The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has come out against the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, recently introduced in Congress by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), because it believes the bill unfairly singles out truckers.

OOIDA said it supports efforts to combat human trafficking and is a supporter of Truckers Against Trafficking, a group dedicated to fighting human trafficking through the trucking community, but took issue with the bill becaus it only targets truckers.

The bill (S.1532) would disqualify individuals from operating a commercial vehicle for their lifetime if they used a CMV to commit a felony involving human trafficking. 

“Human trafficking must be fought on many fronts,”said Sen. Thune, chairman of the Commerce Committee, said in a press release. "Our legislaton is a starting point for prevention and enforcement againstthe use of a commercial driver's license in human trafficking."

“We are exasperated that at a hearing where truckers were applauded for their critical role in combatting human trafficking that any lawmaker would single out that same profession for a crime that happens everywhere,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president.

“Truckers are on the front lines of defense in the battle against this horrendous, global crime by way of identifying, reporting and ultimately preventing it,” he added.