Trucking association joins fight against human trafficking

The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) has joined the fight to stop human trafficking by partnering with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT).

The MTA Board of Directors voted unanimously at its March meeting to support this effort.

"Because MTA members travel areas where human trafficking occurs, they are in a unique position to combat the problem" says Joyce Brenny, Chairwoman of the association. "Our partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking will help heighten awareness of illegal activities that may be taking place at rest areas across the state."

In a series of FBI stings between 2003-2009, truck stops were one of the locations, across America, where more than 500 children were rescued, millions of dollars recovered and perpetrators arrested.

The Department of Justice estimates there are between 100,000 - 300,000 American children at-risk every year to traffickers, and that countless American children, teens and young women are sold into the sex trade. Human trafficking is a $32 billion-a-year industry, the second most lucrative crime in the world.

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) began in March 2009 as an initiative of Chapter 61 Ministries (www.chapter61.com) to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking industry of the critical role they can play in fighting one of the most lucrative and destructive crimes in the Unites States and Globally.

Today, TAT is its own 501c3 organization. It offers a website, www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com; a trucking-industry-specific training DVD; webinars; Human Trafficking 101 classes; train the trainer classes and presentations; the printing of wallet cards truckers can carry with questions to ask, red flags to look for and the National Hotline number to call if trafficking is suspected; posters the trucking industry can print and post with the National Hotline number; and publicity and promotion.

Joyce Brenny appeared on the Dave Nemo Show today (Sirius/XM 106) to announce the partnership. "We believe so strongly in this program that we have provided special training to our top drivers to focus on particular hot spots." Instructional DVDs and driver wallet cards will be distributed by the MTA to its membership to assist in this effort.

For more information on Truckers Against Trafficking or how you can help, contact tat.truckers@gmail.com or visit www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com.

People suspecting trafficking should call the National Hotline number of 1 (888) 373-7888.

The MTA is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of Minnesota's motor carrier industry since 1932. With 700 member companies, the MTA is a powerful voice for the industry. Its mission is "to ensure that the trucking industry speaks with one voice by bringing together truckers, their employers and contractors, and allies to: Create a positive image for the industry; promote safe, environmentally clean and essential services; and encourage an economic and political environment that provides our industry with fair competition."

For more information go to www.mntruck.org.

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