By Reagan Payne

We push aside some of the nation’s greatest issues simply because we do not think they happen in our backyard. Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry. It is in all of our backyards.

February is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. All around the country, government officials are making strides like launching new task forces to seek out these greedy and iniquitous criminals. 

Do what they might, truck drivers are on the front lines of this issue. Not only do truckers keep their colleagues accountable against contributing to the demand, they keep a trained eye out for it on the road.

“The response I've gotten directly from truckers is, honestly, they're angry,” said Mark Colson, President and CEO of Alabama Trucking Association.

“They want to fight back because they're proud of their job they're proud of being a trucker. That's why, I think, Truckers Against Trafficking has gained so much traction within the industries. We're being part of the solution.”

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is an anti-trafficking, non-governmental organization that provides training to play a vital role in combatting this crime. This organization trains those in the transportation industry via video to understand this issue and empower these individuals to take the steps necessary that could end up saving a life.

Almost a dozen states have some form of trafficking-training legislation for CDL licensees. Recently, Alabama became a powerful part of this movement.

“In Alabama, we enacted legislation in 2019 that requires all new CDL applicants or candidates, if you will, to undergo the truckers against trafficking training during their CDL program,” said Colson. “Most of those CDL schools are hosted by our community college system. 

“There are also a few private CDL programs in Alabama but all of them have been very supportive. The feedback since passing that legislation has all been very positive and supportive and that's been a hugely positive addition to the CDL process. It's just a way to get truckers on the front-end educated. 

“It’s still important that the companies they work for, or if they're owner operators, continue these awareness campaigns and adopt Truckers Against Trafficking training as a part of their corporate culture. More and more companies every year are doing that and we're going to keep doing it. It’s got to be a relentless focus to continue to raise awareness and to fight back against those who commit this crime.”

Some of the companies requiring this training bring in regional trainers from the TAT organization to facilitate this process. The organization also makes incorporating this information into company culture easy by providing plenty of materials to disperse and display around the workplace. These materials are also available for places drivers frequent, such as truck stops.

In the meantime, Colson gave a few things to look out for while on the road. The top five signs are listed here. 

“I mean, there are questions that truckers are trained to ask potential victims, so that they can kind of understand," Colson said. "Asking them, ‘Hey, do you keep your own money? Do you have your own money or does someone else control it?’ ‘Are you free to come and go as you please?’

“If it's an emergency, if something's happening in the act, you call 911. And if people do suspect something, they should call the human trafficking hotline. Even if they just know to Google Truckers Against Trafficking or human trafficking that number will pop up on any Google search. 

“Just don't be afraid to call and report something. Because it can save someone's life.”

If you or anyone you know witnesses any of these situations or something otherwise suspicious, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888. Anyone, especially those who feel at-risk, can also text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.

Everyone in the industry, and even those of us just traveling on the roads, can and should be a part of this solution. Register here to take part in your own training against trafficking.

“As I learned about what's happening, not in some other state or some other city but in the communities we live in, you become enlightened and once you become enlightened, you have to act,” said Colson. “The way you move people is by changing their hearts, not just changing their minds.”

Reagan Payne is a staff writer for Wright Media. She can be reached at rpayne@wrightmediacorp.com.