Modern-day slavery, or human trafficking, exists
whenever people are bought and sold for forced labor or commercial
sex. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, and the number
of victims in the United States is estimated in the hundreds of
thousands.
The FBI estimates that between 100,000 and 300,000
children—often as young as 11 years old—are at risk of being forced into the
$32 billion sell-for-sex industry each year. These victims are moved frequently
throughout the nation and traded with other human traffickers to make it
difficult to identify and rescue them. Many children spend years, even into
adulthood, trapped in this trafficking cycle with no hope of being freed.
Human trafficking is taking place in all corners of
the U.S., often in broad daylight. Truck stops and travel plazas are among the
most popular locations for traffickers to seek business. Since truck drivers
regularly visit trucks stops, they are well positioned to help sex trafficking
victims. Ruan is proud to sponsor Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an
organization poised to educate, empower and mobilize truckers to play a
critical role in combating this destructive crime—and ensuring children are
returned safely to their homes.
TAT provides educational information to help
truckers identify human trafficking and a hotline to report suspicious
activity. If you
suspect human trafficking is taking place at a truck stop—or anywhere—please
contact the TAT hotline: 1-888-3737-888. Or, if you know a crime is taking
place, call the local police.
Please visit www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org for more
information and to watch a video about how you can help fight human trafficking
and save someone from this form of modern-day slavery.
