TruckingIndustry.news

New Bill Proposes Mandatory Human Trafficking Awareness Course For CDL Holders

by Jana Ritter - Published: 4/12/2017

The nation has stepped up the fight against human sex trafficking over the last few years and organizations such as Truckers Against Trafficking have been educating truck drivers to become the soldiers on the frontline. But President Trump recently addressed the issue as a horrific epidemic that continues to exist and something that requires more government action as well.

                                                                Human trafficking at truck stops

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December 27, 2017 - Iowa First Of Eight States To Debut New Truck Parking Information System

                                                               Now a bill has been introduced in the Texas senate that would make it mandatory for anyone looking to obtain a commercial vehicle license to undergo a human trafficking awareness course. The bill was introduced by Senator Sylvia R. Garcia after she discovered how serious of a problem sex trafficking has become in her state, especially on the roadways between Houston and El Paso. Her proposed bill follows similar legislation action already in the works in Kansas and Arkansas. and legislation in Ohio that already requires students taking any of the state regulated professional truck driver training programs to complete human trafficking training prior to receiving their Commercial Driver's License.

"Once truck drivers know what to do, there is an increase the NHTH (National Human Trafficking Hotline) gets in leads. This is leading to more cases being made. I think any help that law enforcement gets in terms of tips that they can follow ... that's great for everybody," Garcia says.

                                                                 Iowa couple arrested for human trafficking

Kevin Kimmel is one such truck driver whose quick decision to call in a tip ended up saving a girl's life. He had never really given much thought to the issue of human trafficking until one morning in January 2015, when he spotted some strange activity at a truck stop in New Kent County, Virginia. He observed a man knock on the door of an RV with black curtains drawn and then saw the man be quickly let inside. Minutes later he saw the RV rocking back and forth. Then shortly after he saw the man leave, he spotted a young looking girl peek from behind the black curtains and abruptly disappear. His instinct told him to call law enforcement and within minutes the parking lot was swarming with officers. Then next thing he knew they were escorting a battered looking young girl out of the RV and then an older man and woman in handcuffs. It turns out the couple had lured the girl away from her home in Iowa and held her against her will for months. She had suffered unspeakable forms of daily torture in the RV and was forced to have sex with men that the couple found on-line and at the truck stops. The couple was sentenced to over 40 years in prison and Kimmel has since made it his mission to help educate fellow drivers by speaking at TAT events.

                                                                  Kevin Kimmel

Kimmel says that truckers are often seen as prime customers for traffickers because of the transient nature of their job. "Traffickers are constantly moving these people. They stay in the darkness. That's why they can't be anywhere too long. But when you're moving them, then you come into my world. If we know the signs and are vigilant then we can make a big piece of this problem go away," Kimmel explains. He also says that part of educating truck drivers is to change their attitude about what is really going on with many of these girls. "We need to get rid of this thought that they (prostitutes who approach truckers) are doing it because they are putting themselves through college or that was their choice as that's seldom the case."

Kendis Paris of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) says this is exactly why her organization is dedicated to educating truckers about what to look out for, how to report suspected incidences of trafficking and why it is important to do so. "A lot of guys are not sure if they're really looking at prostitution or trafficking and they just need to be helped," Paris says. "At any given time in the United States there are more truckers out on the road than there are law enforcement officers. We want to raise up a mobile army that can report these situations instead of having them take place under their noses."


