Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that involves using force, fraud, or pressure to obtain cheap labor or commercial sex. Traffickers can be friends, family members, romantic partners, employers or strangers. Anyone can be a victim.
Each January, Oregon Department of Transportation recognizes Human Trafficking Prevention Month to raise awareness of the issue and educate people on how to prevent and report this terrible crime.
“Human trafficking is a crime hiding in plain sight, that occurs in rural, suburban and urban areas. Thanks to the internet, more victims are being recruited and exploited online,” said TAT State Programs Manager Maggie Dawson. “During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on this issue and learn how to recognize the signs of human trafficking.”
Human trafficking and the transportation industry
TAT, formerly known as Truckers against Trafficking, is a non-profit organization that trains truck drivers and the transportation industry to recognize and report human trafficking. According to the organization’s website, trafficking affects an estimated 50 million people globally. The National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 160 cases involving 227 victims in Oregon in 2024.
“Human trafficking depends on transportation systems to operate, so we partner with transportation agencies like TAT to educate and empower people to recognize the signs and know how to report the crime,” said ODOT Commerce and Compliance Division Administrator Carla Phelps. “Community awareness can change a victim’s life. The more we know about what human trafficking really looks like, the better we’ll be able to recognize a victim and make the call.”
Six years ago, then ODOT Director Kris Strickler joined hundreds of transportation industry leaders in signing the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge. Since then, our organization has taken great strides to educate our staff and partners about the problem.
TAT is offering a January webinar series to help people better understand ways that traffickers exploit their victims and how to make a difference. View the National Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2026 Webinars flyer for topics, dates and registration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign is also hosting two webinars on how to best recognize and report potential human trafficking cases. View the registration page for dates and times.
Awareness efforts
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will hold a Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative Jan. 12-16. During that week, trained motor carrier enforcement officers and safety inspectors from ODOT’s Commerce and Compliance Division will work with law enforcement to hand out human trafficking awareness materials. Available in English and Spanish, the materials are given to truck drivers and motor carriers at weigh stations and ports of entry throughout the state.
To complement our partners’ efforts, ODOT is carrying out a month-long messaging campaign that uses our many platforms to inform our audiences about human trafficking and how they can help. The more we know about how to spot this crime, the more we can work together to bring it down.
*If you suspect human trafficking, do not confront a suspected trafficker or alert a victim to any suspicions. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. The hotline is operated 24 hours a day by a nongovernmental organization. You may also text HELP or INFO to 233733 (BEFREE).
