Senate Panel Approves Bills to Combat Human Trafficking in Trucking

Senators ramped up efforts to fight human trafficking by turning their focus to the transportation and trucking industry.

The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved a pair of bipartisan bills that target transportation providers — such as truckers and commercial vehicle drivers — and the role they can play in combating human trafficking.

"As our eyes and ears on the road, truckers and commercial drivers are often the first line of defense against human trafficking," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who co-sponsored one of the measures. "By providing training to recognize and report trafficking, we can empower them to prevent this heinous crime across the country."

What the bills do

One bill, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, would bar individuals from ever operating a commercial motor vehicle if they have used such a vehicle to commit a felony involving human trafficking.

The other, the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, would create an advisory committee on the issue and designate a "human trafficking prevention coordinator" at the Department of Transportation. It would also increase outreach, education and reporting efforts at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Both pieces of legislation head to the Senate floor for consideration.

"An important step toward combating human trafficking in the U.S.," said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the transportation committee, who co-sponsored the bills. "The sooner they get to the president's desk, the sooner we can send a strong message to anyone who might consider engaging in this horrendous criminal activity."

Why trucking matters

Lawmakers have been working to address what they call a growing human-rights crisis. One area getting more attention is the transportation sector, because traffickers use the country's transportation networks to move victims around. The industry is well-positioned to help identify and prevent the problem.

The departments of Homeland Security and Transportation have launched an initiative to train airline personnel to better identify potential traffickers and victims and report suspicions to federal law enforcement.

"Human trafficking must be fought on many fronts," Thune said.

For professional drivers, the message is simple and important: knowing the warning signs — and how to report them safely — can save lives. Organizations such as Truckers Against Trafficking offer free training that puts that knowledge in every driver's hands.