In January, we recognized Human Trafficking Awareness Month, but the issue of human slavery exists every day of the year. It has been reported in all 50 states, and there are hundreds of thousands of victims in the United States. While illegal, human trafficking is a burgeoning business. Traffickers recruit victims from our schools, online, in shopping malls, as well as the streets and other locations.
Transportation professionals, especially those in the Last Mile, Middle Mile and Heavy Bulk Delivery segments are often face-to-face with trafficking situations and have the unique opportunity to disrupt this business, leading to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of victims.
Wherever your route takes you—to residences, apartment complexes or businesses—whether loading or unloading, parked on a break or to fuel up, know the signs of human trafficking:
Excessive traffic (different cars and typically men) coming in and out of one residence or business.
Extreme security measures on homes and businesses:
- Barred or covered windows
- Barbed wire
- Exterior cameras covering multiple views Locked front doors with alley entrances
- Locked front doors with alley entrances
When entering a place of business, keep an eye out for:
- Workers who appear to live there.
- Is there any shouting taking place, threats being made, is anyone asking for help?
- Do you see anyone who looks distressed or upset, crying or fearful?
When entering a residence, look for:
- A bedroom or separate area that appears to be in a different condition (i.e., different standard of living, mattress on floor, cleanliness, number of personal effects) than the other family bedrooms.
- Multiple people living in close quarters that seem to have a different standard of living than other people in the household.
- A bedroom or part of the home that has a lock on the outside of the room, rather than the inside.
- Evidence that indicates a person is only a guest in the home.
- Certain people at the property who are not as engaging as others in the house, as if they have been told not to (or are unable to) communicate with anyone.
If you are interested in learning more about what you can do if you see signs of a potential human trafficking situation, visit Truckers Against Trafficking. Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the transportation industries to combat human trafficking. More than 1.5 million industry professionals across North America have been TAT trained to combat human trafficking.
BizChoice Transportation is a proud partner of TAT.
Renee Paul is vice president of BizCHOICE Transportation, a division of Specialty Program Group, LLC. Renee has been instrumental in creating contract carrier insurance programs for the Heavy Bulk Last Mile Delivery segment of the transportation industry. She also has experience integrating a variety of technology solutions with insurance offerings to promote safety and compliance across transportation networks and logistics companies. Renee earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business Management and Administration from Humboldt State University, and is a licensed broker in Accident, Life and Health, Property and Casualty and Surplus Lines.