Truck Driver's 911 Call Stops Trafficking

Earlier this year, Human Trafficking blogger Amanda Kloer wrote about why America's long-distance truckers can be our first line of defense against human trafficking. One observant trucker proved her right by setting off a chain of events with one 911 phone call that lead to the rescue of nine minors, 31 offender convictions, and shutting down a 13-state trafficking ring.

AsktheTrucker.com reminded us this week how one simple phone call by a concerned person can have a huge impact on ending trafficking. The trucker said he noticed the girls "appeared pretty young" and something was not right about how they looked going from truck to truck at the truck stop. That trucker knew enough about trafficking to recognize a potentially dangerous situation and responded in kind by calling 911. Because of that, not only were those two girls, ages 14 and 15, rescued, but eventually seven other minors were rescued, 31 convictions were made, and girls will no longer be trafficked across the boarders of 13 states by this particular trafficking ring. One phone call lead to all those victories. One phone call freed children from night after night of multiple rapes and violent abuse and helped them to get home.

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is working hard to make sure all truckers have access to the education and tools they need to identify and respond to human trafficking they may encounter on the road. Through training, DVDs, cards with trafficking hotline info that fit into a wallet, and other projects, TAT is slowly raising awareness among America's truckers and creating a vast network of eyes and ears on the lookout for trafficking, drawing in groups like Real Women in Trucking. The simple act of learning what to look for has the potential to free thousands of trafficking victims each year and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Whether you're a trucker or not, TAT webinars about what you can do to help fight trafficking are being offered this month, September 7th, 15th, 16, and the 23rd. Go here for more info and to register. TAT is also working on a film and multi-media presentation about human trafficking and the long-haul trucker's role in aiding it or preventing it. Check out the teaser trailer below with interview excerpts from one of the girls rescued by that 911 call.

And remember, one phone call about suspicious behavior is all it took to rescue these underage girls and bring down their traffickers. Like this trucker, stay observant and educate yourselves about the signs of trafficking. If you suspect trafficking is occurring, call 911 or the National Human Trafficking hotline, 1-888-373-7888. One phone call. A myriad of victories in the fight against human trafficking.

Truckers Against Trafficking Teaser from Brad Riley on Vimeo.

Photo credit: jminor