Today’s Pickup: Truckers Against Trafficking launches new campaign to stop “inhuman practices of sex traffickers”

Good day,

Truckers Against Trafficking has launched the Man to Man Campaign in an effort to eliminate human trafficking in the transportation industry.

The campaign, backed by the American Trucking Associations, invites men to speak out about the inhuman practices of sex traffickers to individuals who demand their services.

“Our industry’s voice is powerful. From truck drivers to dock workers to dispatchers throughout the supply chain, if we can continue talking to one another about the atrocity that is human trafficking, we can make substantial progress toward our goal of eliminating it,” said ATA COO Elisabeth Barna at a press conference announcing the initiative. “Now that our industry is aware that human trafficking is a problem, we want to challenge trucking to take the next step in its eradication. That starts by having difficult conversations with people in our communities, but we know we’re up for the challenge.”

Other supporters of the program include Demand Abolition, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking, ATA’s America’s Road Team, UPS and Walmart.

The Man to Man Campaign is founded on the belief that if there were no demand for commercial sex, then sex trafficking would not exist, organizers said. Truckers Against Trafficking is featuring drivers who advocate strongly against and keep an eye out for trafficking on their website, social media pages, and on banners at speaking engagements throughout the country. The banners will also flank TAT’s Freedom Drivers Project, a touring tractor-trailer exhibition about human trafficking that stops at trucking’s major events.

 According to national survey results from Demand Abolition, 20% of adult men ages 18-64 have bought or would consider buying commercial sex if the circumstances permitted. Further, approximately 35% of men have searched online sex ads but not engaged in the transaction.

“At the very root of the sex trafficking and sexual exploitation epidemic sweeping our nation and world is the demand,” said Truckers Against Trafficking Deputy Director Kylla Lanier. “The prostituted person, and more recently, the traffickers have been the focus of attention and arrests, while the buyer goes home with a warning. This must change. Traffickers meet the demand for commercial sex by luring their victims into this life and keeping them there through force, fraud or coercion. If there were no money to be made, they wouldn’t pursue this criminal activity.”

Truckers Against Trafficking created a webpage dedicated to the Man to Man Campaign. Users can visit the site to learn more about how private sector stakeholders are addressing the issue, learn how to react to signs of human trafficking, and discover ways to share the Man to Man Campaign message with individuals in their communities.

As part of ATA’s efforts to help train the industry’s 7.4 million trucking industry employees in human trafficking awareness, ATA recommends trucking companies and drivers visit the official Truckers Against Trafficking website. Truck drivers are also asked to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report suspicious behavior related to human trafficking at 1-888-373-7888.

Did you know?

FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index for December was -8.8, unchanged from November. Carrier capacity remains extremely tight with rate acceleration expected through the second quarter, it said.

Quotable:

“Every major [retail] trend we see across 2017 can be explained by the fact that more of Amazon’s core demographic (millennials) are growing up: they’re increasingly owning homes, raising children, and buying a ton of stuff to go with it.”

– Spencer Millerberg, One Click Retail CEO

In other news:

Air cargo industry in crisis

A lack of capacity and outdated airports are causing real problems for the air cargo industry as it struggles to keep up with growing volumes. (The Loadstar)

Amazon continues dominance

Amazon now holds 4% of the total U.S. retail market share according to One Click Retail, and accounted for 44% of all e-commerce sales in 2017. (CNBC)

Truck driver among toughest jobs to fill

According to an analysis by job site CareerCast, the position of truck driver is among the 10 most difficult jobs for employers to fill in the U.S. (Transport Topics)

Maersk sets sail on new course

Global container line Maersk is working to transform itself and said it hopes to model itself after companies like FedEx and UPS by offered complete, one-stop shipping services. (DC Velocity)

Port of New Orleans considers expansion

The Port of New Orleans is considering a $1B expansion plan that would enable it to handle even more container volume following a record year. (New Orleans Advocate)

Final Thoughts

Career website CareerCast just compiled a list of the 10 toughest jobs to fill in America, and it’s no surprise that truck driver is on the list. The site says that even though there is only about a 6% growth outlook, by 2026 there will be 108,400 more truck drivers than there are today. So much for autonomous trucks taking away jobs.

Hammer down everyone!

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