Editor’s note: Human trafficking is the trade of humans against their will, most commonly for sexual slavery, involuntary labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Recently, it has become an increasingly local problem — particularly the interstate sex trafficking of minors. Here, I speak with the executive director of Truckers Against Trafficking, Esther Goetsch, about the organization's mission to combat human trafficking, the unique role truckers play in the fight and the specific impact their efforts are having. 

Rennie: What is TAT’s mission?  

Goetsch: TAT stands committed to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of key industries and agencies to combat human trafficking. One of our cofounders, Lyn Leeburg, put two and two together on this one: She came across an FBI statistic that showed how women and children were often being forced into prostitution at truck stops, and she recognized the incredible potential the trucking industry could have if drivers were educated and equipped on the issue — and she was right. Further, TAT recognized that a major cultural shift was needed away from the “she’s prostituting by choice” mentality toward the reality that, if you’re seeing a minor selling commercial sex or any sign of pimp control, you are witnessing sex trafficking. By changing hearts, minds and perspectives, we are working to raise up a transient army to help law enforcement in recovering victims and arresting traffickers and buyers. And that army continues to grow, with more than 2.2 million members of industries and agencies being TAT trained. 

Rennie: What does your training involve? 

Goetsch: We tell the backstories of the victims; we help them understand who really is in control out there; we humanize what is often objectified; and we empower them to take simple, but effective, steps to help. The training involves industry-specific videos that we ask commercial driver’s license instructors, safety directors and truck stop general managers to show their drivers and employees. We also have an accompanying wallet card and an app that provide the signs to look for, questions to ask and the actionable information law enforcement needs when someone reports a tip. Last year, we also created a corporate training video for company employees who aren’t on the road, so they can discover how human trafficking often intersects with their lives as well and the action steps they can take. We’d love to see every company decide that the carriers who move their products should be TAT trained. 

Rennie: Tell me about the unique influence truckers have on the problem of human trafficking. And what is the specific role that they can play once they are trained?  

Goetsch: At any given time, there are more professional drivers out on the road than law enforcement officers. These drivers also frequent places pimps will bring their victims, such as truck stops, rest areas, hotels and motels; they truly are the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways. We want them to take a second look and be aware of how traffickers seek to exploit the victims they sell. If a trucker is witnessing a crime in progress, they need to call 911 and report it immediately. Then, they need to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline and report it there as well. The hotline is also the perfect number to use when a trucker, or anyone, isn’t sure if what they’re looking at is really human trafficking. When you call, you’ll be connected 24/7 to a trained specialist who can help you ascertain the situation and contact law enforcement as needed. This is also the number to call to access victim services. Drivers can remain anonymous and confidential when calling the hotline, and we always tell them that it’s okay to be wrong. Better to find out everything is all right than let someone endure sexual slavery. 

Rennie: What should people be on the lookout for with regards to sex trafficking?

Goetsch: Any time you see a minor selling commercial sex — and it doesn’t matter if she or he is smiling or saying that they like it or want to be out there — or you witness any kind of pimp control, call 911 and then the hotline. Pimp control often involves talk about making a quota, tattoos with signs of ownership, a car dropping off multiple girls or women to work the row, talk of a commercial company over the CB radio, drug addiction, bruising, lack of identification, or someone being unfamiliar with his or her surroundings. Call law enforcement and the hotline immediately, and report what you see. The key for all of us really is taking a second look and examining our assumptions. If we think someone is prostituting willingly, then that’s all we’ll ever see. 

Human trafficking around the world

Induced by force, fraud and coercion, human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that is happening in record numbers. According to the United Nations, human trafficking is one of the most serious human rights violations of our time, affecting every country in the world. Human trafficking is also among the most profitable criminal enterprises, generating an estimated $236 billion in illicit profits each year. Traffickers most often target vulnerable populations, such as runaways, the poor, foster children, sufferers of warfare or natural disasters, as well as minority and LGBTQ+ populations. 

• There are 50 million people in modern-day slavery globally, which includes 27.6 million victims of human trafficking. 

• 77% of trafficking victims are trapped in forced labor in the private or public sector. 

• 23% of victims are in forced commercial sexual exploitation. 

• Nearly 4 out of 5 sex trafficking victims are women or girls. 

• Globally, 3.3 million human trafficking victims are children. 

• It is common practice to bar code or tattoo victims as commodities for purchase.  

Sources: International Labour Organization, United Nations, United Nations Children’s Fund and the Polaris Project 

Join the fight

To report suspected trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or text “INFO” or “HELP” to BEFREE (233733) in the United States. In Canada, call (833) 900-1010 for the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. Never approach traffickers; allow law enforcement to deal with the situation and recover victims. Victims of trafficking can call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE. To get involved with TAT, send an email to info@tatnonprofit.org.