OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will be helping truckers stay safe, as they transport goods during the pandemic, by arming them with personal protective equipment (PPE) over the next two days.
“Our partners in the trucking industry have done heroic work over the last several weeks to keep American’s grocery store shelves stocked and transport critical supplies all over the country to help in the fight against COVID-19,” said Captain Gerry Krolikowski, Commander of NSP Carrier Enforcement. “Our troopers are proud to be part of this effort to keep those drivers safe.”
NSP says it plans to hand out 100,000 masks surgical masks, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to truckers in the state on the following dates at the indicated locations:
Wednesday, April 29
| Location | Roadway / Mile Marker | Time |
| Melia Hills Rest Area | I-80 MM 431 WB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Waverly EB Scale | I-80 MM 415 EB | 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
| Waverly WB Scale | I-80 MM 415 WB | 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
| North Platte EB Scale | I-80 MM 180 EB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| North Platte WB Scale | I-80 MM 181 WB | 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
| Nebraska City EB/WB Scale | Highway 2 MM 501 EB/WB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Fremont NB/SB Scale | Highway 77/275 MM 123 NB/SB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Hebron NB/SB Scale | Highway 81 MM 4 NB/SB | 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Thursday, April 30
| Location | Roadway / Mile Marker | Time |
| Goehner Truck Parking Area | I-80 MM 375 WB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Melia Hills Rest Area | I-80 MM 431 WB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Waverly EB Scale | I-80 MM 415 EB | 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
| Wavery WB Scale | I-80 MM 415 WB | 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
| North Platte EB Scale | I-80 MM 180 EB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| North Platte WB Scale | I-80 MM 181 WB | 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
| Nebraska City EB/WB Scale | Highway 2 MM 501 EB/WB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Fremont NB/SB Scale | Highway 77/275 MM 123 NB/SB | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Hebron NB/SB Scale | Highway 81 MM 4 NB/SB | 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Beyond the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NSP partnered with the Nebraska Trucking Association, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the U.S. Postal Service to distribute the masks.
"They’re a vital part of the network and just to get them the equipment that they need to be safe out on the roads," said Trooper Kris Hunzeker with the Nebraska State Patrol. "We’ve had some people that said they have been able to find masks and really appreciate it."
"Really America stays moving through the trucking industry and keeping our over the road drivers healthy, allowing them to deliver the loads of food and medical supplies and other replenishment that is needed is more important now than ever," said Lt. Mike Maytum of the Nebraska State Patrol.
Watch reporter Phil Bergman's story in the above video.