This year, Saia is continuing its partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a national organization leading the fight against human sex trafficking through extensive partnerships with the trucking industry. Each year TAT trains thousands of truckers, rest stop employees, and law enforcement officials on how to both recognize trafficking and to intervene by safely calling a national hotline that alerts law enforcement. This approach has resulted in a significant increase in the number of reports of human trafficking, arrests, prosecutions, and, most importantly, recovery of victims.

Sex trafficking occurs any time there is a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person engaged in the act is under the age of 18. Sex trafficking is a serious and growing problem across the United States.

Saia recognizes that we have a unique opportunity to partner with TAT and their thousands of members in the fight against this heinous crime. We are the eyes and ears of our nation's highways and are in a unique position to make a difference to close loopholes to traffickers who seek to exploit our transportation system for personal gain.

Reminders for Line Drivers:

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to control their victims. Any minor engaged in commercial sex is a victim of human trafficking. While the initial purchase of victims may occur online, the real-time sale of victims can happen in many locations, including truck stops, restaurants, rest areas, hotels/motels, strip clubs, private homes, and more.

If you see a minor working any of those areas or suspect that the person selling sex is under someone else’s control, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 888-373-7888, and report a tip. If you are witnessing a crime in progress, please call 911.

Some things to look for:

• Persons with a lack of knowledge of their whereabouts or they are not in control of their ID/passport.
• Someone not allowed to speak.
• CB chatter about “commercial company” or flashing lights signaling a “buyer” location.
• If a passenger vehicle pulls into the truck parking area of a rest area or truck stop and multiple people (usually females) get out of the vehicle and begin going from truck to truck
• A van or RV that seems out of place or a vehicle dropping someone off at a truck and then picking them up a few minutes later.

Red Flags for City Drivers

While on the job, city drivers may also encounter human trafficking situations, even in neighborhoods.

• Any time you believe you are witnessing someone under the control of someone, regardless of their age or gender.
• Any time you hear a suspected victim mentioning that he/she must make a quota.
• Extreme security measures on homes and businesses that appear out of place.
• Pay attention to any potential victims that may be visible. Do you see anyone who looks distressed or upset, crying or fearful?

One red flag on its own may not mean anything, but if you are noticing multiple red flags or other parts of the story don’t add up, please make an immediate call to the national hotline.

Lastly, we recognize that drivers are not social workers, nor are we asking you to be. We certainly do not want any employees putting themselves in danger. But, if things don’t add up and multiple red flag indicators are present, please take a second look and be willing to make a call.