J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation to fight human trafficking. The Lowell-based company announced that it would pledge its support to USDOT’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative.
According to the USDOT website, the initiative is made up of transportation and travel industry stakeholders who have committed to working together to combat human trafficking. The initiative concentrates on five areas – industry leadership, industry training and education, policy development, public awareness, and information sharing and analysis.
Approximately 24.5 million people – men, women and children – are impacted by human trafficking, according to USDOT.
“Victims of this crime are often hidden in plain sight at places our employees frequent daily, such as rest stops and truck stops,” Greer Woodruff, senior vice president of corporate safety, security, and driver personnel at J.B. Hunt, said in a statement. “As part of our company’s safety culture, J.B. Hunt employees are trained on recognizing the warning signs of trafficking and how to report suspicious activity. We proudly support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s initiative and are committed to helping end human trafficking.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the initiative, calling on transportation leaders to work together to end trafficking. “The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to working with our public and private partners to fight human trafficking on America’s transportation system,” she says.
Chao has asked for transportation companies to commit to “100 Pledges in 100 Days.”
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