How Truckers Are Fighting Human Trafficking

WinCo Foods driver Joe Aguayo was driving a night route northwest along a remote stretch of mountainous highway. As he rounded a corner, he suddenly spotted a woman standing near the fog line, staring into the mountains. Her head was shaved and she was wearing nothing but a beach towel.

Using skills learned from Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) training, Joe reported his concerns to law enforcement and continued along his route. He trusted his instincts that something was not right, especially since there were no other people or vehicles around. Though he had no cell phone service, he stopped at the first stop down the road and called the authorities.

Months later, Joe learned from a state trooper that the woman had been recovered and identified as a 27-year-old Indigenous survivor of human trafficking. She was hospitalized with severe injuries and most likely would not have survived if Joe had waited to call until he had cell phone service. She was eventually released and referred to additional services. In 2023, TAT awarded Joe Aguayo with its prestigious Harriet Tubman Award.

The Rise of Modern Slavery

While most think of slavery as a historic evil, more light is being shed on the concept of modern slavery – an umbrella term for crimes in which people are controlled and exploited for profit. According to the Global Slavery Index, there are more than 1 million people living in conditions of modern slavery in the U.S., or 3.3 victims for every 1,000 people in the country.

A significant component of modern slavery is human trafficking, the pipeline into which victims are coerced, lured, or forced into forms of modern slavery like prostitution, domestic servitude, or criminal exploitation. It’s estimated that there are more than 50 million victims of human trafficking globally, representing $236 billion in illicit profits annually. 

Why Truckers Can Help

Commercial truckers are in a unique position to take important and practical action against human trafficking. They are the eyes and ears of the road, moving in the same spaces as human traffickers and their victims (76% of surveyed human trafficking survivors used some mode of transportation during their exploitation). Truckers, especially those who travel the same route consistently, become adept at recognizing things that are out of place or “off.” They interact with countless other people, at both regular and odd hours, and cover thousands of populated and deserted miles.

The founders of TAT recognized this potential ally in the driver population and, in 2009, started the non-profit to ensure every professional truck driver understands the realities of human trafficking and the role they can play in helping to combat it. 

Since then, TAT has grown to encompass a greater portion of the transportation industry, forming deep alliances to maximize collective effort through innovative training, partnerships with law enforcement, and advocacy efforts. With more than 1,800,000 people trained on how to recognize and report human trafficking, TAT has raised awareness about trafficking, who it targets and its signs, and is equipping individuals to take action whenever their lives intersect with victims.

TAT Resources for Fleets

• TAT has a library of free industry-specific training resources for the transportation industry.
• Documentary-style training videos, each between 15 and 30 minutes, intended for the trucking industry (e.g., over-the-road trucking, local delivery, movers and in-home delivery, and truck stops).
• TAT wallet cards, window decals, hard hat stickers, employee-focused posters, and victim-centered awareness materials.
• TAT’s free “Addressing Demand: Man-to-Man” resources delve into the attitudes, myths, and perspectives that contribute to the demand for commercial sex and fuel the crime of sex trafficking.
• TAT staff members provide free consultation to transportation on how to launch or augment an anti-trafficking initiative. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
• Get certified with TAT’s free training courses and learn more about what you can do to fight human trafficking.

TAT Tools for the Cab

TAT App

The TAT App is a free user-friendly resource anyone can install to be equipped with information about human trafficking in case they encounter it. Available for Apple and Android devices in English, Spanish and French, the TAT App features tailored content specific to your industry, enhanced reporting capabilities, On-the-go access to TAT’s free training courses, and optional news and notifications directly from TAT.

eTAT App

Designed for electronic logging devices (ELDs), eTAT is easy to add to existing driver devices and does not use cellular data. Available for Android devices in English and Spanish, eTAT gives drivers the tools they need to identify and report human trafficking by outlining red flags and providing examples. Drivers can also scan QR codes with their personal mobile devices to access training videos, podcast episodes, and more.       

TAT Partnership with Platform Science

Platform Science recently announced its partnership with TAT to proactively install the eTAT app for ELDs on all Platform Science devices provided to customers. This partnership will help educate thousands of drivers on how to identify potential human trafficking conditions on the road, at truck stops, and delivery points, and make reporting concerns simple and efficient.

Commercial drivers are poised to make a major impact in the fight against human trafficking. With the proper training and the confidence to trust their instincts, truckers will help victims be rescued and make continuation of modern slavery more difficult than ever before. 

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Access the 24/7 Confidential National Human Trafficking hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733.

Learn more about TAT and its efforts to combat human trafficking.

‍Explore the Platform Science full suite of tools for fleets.