Dawn Banach
Dawn Banach
STOP THE INSANITY. Just let truck drivers do their job. This is a stressful enough job without more hoops to jump through. I'm a sick of the over regulation of everything. Go after the human traffickers not a truck driver trying to make a living for their family. The government has allowed human trafficking to reach the level it has by all their politically correct crap and now want to make the truck driver take a course in it? Why not make government officials take a course in it instead?
Jason Cody
Jason Cody
Exactly Kathleen Squzdndmddl Allen
Candice Hankins
Candice Hankins
Everyone should be aware and be trained to see the signs, the TSA is trained, why is it so bad for everyone to be? I just don't see the problem.
Guy Ciabattoni
Guy Ciabattoni
Human trafficking in the trucking world is at a low point that hasn't been seen in who knows how long. FBI declared a war on sex trade a few years back. It's just like accidents with 4 wheelers and trucks 83 percent of the time the 4 wheeler is at fault yet we get clamped down on. It's statistically proven that we are the safest generation of truckers by far yet they are still trying to control us. Every day we get screws put to us. We are all able to spot trafficking we don't need a course. Make it available to those who want it sure. But making it a requirement is ridiculous. Tsa well it's their job, just like driving a truck is our job. Chill with the damn rules or America is gonna stop moving....
Griff Ace
Griff Ace
Most drivers know when something is out of place and needs to be reported
Don James Cooper
Don James Cooper
OMG ppl what if that was your little girl that got put into this situation you would want someone who is educated to notice things like this. Police cannot be everywhere and we spend most of our time away from home on the road. I see no problem in this and would happily take this class to be educated so I can one day save someones child being a sex slave maybe I can save my own babies.
Bill Cox
Bill Cox
What's the next," MANDOTORY", class ?? No thanks
Victor Collins
Victor Collins
Currently I do what I can to be observant and willing to help anyone at anytime but the government start mandating this kind of bullshit and I can state without batting a eye, my eyes would become permanently closed!
Jeffrey Cook
Jeffrey Cook
I've suffered through countless hours of mandatory "training," only 20% of which was valuable. Government mandated training courses are almost always a waste of time, no matter how good the intent.
Charles Watkins
Charles Watkins
Gmt :)
Charles Hinchcliff
Charles Hinchcliff
No we don't need to be told you must, that makes people say F. U. Asking and making people aware of the problem is much better than trying to make it mandatory.
Beth Dallara
Beth Dallara
Would this be considered on duty not driving ? WTF ... we rarely have time for our own life when we park
Chris L. Rahn
Chris L. Rahn
We are truck drivers not law enforcement officers. If we want to involved with this fine. But we should not be forced to do so!
Kenny Snider Sr.
Kenny Snider Sr.
Although it has good intentions, I don't think heaving another mandatory class onto truckers is a good idea. Truck driver have already done alot to stop human trafficking on their own. Let them keep up the good work.
James R Maxwell
James R Maxwell
I rarely see lot lizards anymore. It's not like it was 25 years ago. You don't need a mandatory course to pick up the phone.
Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson
Not our job to do it that's government that's why we pay taxes. This just a lazy way for them to enforce another exam on us.
Elwood Decker
Elwood Decker
Theres already a regulation against human trafficking....hows that working out? Crack down on the people who buy them. They line the pockets of these monsters. If I see something I will say something. Please mr. Government man, just enforce the rules you have and stop with the mandatory junk thrown our way. We have enough on our plate already.
Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson
Another thing to make everyone scared of truckers, cops hate the fact that in 93percent of all incidents on our highways truckers are the first responders saving more lives than all law enforcement combined!
Merle Niehaus
Merle Niehaus
This so stupid and here is why,,,,,pilot truck stop Birmingham,al,,,,,,been woke 6 times in 4 hrs,by knocking on the door,,,hookers,,,couldn't go back to sleep because I'm pissed,,,,,get inside there's 3 Birmingham city cops ,in uniform,,, ,oh getting paid ,,on the side to guard the store at night on there off duty hrs,,,,,this came from them,,,I said it's bullshit that there's at least 12 working the parking lot and why ain't they doing anything, ,,,,his remark to me well if did use them they would be here,,,,hmmm I said funny. I report it,,,so accuse me of using them! They didn't do a Damn thing-,,,,the cops are part of it also
Kevin Hunter
Kevin Hunter
Like we have time. All day long it's bumping the governor trying to make good time, and trying to rush home to our families. Not to mention we are already the most regulated industry in the country. Only time we sit around is at a shipper and I doubt we will find anything there
