Averitt Express has announced that it recently joined the Amber Alert Highway Network, the first secondary-distribution initiative to direct Amber Alerts to professional truck drivers who are near the alert area, expanding the number of people who can be on the lookout for abducted children.
The Amber Alert Highway Network, through a collaboration of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Qualcomm, assists in achieving the overall goal of the Amber Alert program, which is to notify as many people as possible about a recent child abduction and provide information that can help in the search for the child, suspected abductor and vehicle and safe return of the child. The Amber Alert program is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters and transportation agencies to issue an urgent bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases.
“Truck drivers have already proven to be a valuable asset in monitoring the nation’s roads for missing children,” says Ernie Allen, president of NCMEC. “Qualcomm’s mobile communications solution helps increase the reach, and therefore the potential effectiveness, of the Amber Alerts. Just one driver knowing what to look for on the road could assist law enforcement in the safer recovery of an abducted child.”
Each of the 50 United States has a statewide Amber Alert program, as do the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the program’s inception in 1997, Amber Alerts have been credited with the successful recovery of more than 270 children. The Amber Alert Highway Network has been growing steadily since its launch in March 2006.
“The Amber Alert Highway Network is an excellent tool to supplement the Amber Alert program, and we are very proud to take part in any effort that could positively impact the search for an abducted child,” says Scott Wolf, vice president of corporate services for Cookeville, Tenn.-based Averitt. “And with 100 percent of our tractors equipped with Qualcomm mobile communications technology, our drivers are proud to be able to help in the search.”
