Transmission is partnering with Truckers Against Trafficking.
Human trafficking is the process by which people are illegally lured, bought, and sold into forced labour or sexual exploitation through force, fraud and/or coercion. There are approximately 30-45 million individuals being trafficked in the world today, including 300,000-400,000 in the US.
Truckers are the ‘eyes and ears’ of our highways, and are therefore in a unique position to identify and help close loopholes that allow traffickers to prosper. They have reported seeing potential victims of trafficking at truck stops, hearing ‘ads’ over the radio, and have seen victims move in and out of trucks in large numbers.
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a non-profit that was founded in order to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of the trucking and busing industries to combat human trafficking. They partner with truckers to educate and provide resources on how to spot human trafficking and what to do when spotted. Their goal is to create a ‘mobile army’ in order to improve recognition and reporting of human trafficking, and to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of perpetrators.
So how can you get involved? Complete a training program that will empower and equip you to take the necessary steps that could save a life. Here are a few highlights:
A few red flags to look out for:
- Hearing CB chatter about ‘commercial company’
- Signs of distress or physical abuse
- Lack of personal belongings
- Extraordinary security measures for a business or home
- Seeing otherwise unexplained flashing lights to signal a ‘buyer’ location
- Any other signs of suspicious behavior
What to do if you see any red flags:
- DO NOT approach the trafficker. Doing so is dangerous for you and their victims
- Call the US hotline: 1-888-3737-888
- Text the BeFree Line at 233733
- Send an email to help@humantraffickinghotline.org
What to report?:
- The location - where did the suspicious activity take place?
- If possible, take photos and email them to the hotline
- If there are cars involved, try to report the make, model, color, and license plate
- Note the height, weight, ethnicity, hair color, and age of those involved - victims and traffickers
- The date and time of the suspicious activity
We encourage all of our partners to get certified through Truckers Against Trafficking.
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