Human trafficking means modern day slavery and it is a lucrative criminal activity which exploits human beings for the benefit & satisfaction of another. The victims are often women and children who perform work and/or sex acts against their will by means of intimidation and coercion.

Often immigrants who speak little english who have a dream for a better life are the misled by advertisments promising jobs in other countries. They are abducted and held captive until they are “groomed” or “broken”. Feigned love, deception, isolation & intimidation are other tactics used to gain control of the “target or “mark” which is the naive person who has answered an advertisement or sometimes a runaway who is searching for a safe haven. The method used to abduct such persons can be complex. Sometimes the “mark” was once in a relationship with the person who is now their captor. Never knowing that the relationship was always a front to engange them emotionally in order to control them later.

This is what a Pimp does, another form of Human Trafficker or slaver. This is not glamorous.

Some mistake smuggling people into the country such as illegal immigrants who pay for transport into the U.S.Borders for voluntary work to be the same but this is not the case. People who smuggle people for this purpose are called “Coyotes‘ in the southwest. The people smuugled by a “Coyote” are generally set free but in human trafficking they are not. If you are a movie buff check out the film “Crash ” , there are many elements in this movie about ourselves and the cycle we all perpetuate.

The United States of America is one of the largest consumers of child sex and our country helps fuel the sex tourism industry worldwide. Denial is not a solution for a problem like this, that only helps it get stronger. I have said this before about denial which permeates the trucking industry but now individual truckers can make a difference to show they care by keeping their eyes open and becoming educated on this topic.

The basis of all commodities is their worth and human beings can be sold multiple times. Human beings can be used over and over until they escape or die. In trucking we see many unusual things but at days end we are tired and often look the other way. Once your eyes have been opened to this issue perhaps you might not be able to put it out of your mind if you understand that there are people who are being held against their will, brainwashed, fearful and who are being forced to do things for the benefit of a captor. Abuse to these victims can be both physical and mental so damaged are some of these people that they truly believe there is no other reality except for the one the captor has made for them,

“Truckers Against Trafficking” is an organization dedicated to raising awareness inside the trucking industry to this issue and they are asking for your eyes and ears to report activities seen that indicate behavior related to human trafficking. Wallet Cards provide simple information to help you understand better that what you might view as voluntary prostitution may in fact be trafficking of victims who are being held as slaves. The cards can be downloaded or you can contact Chapter 61 Ministries and they will send some to you. I received a package of them and I leave my tip inside them for the waitstaff when I eat at truck stop restaurants. I have been thanked by waitstaff who said they often see very upsetting things but never knew who to call. A waitress in Arkansas told me she often goes home at night wondering what she could have done to report disturbing things she has seen at her place of employment.  Here is a picture of a wallet card .

The truck stops have not embraced the idea of putting information in the womens restrooms and this is actually one of my pet projects to get them to not only put some help phone numbers in ladies rooms for the National Human Trafficking Hotline but also for National Domestic Violence Hotline .  As we all know, being held in a truck and being isolated from the outside world is a TRUTH in trucking , a real possibility. Using the ladies room or shower might be the only time a woman has a chance to be alone for a few moments.

If the truck stops can sell studded condoms in their bathrooms and cleansing wipes to kill herpes after unprotected sex they can sure as hell put up a flyer to help women who ARE NOT doing this by choice! I want to know why NATSO the “National Association of Truck Stop Owners” has not made “Truckers Against Trafficking” awarenes project a priority! I am personally offended when I am solicited to buy gold chains, drugs & 2 boxes of milk duds when I only want one box but told I am soliciting if I leave brocheres for “Jason’s Law” The Safe Trucker Parking Bill OR “Truckers Against Trafficking” wallets cards by Truck Stop management!

Educating the truck stop owners and management will go a long way but understand the the truckers are the ones on the ground who are using the facilities and seeing the unusual behavior.

When I attended the “Mid-America Truck Show” in Louisville this past March I stopped by to speak to the Chaplin at the Transport for Christ booth who shared with me that crime DECREASES at truck stops where they have a chapel and INCREASES shortly after they have lost their lease agreements.

I agree that individual management is a factor as I stated in Allen Smith’s informative “Blog Talk Radio” on this topic with Kylla Leeburg of Chaper 61 Ministries who joined the program to educate us on this important topic. I have included the archived show so you can listen to the replay.

Technorati Tags: Human Trafficking, NATSO, Transport for Christ, Truck Stops, Trucking, Women

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