Truck drivers join the fight against and raise awareness for human trafficking
Human trafficking is a $32 billion ‘industry’ with more than 21 million victims – the majority of which are women and children. According to UNICEF, two million of those victims annually are minors and the U.S. Department of
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and more specifically, January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
In the trucking industry, drivers are being asked to help combat human trafficking. Their presence across the United States and the places they frequent, such as truck stops, rest areas, gas stations and restaurants, are the same places where traffickers take their victims.
Through the non-profit, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), major trucking associations around the nation are showing their support in the fight against human trafficking by helping educate, equip, empower and mobilize their drivers through awareness, education and partnering with law enforcement.
TAT began in 2009 and became a non-profit organization in 2011. They work with trucking companies and individual drivers so that when they suspect human trafficking is taking place, they are trained to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888.
The partnership is working – a training video produced by TAT in 2011 resulted in heightened awareness by drivers and a rise in the number of calls to the NHTRC hotline.
Ryder, with its more than 6,000 drivers and 4,000 technicians, is proud to partner with TAT. With the help of Ryder’s employees and others in the transportation industry, everyone can make a difference and help the more than 300,000 American children who are at risk of becoming a human traffic statistic.
There are several ways trucking industry companies can help spread awareness of human trafficking to its drivers and support TAT, such as:
- Creating tailored training material and branded wallet cards
- Distributing training materials through training tools for tracking and compliance
- Administer training to drivers, technicians, management and executive teams
- Encouraging state trucking associations to develop human trafficking awareness initiatives for all member companies
- Engage primary service and equipment suppliers to join the cause and support TAT
- Encourage drivers to frequent truck stops that have active anti-trafficking initiatives
Through TAT, the trucking industry has helped save lives. Since its inception, TAT earned recognition in the United Nations 100 Best Practices lists to combat human trafficking, and been commended on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Truckers are also increasing awareness to the public through friends, family members, on the backs or sides of their trucks and at conferences.
For more information, visit www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org.
