Driving the Fight Against Human Trafficking

When industry works together, we can make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. That was the message on Sept. 1 in San Antonio, Texas, where I had the opportunity to participate in a press conference hosted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to announce that Texas law enforcement, the trucking industry and truckstops are coordinating ways to combat human trafficking within the state. The press conference kicked off a meeting designed to educate participants about human trafficking as well as to provide a forum to discuss regional human trafficking trends. More than 60 members of the law enforcement, trucking and truckstop communities participated in the event.
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When industry works together, we can make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.

That was the message on Sept. 1 in San Antonio, Texas, where I had the opportunity to participate in a press conference hosted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to announce that Texas law enforcement, the trucking industry and truckstops are coordinating ways to combat human trafficking within the state.

The press conference kicked off a meeting designed to educate participants about human trafficking as well as to provide a forum to discuss regional human trafficking trends. More than 60 members of the law enforcement, trucking and truckstop communities participated in the event.

Since 2013, the NATSO Foundation has co-sponsored 20 such meetings across the country with Truckers Against Trafficking, law enforcement and the trucking industry to foster an open dialogue on how together we can fight this heinous crime. 

During the press conference, I highlighted the strong role that America’s truckstops and travel plazas are taking in combating human trafficking and how collectively, we are creating the equivalent of a Neighborhood Watch program that is highly focused on crime prevention.

Specifically, I cited the NATSO Foundation’s launch of its first-ever online training course titled, “The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking.”

As part of its "How Truckstops Help People" campaign, the NATSO Foundation is training employees nationwide to recognize and respond to suspected incidents of human trafficking.

It is a tragic reality that human trafficking has been reported across all modes of transportation in the United States.

For its part, the truckstop industry takes seriously the fight against human trafficking.

Together, we are driving change. 

// The NATSO Foundation’s online training course “The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking” is free to any member of the truckstop and travel plaza community. Non-NATSO members may contact Kimberly Roberts at 703-739-8573 or kroberts@natso.com to establish an account.

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