<p>By Tom Cosgrove, Senior Manager, Industry Relations, FMI </p><div class="mg-image–circular" style="float:right;margin:10px;"><img alt="Rest Stop Sign" src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/rest-stop-sign.jpg?sfvrsn=37578377_1" sf-size="161638" /></div><p>For many, summertime means travel. I’m reminded on the news daily that there is more congestion on the roads headed to popular vacation destinations, which I can imagine means that there are more people at the rest stops on the way to those destinations. This is a perfect opportunity to remind everyone of the mission of <a href="https://truckersagainsttrafficking.org/">Truckers Against Trafficking</a> (TAT), a 501(c)3 that exists to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of the trucking, bus, and energy industries to combat human trafficking. <br /></p><p>FMI is an official partner of TAT and hosted a session at the 2022 <a href="https://www.fmi.org/supply-chain-forum">Supply Chain Forum</a> on the main stage, where Laura Cyrus, senior director of industry training and outreach for TAT was able to spread the important message – keep an eye out!<br /></p><p>Unfortunately, every day along our nation’s highways, people (including children) are victims of human trafficking at truck stops, rest areas, hotels/motels, and other locations. We recognize that members of the transportation industry are often in the same places and in a position to make a difference. We encourage you to read more about TAT and <a href="https://truckersagainsttrafficking.org/app/">download their app</a>. The app provides a way to report suspicious activity as well as provides education around spotting red flags and also provides additional resources (videos, podcasts, books, trafficking laws, etc.). <br /></p><p>All of us that navigate our nation’s roadways can help with this by simply keeping our eyes peeled for suspicious activity, especially when you stop at rest stops. Those on the road more often in the trucking or supply chain industries have more frequent opportunities to identify and report suspicious activity.<br /></p><p>Thank you to all of those on the roadways who are on the lookout for this as you travel. Please consider spreading the word to your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Hopefully, as more people become aware of this and know what to look for, the harder it becomes for these criminals to continue trafficking. <br /></p><p>To continue this conversation and other conversations around the supply chain environment, I encourage you to register for, or sponsor, this year’s <a href="https://www.fmi.org/supply-chain-forum">Supply Chain Form</a>, September 26-28 in Dallas, TX. </p>
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