TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with Truckers Against Trafficking and the Florida Trucking Association, hosted a training seminar in Orlando this week to aid truck drivers in spotting and stopping human trafficking. The training is beneficial for all stakeholders by encouraging cooperation in implementing effective strategies to combat human trafficking statewide.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “I am excited to hold this training session with our partners, Truckers Against Trafficking and the Florida Trucking Association, so that truck drivers across our state will be equipped with the tools needed to spot human trafficking. Truck drivers are our eyes and ears on Florida’s roadways and play an important role in our fight to end human trafficking in our state. We must use every available resource to catch traffickers and rescue victims, and partnerships like this are instrumental in our efforts.”
Esther Goetsch, Truckers Against Trafficking, said, “At any given time there are more truck and bus drivers out on the roads than there are law enforcement officers. Truck drivers, bus drivers, bus terminal workers and truck stop employees are in positions to see potential victims and report it to law enforcement, making them critical industries in the fight against human trafficking. TAT is pleased to be partnering with Florida Attorney General Moody and the Florida Trucking Association to host this event today and to bring together key industry stakeholders and law enforcement in an ongoing effort to close loopholes to traffickers.”
Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of Florida Trucking Association, said, “FTA has been a proud partner of the Attorney General and TAT for years. Our members and drivers are committed to using our eyes and voices to drive human traffickers out of Florida.”
Truckers Against Trafficking’s Build the Coalition program is a strategic initiative to combat human trafficking, specifically within the trucking industry. This program brings together professional drivers, bus terminal workers, truck stop managers and law enforcement officials to learn about the information and resources necessary to effectively stop and report potential human trafficking.
At today’s training, participants heard from trafficking experts, a panel of law enforcement officials and survivors. In addition to the trainings, participants were able to interact with the Freedom Drivers Project—a semi-truck that has been converted into an interactive mobile unit, featuring displays and evidence from closed cases of human trafficking.
Thousands of truck drivers have reported potential victims to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. To report instances of human trafficking, call 911 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1(888) 373-7888.
Attorney General Moody is dedicated to ending human trafficking in Florida. The Attorney General chairs the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. The council consists of law enforcement officials, experts, survivors and strategic partners, who meet quarterly to coordinate efforts in the fight against human trafficking.
The Attorney General’s office also created a website with resources and information on reporting Human Trafficking in Florida. To learn the signs and how to report human trafficking, go to YouCanStopHT.com.
The Statewide Council on Human Trafficking Annual Report for 2019 is available here.
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