appreciative of FEMA for supplying these masks, and for all our State partners”, said Christina De Los Santos-Baker, FMCSA Division Administrator. “I am especially thankful for the Indiana State Police and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division as we work together to ensure they reach America’s truck drivers. We will get through this, together.”
The Indiana Motor Truck Association and other trucking groups will work with trucking companies here in Indiana in order to distribute any remaining masks for the drivers of those companies.
