Dive Brief:
- President Donald Trump signed into law the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD). The law aims to reduce human trafficking by appointing a representative at the U.S. Department of Transportation to organize human trafficking prevention efforts, among other measures.
- The American Trucking Associations strongly advocated for the legislation, a news release emailed to Supply Chain Dive stated.
- The ATA works closely with the non-profit organization Truckers Against Trafficking, which educates and mobilizes the trucking industry in its fight against human trafficking.
Dive Insight:
Truckers Against Trafficking are vital contributors to the effort to halt the illegal transport of human beings.
The pervasiveness of human trafficking led UPS drivers to train with Truckers Against Trafficking, in order to recognize warning signs and interrupt potential kidnappings.
Statewide decrees in Ohio, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas require new CDL holders to undergo trafficking awareness training as well, while the U.S. Senate approved a bill permanently denying felons guilty of human trafficking crimes from gaining employment as drivers.
Professional drivers may be the most qualified to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking. While following regular routes, drivers trained in criminal observation could spot the types of situations indicating risk.
Frequent visits to truck stops or weigh stations can provide clues that may otherwise be missed by law enforcement. Instilling a sense of engagement with abuse prevention can also help drivers become stakeholders in the nation's safety, instead of mere passers-through of various states.
"While ATA continues to work on major issues like tax reform, infrastructure and trade, it is important that we secure victories in other areas to continue to advance trucking's agenda," ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said in a news release.
