The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) launched its Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative, a new annual awareness and outreach effort to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, law enforcement officers, and the general public about the crime of human trafficking, the signs to look for and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked.

In the months leading up to this three-day awareness campaign, CVSA educated its membership and the general public on human trafficking through webinars, radio appearances, and online resources. The Alliance also worked with Truckers Against Trafficking to distribute wallet cards and window decals. In addition, CVSA law enforcement jurisdictions will note human trafficking awareness and outreach data and submit that data to the Alliance.

CVSA selected Jan. 11 to 13 as the dates for this initiative to coincide with U.S. National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Jan. 11, and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which is January.

CVSA’s Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative is also set to take place in Canada on Feb. 22 to 24 and in Mexico on March 15 to 17.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, human trafficking involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion may be subtle or overt, physical, or psychological. Victims of human trafficking can be anyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, education level, or citizenship status.

"CVSA is committed to bringing awareness to the crime of human trafficking and working together to prevent human trafficking throughout North America," said CVSA Executive Director Collin Mooney.

If you suspect someone is in a human trafficking situation or are the victim of human trafficking, call the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Support is provided in more than 200 languages and all calls are confidential and answered live by highly trained anti-trafficking hotline advocates.