From January 12 through January 16, the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division partnered with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance as part of the annual Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative. The initiative is taking place across North America during the same timeframe.

During the effort, Indiana State Police are engaging with commercial motor vehicle drivers during roadside inspections and other enforcement activities. Officers are distributing educational materials provided by TAT, formerly known as Truckers Against Trafficking, to increase awareness and help identify potential signs of trafficking.

Why Transportation Corridors Matter

Human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations, involves the exploitation of people through force, fraud, or deception for profit. Transportation corridors often intersect with locations where trafficking activity can occur, including truck stops, rest areas, and other high-traffic facilities.

Commercial drivers are frequently present in these environments, placing them in a unique position to notice situations that may otherwise go unseen. More than 40 percent of cases reported by truck drivers involve minors, underscoring the importance of awareness within the industry.

Part of a Broader Prevention Program

The Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative is one component of CVSA’s larger Human Trafficking Prevention Program. The program combines enforcement activity with education and outreach, aiming to reduce trafficking through consistent engagement across the commercial vehicle industry.

Training efforts tied to TAT continue to expand nationwide. Nearly 2.5 million trucking professionals have completed training through the organization, reflecting broad participation across carriers, drivers, and industry partners.

Awareness Beyond a Single Week

While the initiative is tied to a specific calendar window, participating agencies emphasize that awareness and reporting do not end when the week concludes. Materials distributed during inspections are intended to reinforce long-term recognition and encourage continued vigilance throughout the year.

The Indiana effort reflects how education, enforcement, and industry participation intersect in addressing human trafficking within the transportation network.

Source: WFFT

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Trucking groups call for action.

Major industry organizations joined forces in pressing Congress and DOT to take meaningful steps. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), American Trucking Associations, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, PrePass Safety Alliance, and the Shippers Coalition were among those submitting formal comments.

For years, OOIDA has urged lawmakers to pass the bipartisan Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which would dedicate $755 million to building and expanding truck parking facilities. The group didn’t mince words in its latest submission:

“OOIDA will not support surface transportation reauthorization that fails to dedicate federal funding exclusively for the expansion of truck parking capacity,” the Association wrote in comments signed by President Todd Spencer. “Specifically, truckers support HR1659, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, championed by Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn). This bipartisan legislation enjoys universal industry support and was reported out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2023 by a vote of 60-4.”

Parking shortage cuts into driver pay.

The financial impact of inadequate parking also drew attention. Even groups that often disagree with OOIDA, such as the Transportation Intermediaries Association, threw their weight behind the legislation.

“For drivers – this legislation would be transformative,” wrote Daniel Hoff, vice president of government affairs at TIA. “The chronic lack of parking forces drivers to waste valuable time searching for spots – costing the average driver about $5,500 in direct lost compensation, which adds up to about a 12% pay cut for drivers.”

Safety concerns on the rise

The PrePass Safety Alliance also weighed in, stressing that the lack of reliable parking poses a danger not only to drivers but also to the broader supply chain.

“By supporting expanded, accessible and secure truck parking and upgrading existing parking facilities with smart parking technology, DOT can address one of the most persistent barriers to both highway safety and supply chain efficiency,” wrote Ashley Simmons, vice president of policy and external affairs at PrePass Safety Alliance.

Individual drivers echoed those concerns in their own comments.

“Parking has become a huge issue and seriously needs to be addressed,” wrote trucker Jeremy Overfield.

A decade of frustration

Despite widespread agreement across the industry, many remain skeptical that Congress will act.

“Somehow, after nearly a decade of unified advocacy, the trucking industry still finds itself pleading for help and feeling anxious that Congress may again fail to act,” Spencer wrote. “Frankly, truckers are sick and tired of some lawmakers ignoring their pressing safety needs while funding other pet projects, and rest assured, they will be watching closely to see if Washington finally delivers.”

The comment period officially closed on September 8, leaving DOT and lawmakers with nearly 2,800 submissions to review. For drivers and fleets, the question remains: will Washington finally put parking on the priority list?

Source: Land Line Media

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The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee has issued a public warning regarding a scam targeting truck drivers near a Love’s Travel Stop along Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee.

According to an official Facebook post by the sheriff’s office, victims reported being approached by a suspect who then led them to a group of accomplices. The victims were coerced into participating in a betting game, which resulted in them being scammed out of their money and valuable items, such as jewelry.

The sheriff’s office has shared photos of the suspects and urged anyone with useful information to contact Detective Lt. Robby McMahan. If you have pertinent details, you can call 865-471-6000 ext. 1105 or email rmemahan@jeffersontytn.gov.

Text Scams Impersonating State Agencies

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also alerted the public on June 5 about a separate scam involving fraudulent text messages. These messages falsely claim to come from the “Tennessee Department of Vehicles” and warn recipients of outstanding traffic violations. The texts threaten fines, suspensions, and prosecution if payments are not made by a specified deadline and include links to supposedly resolve the issue.

Authorities advise recipients not to click these links and to immediately delete such messages. This particular scam follows a growing trend of phishing schemes targeting individuals through text messages across multiple states.

Earlier in the month, state Departments of Transportation from Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin also cautioned residents against similar scams. These phishing attempts often involve fake requests for payments related to unpaid tolls or traffic violations and use fraudulent messages that appear to be from official state agencies.

Tina Braddy, Director of Wisconsin’s DMV Bureau of Driver Services, commented on the pattern of scams, stating, “We’re hearing from our DMV counterparts that Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York were hit with this scam last week. Given the number of calls we’re getting from DMV customers, it’s likely Wisconsin is the next target. We want to protect our residents, so we are quickly issuing this alert to ensure fewer fall victim to these scams.”

Protect Yourself from Fraud

Both scams highlight the importance of vigilance when dealing with unsolicited communications, especially those requesting payments or personal information. If you receive suspicious messages or are approached under dubious circumstances, report them to local authorities and avoid sharing any sensitive details. Always verify the authenticity of messages or calls claiming to come from official organizations before taking any action.

Source: Land Line

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