As a partner to a lot of companies in and involved with the transportation industry, we wanted to dedicate a blog post to share some information about an organization called Truckers Against Trafficking that drives awareness about human trafficking and the thousands of young children that are being kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery.  

Human trafficking is a global, national, and local problem. It happens in large cities and small towns, on the coast and in the heartland.  Within the United States, the Department of Justice  estimates that anywhere between 100,000-300,000 American kids are at risk of entering the sex trade each year. The most common venues for this crime are along streets, in houses, and, unfortunately, at truck stops.

Truck drivers are invaluable in the fight against human trafficking.  They are uniquely positioned to speak out about this crime, because they are some of the first to see it happening.  As one driver put it: 

“When you get the knock at the door you have three choices. Choice one: totally ignore it. Choice two is to invite them in. The third choice is: Think. Make a call. Make a call, because you could be saving a life.”

One call from a truck driver who cares can change someone's life.  In one case, a call to a national hotline ended up saving 7 girls from a 13 state prostitution ring and convicting 31 offenders.

If you're interested in helping, there are many ways to do so: 

• Raise awareness about domestic sex trafficking with everyone you know.
• Ask your safety director to show this video to your entire company. 
• Hang up Truckers Against Trafficking posters in your break room.
• Tell travel plaza center employees what signs they can be looking for.
• Keep TAT wallet cards on hand and pass them out to other members of the trucking industry.
• Share this website: www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com

When human trafficking is suspected, call the national hotline number at 1 (888) 373-7888.