Helping end human trafficking is a year-round mission at ADOT

As part of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced a series of efforts to combat human trafficking in the transportation sector. These efforts include transportation agencies around the country signing a pledge to help end human trafficking.

Among those signing: ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division, which enforces rules and regulations that improve the ability of commercial motor vehicles to move people, goods and services in a safe, efficient manner on state highways.

The pledge calls for educating transportation employees to recognize and report signs of human trafficking and to raise awareness among the traveling public about the problem. These are actions ADOT’s officers have already taken and continue to build upon.

Commanders and their staffs at ADOT's commercial vehicle ports of entry are trained to identify warning signs of human trafficking, such as unusual tattoos, an unwillingness to speak and carrying large amounts of cash without explanation. 

This training explains where the demand for human trafficking victims comes from and how this crime is perpetrated. The Enforcement and Compliance Division is also developing online training so ADOT employees who work along highways will be ready to spot the signs of human trafficking.

Vehicles driven by the Enforcement and Compliance Division have bumper stickers encouraging those who need help or who see signs of trouble to visit EndSexTrafficking.AZ.gov or call 888.373.7888, resources offered through the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.

ADOT takes the problem of human trafficking seriously.By pledging to work with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other transportation agencies across the country, we reaffirm our commitment to ending it.