FMCSA Takes a Stand Against Human Trafficking
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a new human trafficking awareness campaign. This initiative, titled “Your Roads, Their Freedom,” aims to equip commercial motor vehicle drivers with the knowledge to identify and report incidents of human trafficking. The campaign is a nationwide effort, with a particular focus on California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina. These states were chosen due to their high number of human trafficking cases or a high volume of driver traffic.
Targeting Key Locations
The campaign will concentrate on commercial drivers at rest areas, travel centers, and bus stations, among other locations where human trafficking may occur. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson stated, “Human trafficking is a heinous crime, and it has no place in the transportation industry.” The FMCSA is committed to combating this issue, recognizing that the nation’s transportation systems are exploited by human traffickers every day.
Empowering Drivers and Transportation Employees
The primary goal of the program is to “educate and empower CMV drivers and other transportation-industry employees to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report the crime to authorities.” The campaign will build on other federal efforts against human trafficking, including the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking and the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign.
Safety First in Reporting Trafficking
The campaign urges anyone who sees or suspects any indicators of human trafficking to assess the situation. It is crucial not to attempt to confront a suspected trafficker or engage with a victim. Instead, individuals should contact local law enforcement directly and follow their company’s reporting policy if one is in place.
Truckers Making a Difference
From December 2007 through June 2016, truckers made 1,400 calls to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, helping to identify 452 potential human trafficking cases. This statistic underscores the significant role that truckers can play in combating human trafficking.
The FMCSA’s “Your Roads, Their Freedom” campaign is a significant step in the fight against human trafficking within the United States. By educating and empowering commercial motor vehicle drivers, this initiative aims to increase the identification and reporting of human trafficking incidents, ultimately contributing to the eradication of this heinous crime from the transportation industry.
The campaign aims to educate and empower commercial motor vehicle drivers and other transportation-industry employees to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report the crime to authorities.
These states were chosen due to their high number of human trafficking cases or a high volume of driver traffic.
