Virginia Tech launches education initiative to combat human trafficking

Virginia Tech is working to combat human trafficking with an initiative aimed at educating truck drivers and others in the transportation industry.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has launched the Highway Heroes project that includes an educational website with information on what to look for, how to effectively respond and report, as well as industry and parent-specific guides for identifying indicators of human trafficking.

The team also created printed materials that will be displayed at all 41 Virginia Department of Transportation-operated roadside rest stops and a growing number of privately owned truck stops.

“Transportation plays a significant role in the human trafficking cycle and can play a key role in disrupting it,” said Erin Mabry, the project’s principal investigator and senior research associate at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. “We are excited to launch this campaign and leverage our connections across the transportation industry with fleets, government, law enforcement and other organizations to raise awareness of human trafficking and the role transportation plays in it.”

Mabry brought together representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia State Police, Virginia Trucking Association and the New Kent Sheriff’s Office for a public event on Jan. 17 to share details of the project.

Mabry and the institute team conducted more than 35 hours of interviews over eight months with truck fleets and drivers, travel plaza staff, human trafficking training providers, social service providers, law enforcement and survivors of human trafficking. The team plans to this information to help guide the development of future materials.

The project is funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Signs of human trafficking

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• Appearing anxious, scared or worried
• Avoiding eye contact, hesitant to speak, or not responding for themselves when spoken to
• Signs of physical abuse or neglect
• Inappropriate dress, disheveled appearance or poor hygiene
• With an overbearing companion who may also have possession of the individual’s important documents such as personal identification, driver’s license or passport
• Nervous or fearful of law enforcement
• Having a limited amount of money or funds limited to a specific form, such as gift cards

Reporting suspected trafficking

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A single indicator may not mean a person is experiencing trafficking, but multiple indicators could be an indication of trafficking.

If concerned, the research team strongly advises individuals not to approach the potential trafficker or victim, and instead do the following:

• Call 911. Be a good witness and report specific details about locations, people and vehicles.
• Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or via text at 233733.
• Visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline website for online reporting options.
• Missing children or child pornography can be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 or through the Cybertipline