INDIANAPOLIS — In an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana, thousands of face masks were handed out to truckers on Indiana highways Friday.
Taking part were members of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Indiana Motor Truck Association, and the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.
The cotton masks were given to truck drivers at rest stops across central and northwest Indiana.
Major Jon Smithers, Commander of the Indiana State Police CVED said, "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 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 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.
“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.