Modern Slavery
Human trafficking has become a household topic in our daily lives. It’s honestly become a bit of a buzzword, given that it gets thrown around on the news, movies, tv, and any other way it can be a plot point in media. We must be careful to ensure this doesn’t take away from the simple fact that It is a modern-day form of slavery. Traffickers will use manipulative tactics such as force, fraud, and coercion to control their victims entire life. Reduced to its simplest form: anyone involved in commercial sex, including minors, are considered victims of human trafficking. This type of criminal activity occurs in various locations, such as truck stops, rest areas, hotels/motels, strip clubs, and private homes.
Eyes & Ears
As professional drivers, you are the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways. This means that you are the first line of defense when it comes to stopping these crimes in their tracks. If you suspect that someone is being controlled, or if you see a minor who seems out of place working in any of these areas, do the right thing and please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report a tip. If the potential tip ends up being a dire situation, be sure to call 911 for a more immediate response!
On The Job
When out on the road, drivers may encounter human trafficking situations on the road. There are some critical red flags to look out for:
- Anyone who seems confused about their whereabouts or otherwise
- Suspected victims that have signs of branding or tattoos that indicated ownership
- Anyone, usually females, going from truck to truck
- Listen for mention of “Commercial Company” or flashing lights that signal certain areas
- Mention of a “Pimp” or being concerned with making a quota
- Look out for Vans or RVs that seem out of place
- Dropping someone off and picking them up shortly after!
Check What You Know
Over our lives we all build up ideas in our head of what things should look like, it’s normal. Our brains are patter recognizing powerhouses after-all. One absolutely critical thing that must be remembered in cases such as these is that you mustn’t let these preconceived notions or cliches cloud what you’re seeing right before your eyes. In human trafficking, the victims and perpetrators don’t just fall into one single category. It effects persons regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Anyone can fall victim.
Don’t Approach!
Whatever you do, It is critical to remember not to approach traffickers as it can create an unnecessary and dangerous situation for everyone involved. Even if everyone was unharmed, one little technical misstep could cause problems in the prosecution of traffickers. Remember that you have the power to make a difference, and your actions can help save lives.
It’s Not MY Job
We know that some of you might be saying, “Well, that’s not my place.” We understand, no one wants to add more to their workload. Especially the workload of a commercial driver! You’ve got your hands full and we know that, that’s why we find it so important to emphasize that we don’t expect you to be OTR Social Workers. No one is expecting you to go out of your way to fight crime, we just want to take the time to get this information out to those who spend so much time on our roads and highways.
So… How You Can I Help?
The first and best step is to get educated. You can gain access to a lot more resources and materials on the Truckers Against Trafficking website. They even have training videos that go super in depth and will ensure that you’re fully aware of what to look out for on the roads of our world toady. Beyond life on the road, they cover topics such as what you should look for in other places, even your own neighborhood! If you are a victim or have any reason to suspect human trafficking is occurring, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or simply text 233733. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.
Stay Safe Out There!
– The Optimum Logistic Team
