Stakeholder Insight

Fleets recognize that truck drivers are often the first line of defense in the fight against human trafficking. By integrating human trafficking awareness into their corporate training programs, they ensure their drivers are prepared to spot and respond to potential trafficking situations. Participating fleets primarily used Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) for training materials. The training equips drivers with a comprehensive curriculum, covering human trafficking types, realistic scenarios, reporting protocols, and how to interact with human trafficking victims.

Fleet safety managers emphasized that the human trafficking training is an integral part of their core values, which prioritizes safety and care for others. They expressed confidence that truck drivers who have completed the training are well-versed in recognizing the signs of human trafficking and understand who to contact to report it. Fleet safety managers unanimously encouraged fleets to get involved with TAT.

Training Program Experience

• Most fleets interviewed require annual human trafficking training provided by TAT and offer certifications for employees who complete the training. Some fleets include this training as part of their mandatory on-boarding process.
• The training is flexible and accessible, with 30-minute to 1-hour webinars available both in person and online, allowing drivers to complete it at their own pace. Shorter, more focused training, including videos and interactive content, helps maintain drivers' attention and prevent information overload.
• TAT also provides accessible resources online and additional materials such as posters and wallet cards to aid in reporting.
• Some fleets incorporate interactive quizzes and regularly update their training, ensuring the training remains engaging and up-to-date.

Impactful Outcomes

Fleets have taken on the role of community protectors, viewing human trafficking awareness as an essential part of their corporate responsibility. Many partner with nonprofits and organizations like TAT to support anti-trafficking initiatives. Through participation in awareness campaigns and community events, companies promote meaningful causes and strengthen community engagement. By training employees and actively participating in these campaigns, they contribute to reducing trafficking risks on the road.

Drivers are on the frontlines of spotting human trafficking. Many began their careers with limited knowledge of human trafficking but have since become deeply engaged through their fleet's use of TAT's training programs, including serving on TAT's advisory board. Many drivers understand that human trafficking is constantly changing and evolving and that there is always more information to learn, emphasizing the importance of updated refresher training.

Training Benefits

• Drivers emphasize the importance of TAT's realistic training scenarios and survivor testimonials. Hearing from another perspective is powerful. Additionally, ties to family in training are impactful; many fleet and company personnel have had personal experience that made them want to get involved in the fight against human trafficking.
• The TAT app allows for quick reporting of suspicious activity, even anonymously, offering a lifeline for both drivers and victims. Drivers are cautious and it can take courage to come forward. The app also allows for on-demand information on how to recognize human trafficking and what actions to take.

Many social service providers are drawn to this work by personal experiences or a profound dedication to supporting survivors. Providers aim to create a safe space for victims of human trafficking who are exiting, which provides all the necessary care that a survivor requires. Providers interviewed agreed that initially human trafficking cases can be misunderstood due to limited education and training being available.

Holistic Support and Programs

Interviewees highlighted that it may take several attempts offering services before victims accept help. Organizations offer options to victims, never forcing them to choose services/resources.

• Residential Programs: Many providers offer comprehensive programs covering trauma recovery, education, and job readiness, addressing survivors' emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. Organizations also provide ongoing support through online groups, counseling services, and emergency assistance. Support needs to be trauma-informed and survivor-centric.
• Transitional Support: Transitional houses help survivors progress toward independence, with support and regular check-ins to prevent relapses.
• Specialized Care for Youth: Some service providers aim to help child victims of human trafficking, offering an intensive program focused on trust and independence. These safe houses are voluntary and depend on the child's willingness to participate.

Collaborative Approach

Providers agreed a multidisciplinary approach is crucial to provide support. Programs need someone inside the system (i.e., prosecutors, law enforcement) and outside the system (i.e., safe houses, victim advocates) working together to help human trafficking victims.

• Law Enforcement: Providers work closely with law enforcement to ensure safe exits and necessary services for survivors during prosecutions, often through structured, coordinated efforts involving victim advocates and legal professionals.
• Hospitality: Many of the organizations interviewed collaborate with hotels to provide training.
• Community Integration: A lot of survivors do not have something to put on a resume, so one organization has partnered with a local community college to create a volunteer program. Survivors create a resume and cover letter and send it off to a volunteer coordinator, who then sets up an interview. Survivors then come, interview, and volunteer at the community office.

Trends and Challenges in Human Trafficking

• Providers note a shift in trafficking to digital platforms, along with a rise in trafficking within LGBTQ+ communities and familial networks. Awareness of these groups' vulnerabilities to trafficking has grown, but significant work remains to address these challenges.
• With trafficking shifting to digital platforms, efforts to track human trafficking are more challenging. There's been a rise in traffickers within apps and video games, which has led to a rise in boys being victims. Traffickers pose as young girls and steal images sent to them, which can lead to "sextortion."
• Limited funding and the lack of a centralized data system complicates tracking and addressing human trafficking cases effectively.

Training and Awareness Efforts

Training tailored to various sectors (i.e., medical, law enforcement, and hospitality) is essential. Different types of trafficking (i.e., sex vs. labor trafficking) and demographic factors require a tailored approach. Survivor-led training programs, which offer a unique perspective, have proven particularly effective, ensuring that those in positions help recognize and respond to human trafficking effectively.

Experience and Knowledge

Several officers interviewed had over ten years of experience on the force, and many officers in specialized units work daily on human trafficking cases, facing complex challenges. Officers highlighted that traffickers manipulate victims to mistrust law enforcement and often threaten violence if survivors attempt to seek help, making initial interactions challenging. They shared that many survivors are dealing with active addiction and do not believe they're being trafficked, further complicating intervention.

Training Programs and Best Practices

• Required Training: Officers undergo both state-mandated and elective training, such as those provided by the Human Trafficking Institute and the Transformation Freedom Initiative to equip them with essential knowledge to combat human trafficking.
• Community Engagement: Law enforcement participates in community training for nonprofits, schools, and religious groups, aiming to spread human trafficking awareness and prevention tactics.

Effective Collaboration with Social Service Providers

Collaboration with social services enables law enforcement to provide victims with immediate access to secure housing and necessary support following rescues or raids. Officers also work closely with victim advocates and prosecutors to create a supportive environment for survivors while pursuing justice.

Insights and Recommendations

• Challenges in Investigation: Officers report a rise in online arrangements and cashless transactions, complicating their work. Trafficking at truck stops is not as common as online trafficking.
• Hotline vs. 911: While national hotlines are available, officers recommend 911 for urgent cases due to faster investigation times. If a case is time sensitive, such as those happening at truck stops, calling 911 is the better option. Officers emphasize that in any suspected case, it's critical to report suspicions promptly.

Each of these stakeholders plays a critical role in the ongoing fight against human trafficking. Their experiences reflect the importance of continued training, collaboration, and public awareness to ensure that all hands are on deck in the effort to end human trafficking.