NATSO Foundation Helps Texas Combat Human Trafficking

The NATSO Foundation participated in a press conference hosted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sept. 1 announcing a Texas Coalition meeting aimed at bringing together law enforcement, the trucking industry and other members of the business community to coordinate ways to fight human trafficking within the state.
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The NATSO Foundation participated in a press conference hosted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sept. 1 announcing a Texas meeting aimed at bringing together law enforcement, the trucking industry and other members of the business community to coordinate ways to fight human trafficking within the state.

Speaking at a news conference at the San Antonio Police Department’s Public Safety Headquarters, in San Antonio, Texas, NATSO Vice President of Public Affairs Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman said the truckstop and travel plaza industry is taking a united stand with its transportation providers to stop the flow of human trafficking using America’s transportation system.

“Together, we’re creating the equivalent of a Neighborhood Watch program that is highly focused on crime prevention,” Wlazlowski Neuman said. (Read the full remarks here.)

Specifically, Wlazlowski Neuman cited the NATSO Foundation’s launch of its first-ever online training course titled, “The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking.” Since unveiling the course earlier this year, truckstops have pledged to train more than 30,000 employees.

NATSO members are encouraged to train their employees in how to recognize and respond to suspected incidents of human trafficking using the online course "The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking." The course is free to anyone in the truckstop and travel plaza community. Non-NATSO members should call Kimberly Roberts at 703-739-8573 or kroberts@natso.com to establish an account.

Texas Trucking Association President and CEO John Esparza, Texas Assistant Attorney General Kirsta Melton, Deputy Criminal Chief of the Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Section; Truckers Against Trafficking Executive Director Kendis Paris; San Antonio Police Chief William McManus; and Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Nico LaHood also participated in Thursday's news conference.

Since 2013, NATSO has co-sponsored 20 regional Coalition Builds with Truckers Against Trafficking, state trucking associations and law enforcement. The Coalition Builds provide an opportunity to educate members of the business community, transportation and law enforcement about human trafficking as well as serves as an open forum to discuss human trafficking trends in regional areas and to explore ways to collectively combat this crime.

The next Coalition Build is scheduled to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 11.

NATSO members are invited to participate in this educational event. For more information, contact Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman at 703-739-8578.

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