Rex Park
Rex Park
Are you for freaking real? If those steering wheel holders out there didn't spend all their spare time on the radio looking for "recreational reptiles" to come back to "party row" the problem wouldn't be as bad as it is. It's been going on for many years and it will continue to go on for many more. You show all the screen captures of the activities, but a video camera isn't worth shit if all you do is look at the photos. You see a lot lizard climbing in a big rig, get the fucking tag number off the tractor and notify the owner. Then we'll see what happens.
Michael Parker
Michael Parker
Rex, I take it you watch a lot of youtube and TV shows about truckers. Betnyou have never ridden in an 18 wheeler cross country. If those drivers have time to have sex with lot lizards, then they are both single and broke. I drove for over 21 yrs and drove my trucks (both company and my own) like they were team operations (and I was a single driver). And as far as you calling all truck drivers "steering wheel holders" why aren't you one? You claim it's so easy to perform the job. Lets see you take 80,000 pounds down a six mile 6% downgrade in the snow and ice, while having to deal with ignorant four wheelers who think it's so smart to drive in thenright hand lane. Or, lets see you remember all the rules of each and every state, county and city; while having to remember the federal rules required to be able to legally operate you commerical vehicle. Let's not forget, TSA wants us to help them do their job. How about law enforcement, they beg us on the radio to assist them in stopping a vehicle they are chasing. Now, the Texas legislature wants to charge another fee for another bullshit test to go on top of the mandatory background checks (if we want haz/mat endorsements) even though there has never been an attempted terrorist attack by 18 wheeler. We go through more random drug test than pilots and doctors. So please, before you claim to know so much about what a real truck driver does, stop watching the youtube video to get your sexual pleasure from. Hell, stay off of your daily porn sites and open your mind to the real world. Remember asshole, if it wasn't for as you called them, those "steering wheel holders" you wouldn't have your computer, cell phone, food or anything else you eat or use. So slimebag, why don't you take your whimpy little bitchass back to your mom's cellar and hide under her skirt and shut your dumbass mouth. You have no idea what it takes to be a truck driver and you'll never be big enough to handle the job. So shut the fuck up before someone tracks you and makes you shut up.
Rex Park
Rex Park
Michael Parker I have 40 years in those big bastards MISTER TRUCK DRIVER with not even a fuckin' parking ticket or a freight claim, over FOUR AND ONE HALF MILLION MILES. I have run the Sisters in a 60 mph blizzard, I have run Donner when the snowbanks were 35 feet high and blocked out the sun. Cabbage? Shit, piece of cake compared to some of the messes I've been through. FUCK YOU MICHAEL PARKER. I know EXACTLY what I'm talking about, and most of the hands I was out there running with for all those years probably agree with me, and even if they don't, they know exactly what I'm talking about. You ever been passed four times by the same large car between San Bernadino and Philadelphia, and still get there before they did? You ever get a cramp in your left arm from split shifting a twin stick in a B-61 with Armstrong steering? Was your A/C unit the 2x60 type that only worked when you were moving? FUCK YOU MICHAEL PARKER. I have owned two different rigs and outlasted the three companies I was leased to. FUCK YOU MICHAEL PARKER. My ass was probably out there humping freight when you were sniffing little Mary rotten crotch's dirty shorts while you tugged on your pee pee trying to wake it up. By the way, cowBOY. Online schooling don't mean you're a legitimate legal eagle, asshole. Your Momma shoulda swallowed.
Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder
Not really, these guys already have too much bullshit to go through to get their licenses and keep them and mandatory courses aren't going to make them call the cops on lot lizards
Dawn Banach
Dawn Banach
If cop would spend less time sitting in the medium and arresting people for jay walking, or taking paying customers off airplanes, or feeling up 8 year old autistic boys for bombs, or closing down little girls lemonade stands, they might have more time to go after the traffickers. I have a job to do. My mind needs to be on my own job. Maybe the government should run 30 second commercials to teach the general public on their own time so my mind can be on my work and the safety of people and property around me that might be affected if I'm not concentrating on my job.
Michael Storay
Michael Storay
Honestly here drivers was trained to do a pre-trip inspection do the do it nope I can count on one hand the drivers that i see do a pre-trip or post trip inspection a day and guess what that's part of the job drivers get paid for so this isn't going to do squat so it's really just going to be a waste of time money and effort in this drivers honest opinion
