How Truck Drivers Can Help Combat Human Trafficking

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Drivers are the eyes and ears of our nation’s roads—allowing them to be valuable assets in the transportation industry’s contributions to the fight against human trafficking.

There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people subjected to human trafficking worldwide. Traffickers often take advantage of insecurity caused by natural disasters, conflict or a pandemic to exploit others.

With resources available from Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a nonprofit organization that educates transportation industry members to combat human trafficking, and American Trucking Associations (ATA), your drivers can become certified truckers against trafficking at no cost.

TAT recognizes that members of the trucking, bus and energy industries are invaluable in the fight against human trafficking. Here a just a few of the programs TAT offers:

The Freedom Drivers Project:
The Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) is a first-of-its-kind mobile exhibit serving as a remarkable tool to educate members of the trucking industry, law enforcement and the general public about domestic sex trafficking and how the trucking industry is combating it.

Shipping Partners Program:
The Shipping Partners Program seeks to engage major purchasers of shipping to encourage their carriers to implement TAT materials as a regular part of training and orientation. Building on the corporate social responsibility movement and leveraging purchasing power, TAT utilizes pre-existing relationships between shippers and their carriers to train even more drivers.

Industry Training Program:
The Industry Training Program is TAT’s core program that drives the most significant impact by training hundreds of thousands of industry members about the realities of domestic sex trafficking and how the trucking industry can combat it. TAT partners with trucking schools, carriers, the truck stop industry, manufacturers, and state and national trucking associations to spread the word.

TAT offers educational resources to instruct drivers on the signs of human trafficking and what they should do if they suspect it. The training consists of a short video and quiz at no cost to your company or drivers.

If you suspect trafficking is taking place or have an emergency, please call local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline immediately at 1-888-373-7888.