Why ATA is in the Fight
ATA is committed to leading an industry-wide effort to help put an end to human trafficking. Since 2012, ATA has encouraged and worked with its membership and organizations in the trucking industry to help combat human trafficking in the U.S.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery and one of the greatest human rights violations of our time. Tens of thousands of people every year are illegally trafficked into and within the United States. Many of these victims are minors, often young females, who are brutally forced to preform commercial acts of sex or labor against their will.
ATA encourages all trucking companies and organizations to:
- Provide anti-human trafficking training programs for their drivers and professional staff.
- Implement and enforce company-wide zero tolerance policies for those who engage or participates in commercial sex of any kind.
Our Work With Truckers Against Trafficking
ATA partnered with TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking), a nonprofit organization that trains and certifies trucking professionals on best practices in recognizing and reporting the red flags of human trafficking.
ATA’s engagement with Truckers Against Trafficking began in 2012. Sarah Rajtik, ATA's Chief Operating Officer, is a member of the TAT Board of Directors. ATA’s America’s Road Team Captains have been trained as ambassadors, speaking to their peers, law enforcement and others about the industry’s commitment to stop the crime and how to get trained and engaged to join the fight.
During Human Trafficking Awareness month in January 2021, ATA hosted a three-part webinar series, explaining how truck drivers, trucking companies, and the moving and storage industry can help combat human trafficking. Click below to access the individual webinars.
- January 5: How Drivers Can Help Stop Human Trafficking (Survivor and Driver)
- January 12: How Trucking Companies Can Make a Real Impact In Combatting Human Trafficking (Company CEO’s)
- January 19: Moving for Freedom: How the moving and storage industry can help combat human trafficking
Due in large part to its work with TAT, our industry has served as an effective and powerful ally to law enforcement in the ongoing effort to identify and prosecute these crimes.
- 1,014,367 trucking professionals are registered as TAT trained
- 2,692 calls have been made to the national hotline by trucker drivers
- 708 likely cases have been generated
- 1,296 victims have been identified
Click here to learn more about Truckers Against Trafficking
ATA has also worked with the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, a national public awareness effort, spearheaded by the federal government, designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and industry partners. Working with DHS, ATA helped lead an effort that distributed trucking-specific educational materials to truck stops across the country.
As the eyes and ears of the highway, truck drivers are uniquely positioned to recognize potential victims of this heinous crime and properly alert law enforcement when they witness suspicious activity.
The trucking industry is able to, and has a duty to help solve this problem. One organization, one driver, one training session at time, our industry can help save lives and protect the communities in which we serve.
Contact Us
Virginia Bulger
Image and Industry Affairs Specialist
(703) 838-1836
vbulger@trucking.org