Nicholas Allen
Nicholas Allen
Technically, you are not getting paid for that pre or post trip inspection, just like you aren't getting paid to fuel the truck or any other "on duty not driving" time. This is the only industry I know of that requires you to do work that they aren't required to pay you for.
Michael Storay
Michael Storay
Why pay someone to do a job that they apparently aren't doing?
John Spencer
John Spencer
Now does this mean we get to carry a weapon with us now if so punt me in if not I'll just stay home and shoot cat that's on my property and the cops can do their own damn job. And besides I like shooting cats anyways
Rogue Diesel
Rogue Diesel
After a long day I'm tired I'm not going to look for anything. Looking for trouble either gets you arrested or shot. Only movies turns people looking for trouble into heros. I'll do the training but I doubt I'll have time to apply it
Chris Martin
Chris Martin
So when I text a tip to the trafficking hotline...do they send me a $2500 ticket in the mail for texting while driving? Or is it okay since I'm helping out the government and acting as one of them? The most over oppressive regulated business I've ever been a part of.
Jim Johns
Jim Johns
Why should we help the government do anything when all they do is screw us over
Jeff Tisor
Jeff Tisor
Wonders if after class we all get a badge and firearm .
CA Husted
CA Husted
…only if your I.Q. is subpar to humans, and you don't care about the ~$8.25/hr wages.
William A. Irwin
William A. Irwin
Every driver hauling a load knows what is in the trailer, unless it is pre loaded and sealed then they are provided with a bill of lading., If people start making noise from the trailer, call the cops.....
Andrew Gohsman
Andrew Gohsman
Our boarders are wide open. Using drivers as the primary source of security won't work. Lobby government for strong boarders. The hours of service don't allow spending time on other things.
Jeff Ramsey
Jeff Ramsey
How about this program install outside facing cameras on all of are trucks and they can monitor activity on there own and won't put driver in danger by confrontation of conflict 🤔
Joe Wilshire
Joe Wilshire
There isnt no hookers much at truck stops...but fuckin drugs thats a different story. Should be doing something bout that .
John Edmunds
John Edmunds
Nope. To many drivers are using them. A man just got arrested for pimping out his 16 year old daughter attruck stops in Texas. she claims to have had "multiple customers a night". Half these guys don't care. Their prostitute using pedophiles.
Steve Whitcomb
Steve Whitcomb
Too many, not ...to many
Andy Soucy
Andy Soucy
Funny how they want shove this down our throats yet these very people will be the loudest persons protesting against a truck stop in their town
Jimmy Moore
Jimmy Moore
Jesus. A course for trafficking hmm how about a bill that makes these big trucking companies to have longer training for new drivers. Do something that help this industry.
William Seifert
William Seifert
I doubt it. A forced course would be walked thru.....either people care or they dont.
Delbert Caviness
Delbert Caviness
No we are not cop's we already have enough bullcrap to dill with every day that is about the dumbest thing I have heard of for us to stop trafficking the cop's can do it I'm not
Eric Lauster
Eric Lauster
I reported an older man with a young girl at the truck stop i was showering at. Turns out she was his granddaughter and looked unhappy because they'd hit a deer and were stuck there for hours waiting to get rolling. The clerk told me. She laughed and said I was the second person to report it.
Fil Staubach
Fil Staubach
Waste of time and money. The sex customers don't care. What about all the local drivers? Garbage, dumps, delivery, bus drivers? We never see a truckstop or lot lizard.
CA Husted
CA Husted
Job Title: Truck Driver Job Description: Prostitute stopper, trafficking agent, road side helper, un/loading dock WAITER, parent—Fuckin' really?! Someone better come up with a better payment plan if we're supposed to be doing the job of police, FBI, CIA, roadside assistance, driver trainer, college professor, and parent to idiots on the road. …
CA Husted
CA Husted
Lazy fucks want truckers to do their job without the pay. — Nope, not gonna happen.
John Duffey
John Duffey
I remember when the media attacked truckers. The public treated us bad.Badges treated us as criminals. Forces were pushing our pay down. Now they want us to act without authority in an area we are not prepared to be in. This is non sense...
Eric Pace
Eric Pace
The people got enough shit to keep up with now we have to do law enforcement to. Seriously. I drive a truck not a cop car
Jackie Williams
Jackie Williams
No mandatory please stop with the regulations. But yes volunteer course for all is great
Davy Roberts
Davy Roberts
Close the borders and outlaw foreign child molesting religions who own churches and mosques here in America would be best deterrent.
Tom Hay
Tom Hay
The president has mandated for any new laws two are to be eliminated. So which two will it be for this nonsense?
Al Kohl
Al Kohl
Georgia tried something like this after the towers went down looking for terrorists. That lasted only a few years.
