INDIANAPOLIS — A major focus of fighting human trafficking is in the transportation industry.
Indiana is known as the "Crossroads of America." The Indiana State Police are partnering with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance in a special initiative Jan. 8-12 to raise human trafficking awareness among truckers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation says human traffickers use the interstate system for recruitment, moving and controlling victims, and even delivering victims to buyers for sex or forced labor. Four major interstates cross Indiana.
"It's alive and well in Indiana,” said Kimberly Hill, a motor carrier inspector with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. “That's probably because of the crossroads of America. A lot of this is happening on our interstates and they're bringing people in. So, it's happening right in front of us, right in our backyard."
Law enforcement says that truckers are the eyes and ears of the nation's highways. Truckers are in the best position to spot potential signs of human trafficking in places like truck stops.
"They're in places that the rest of us aren't,” said Hill. “They're behind the scenes picking up loads, and they're also spending nights at the truck stops where human trafficking may be occurring. So, they're in places where we're not normally at that they can see, whether it's sex trafficking happening, or labor trafficking."
Hill emphasizes that message in conversations with truckers during inspections at weigh stations. During the weeklong initiative she will be providing truckers materials to help them identify and report signs of human trafficking.
"Maybe a young person hanging out at a truck stop coming in and out of an RV,” said Hill. “A young person, maybe, who's under control of somebody that doesn't appear to be a parent. Looking for those kinds of things that look out of the ordinary."
A law that just took effect last July requires people getting a commercial driver's license in Indiana to complete human trafficking awareness training.
To report suspected human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text INFO to 233733.