Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) is providing an online awareness and educational campaign to run throughout January during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
The goal is to help raise awareness of the human trafficking national crisis; to highlight the unique position that truck drivers are in to take action; and to provide a list of the warning signs of trafficking and the hotline for drivers to identify and report suspects.
TMAF is utilizing its social media properties--Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn--to educate throughout the month with facts and information on the widespread, national crime and how the industry can help.
“Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery taking place in every state across the country,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and president of Jet Express Inc. “With 3.5 million professional truck drivers on America’s roads, the industry and truck drivers are in a valuable position to help identify and report possible human trafficking cases. It’s important that drivers and all members of the public know the warning signs for trafficking and are empowered with the knowledge on how to report suspicious behavior.”
Elisabeth Barna, chief operating officer of American Trucking Associations, TMAF executive committee member, and a board member of Truckers Against Trafficking, added: “The trucking industry and individual truck drivers are invaluable in the fight against human trafficking. Truckers are the eyes and ears of our transportation system, which allows them to close the loopholes that traffickers exploit for their own personal gain. TMAF is helping to raise awareness and educate truck drivers on the important role they can take in stopping human trafficking.”