Why focus on the trucking industry when it comes to combating domestic sex trafficking?
Because as the eyes and ears of our nation's highways, members of the trucking industry are proving to be key players in this work.
Our partners at Polaris Project, who run the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC at 1-888-3737-888), recently sent us the following reports highlighting this fact:
A trucker identified an adult female victim of sex trafficking when she approached his truck to solicit for sexual services. The female informed the trucker that she had a pimp and that she wished to leave her situation. The caller obtained the female's permission to transport her away from the truck stop and help her access services. The trucker contacted the NHTRC while the female was in his vehicle and notified the NHTRC that he could transport her to another truck stop away from her pimp. The NHTRC connected with one of our local emergency service provider partners who made arrangements to pick up the female from the truck stop and transport her to their shelter for services. The female called the NHTRC a few days later and expressed that she wanted to relocate to another state. The NHTRC connected her with an anti-trafficking provider in the state where she wished to relocate and she called back later that week to update the NHTRC that she had safely moved and was receiving services.
A male trucker was sitting in his truck when he was approached by a female no older than 14 years old, who was offering sexual services. Earlier, the caller had observed the minor walking from truck to truck with a male in his 20s. The minor spoke to the caller alone and told him that she was from another state and wanted to return home. The caller offered to help her but her male counterpart arrived at the truck and she became silent. The caller observed the male take the female to the shower area and reported the incident to truck stop management. The caller was directed by the management to call the NHTRC. The NHTRC took down the reporting details and advised the caller to call 911 for immediate assistance and to call the NHTRC back to help coordinate additional services and a report to our specialized law enforcement for investigation. Shortly after the call, 5 police cars were dispatched to the location and several males were arrested. The police notified the trucker that the minor was a runaway from another state and that the male had outstanding warrants and was arrested for kidnapping and other charges.
So many members of the trucking industry are doing their part: they are making calls and saving lives; they are training employees; they are getting involved to help those who need it most. When these men and women choose to look beyond "lot lizard" stereotypes and recognize that victims of human trafficking don't need to be run off lots -- but helped instead -- they truly step into the identity of Everyday Heroes so needed along our nation's highways.
Truckers Against Trafficking exists to bring stories like these into existence. Support this work today by helping us reach our $50,000 fundraising goal by the end of 2012. We have $10,000 still to go! You can donate via our website, www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org, or make checks payable to Truckers Against Trafficking and send to Truckers Against Trafficking, PO Box 816, Englewood, CO, 80151. All donations are tax deductible.
