Human Trafficking Awareness

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative will be held Jan. 13-17 in the U.S. The goal is to increase awareness of human trafficking crimes, what to look for, and how to report potential trafficking cases.

What is human trafficking?
According to TAT (formerly known as Truckers Against Trafficking), human trafficking is a type of modern-day slavery that uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit victims for profit. This includes commercial sex acts and the commercial sexual exploitation of children under any circumstances.

• Traffickers count on the transportation industry to recruit, control, and deliver victims to buyers for sex, domestic servitude, or forced labor.
• As many as 50 million people are victimized globally.
• Trafficking takes place in every U.S. state and Canadian province.

While a victim may be purchased online initially, the actual sale can happen in truck stops, restaurants, rest areas, hotels and motels, and other locations.

Red flags
TAT offers a list of red flags to look for when spotting a possible victim. For example, a person being controlled against their will may appear malnourished, avoid eye contact, and be unusually submissive to a traveling companion who doesn’t appear to be a legitimate guardian.

When observing truck stop activity, you may see someone being dropped off and picked up shortly thereafter, a person going from truck to truck, or flashing lights that signal a “buyer.”

Seeking help
Know that it is unsafe to attempt to rescue a trafficking victim. There is no way of knowing how the trafficker may react or retaliate against the victim and you.

If you believe you have identified someone in a trafficking situation:

• Alert law enforcement first via 911
• Call the Human Trafficking Hotline:
• U.S.: Call 1.888.373.7888 or text “BEFREE” (233733)

#WearBlueDay
Jan. 11, 2025 is #WearBlueDay. Throughout the month, Blue Campaign hosts several special events and educational activities, with a spotlight on #WearBlueDay. Why blue? It’s the international color of human trafficking awareness.

Learn more about #WearBlueDay at the Department of Homeland Security website.