At the Great American Trucking Show, TCA Offers Seven Classes to Become a Certified Trucker Against Trafficking

Free classes teach how to spot sex trafficking and what to do about it

Dallas, Texas:

About three months ago, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) formed a partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to help combat the illegal sale of human beings for sex in North America. Shortly afterward, it utilized the technological resources of its Truckload Academy (TA), the educational arm of TCA, to develop an online test for those interested in becoming a Certified Trucker Against Trafficking, or CTAT. Today, the organization reached out to the trucking community in person by conducting the first of seven certification classes held at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas, Texas. Six additional in-person classes are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., on both August 23rd and 24th.

Truckers Against Trafficking is a nonprofit group that educates, equips, empowers, and mobilizes members of the trucking and truck-plaza industries to combat domestic sex trafficking. This horrible crime often occurs where young girls, and sometimes boys, can be easily moved from city to city and forced to engage in commercial sex along the way. With millions of people making a living through trucking in some way, it is hoped that our industry can help bring a stop to the victimization of women and children along our nation’s highways.

The Certified Trucker Against Trafficking designation can be earned by anyone, not just professional truck drivers. As part of the class, individuals are taught to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report what they see to the proper authorities, hopefully saving a life in the process.

According to Ron Goode, M.Ed., TCA’s director of education, the training has been offered online until now; however, it made sense to develop an in-person class to take advantage of the large numbers of people in attendance at GATS and other trucking-related gatherings. The class lasts 45 minutes and, as a convenience to participants, it provides the option of getting certified immediately afterward in the same classroom, or at a more convenient time via Internet connection in a parked truck, hotel room, home, or office.

“There are many ways to reach people,” said Goode. “We have lots of cutting-edge techniques to offer this training by computer, tablet, or smartphone, but sometimes good, old-fashioned classes with other people are just right, too. Taking this opportunity to offer our class at GATS is an example of the versatility of the Truckload Academy educational program.”

Alan Sims, the vice president/executive director of GATS, at Randall-Reilly, the organizer of the show, said, “We have nearly 50,000 people visiting GATS over the next three days, and, unfortunately, most of them know very little about the human trafficking taking place daily in our country. This class will benefit our attendees by making them aware of a significant problem and empowering them to do something about it. We fully support Truckers Against Trafficking and TCA’s efforts.”