Todd Cook
Todd Cook
Why does it have to be mandatory? Can't it be voluntary for the ones interested? Forcing something on people isn't gonna make them do it! Free country ,remember? U want to fix something write some log book rules that make sense. Otherwise I say not my problem either!
Cory Bollig
Cory Bollig
Try and control my unpaid spare time and I'll do the opposite of what you want. What human trafficking? I see nothing now.
Lisa Lupold Slusser
Lisa Lupold Slusser
No! It'll just teach the bad ones how to avoid being caught!!!
Johnny Chestnut
Johnny Chestnut
We are taking a course at Saddle Creek Transporting in Lakeland Florida on this
Matt Jol
Matt Jol
Just more government bullsh!t truckers r more regulated than teachers and doctors.
Patrick Lucas
Patrick Lucas
Now you telling me the government is tryin to regulate lot lizards. Lmao. Glad I'm done driving
Michael Myer
Michael Myer
Fuck you to those states then. Why the fuck would I want to do the job of cops???? Let the whores turn their tricks if they want to.
Patti Kohrmann
Patti Kohrmann
It's law enforcements job not truckers job. Geez.
Michael Morse
Michael Morse
A significant pay raise will help curb trafficking. Need a paycheck that removes temptation.
Don Slusser
Don Slusser
if i see something wrong i call don't make me have to go to school all good drivers will know and do what is right
James Logan
James Logan
I think some you tube videos or Facebook videos of how to spot a trafficking situation would be helpful
Daun Kopca
Daun Kopca
Is the point to teach drivers how to traffic?
Randy Rekow
Randy Rekow
Maybe that's it. They have managed to cut our income thru 'immigration' etc so the companies can keep more, this must be the governments way of letting us take back some of the money doing side work, with free mandatory training included. Guess we'll be seeing more large cars out now. Gonna get a hot tub & fireplace in mine!
Daun Kopca
Daun Kopca
LMAO
James Morris
James Morris
No because it has too do with how your mind is about it
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Anything MANDATED never goes well, even with the best of intentions.
Tom Strese
Tom Strese
Not my job.
Donnie Crawford
Donnie Crawford
Hell No!! Let the Lot 🦎 alone, better than being on welfare , steeling my tax dollars.
Ron Abbott
Ron Abbott
Stupid
James De Bec
James De Bec
because somebody cant do their job right?Probably gonna MAKE ME PAY FOR IT?
Walter Moeller IV
Walter Moeller IV
Hell no....i don't need a Mandate from the government.
Karl Baker
Karl Baker
Prostitution is the oldest profession. Just eliminate the pimp? Problem Solved.
James Thomas
James Thomas
Yes and no the people are not at truck stops like back in the 80s and mid 90s .
Jeff Funk
Jeff Funk
Not my job
Tony Eccles
Tony Eccles
Sit up in your front seat and watch for hookers
Leon Hird
Leon Hird
Y'all cracking me up....
Dick Dougherty
Dick Dougherty
Government mandates they would mess it up
Jeremy Harris
Jeremy Harris
Fuck that mandatory shit
Steve Whitcomb
Steve Whitcomb
Just build the wall
Steve Whitcomb
Steve Whitcomb
No, we have enough " mandatory " stuff
Earnest Johnson
Earnest Johnson
if its that important make it mandatory for everyone over 18
Donald Curtis
Donald Curtis
No ,we don't need any more nonsense rules.
Randy Perry
Randy Perry
I have enough to do watching everything else
Mario N Cittadino
Mario N Cittadino
Ohhh yeah , let's mandate common sense ,
Jeff Martin
Jeff Martin
No keep them off of drugs trafficking will stop
David A Adams
David A Adams
It ain't my job.
Frank Walker
Frank Walker
Mandatory?
Peter Ramsey
Peter Ramsey
Retarded
Michael Eldred
Michael Eldred
T.A.T!!
Matt Stewart
Matt Stewart
Not my problem
Charles Watkins
Charles Watkins
Well if the want to pay us to protect and serve????
Mark Mungiole
Mark Mungiole
When did we become a police department
Miller RM
Miller RM
hell no
Kathleen McClintock
Kathleen McClintock
This should more be for bus drivers.
Michael Robison
Michael Robison
We don't have the hours.
Harry Douglas Price
Harry Douglas Price
Get it done drivers
Cindy Johnson-Taylor
Cindy Johnson-Taylor
Drivers have too many regulations on them as it is!!!!
Dale Anderson
Dale Anderson
No
Jim Majewski
Jim Majewski
No !
Gerad Awalt
Gerad Awalt
What a joke!!!
Stephen Christensen
Stephen Christensen
Stupid Stupid Stupid
Terry Thomson
Terry Thomson
Absolutely
L.b. Fields
L.b. Fields
Looking for Good Otr Driver for my Pete...
Don Elson
Don Elson
No
George Fiebe
George Fiebe
no!
Cindy L Fultz
Cindy L Fultz
Absolutely not!
Nomadi Soulsta
Nomadi Soulsta
We got enough regulations already😡
Charles Marsh
Charles Marsh
We need to stop this in our industry. Now.
Sherri Schmidt
Sherri Schmidt
NO
Mandy Brown
Mandy Brown
NO
Terry Kiggans
Terry Kiggans
No but if was asked then i think most would
Robert Brinkerhoff
Robert Brinkerhoff
No. I don't get involved.
Stephen Taggart
Stephen Taggart
Grow up
Andrew Gohsman
Andrew Gohsman
No
James Allen
James Allen
Lot lizards on the go😆
Curt Potter
Curt Potter
no
Steve Volkle
Steve Volkle
Another distraction add to the job.
Larry Underdal
Larry Underdal
Bahahahahahaha.
Dean P Contreras
Dean P Contreras
Fuck Dept Of Turkeys !