Effective July 31, the state of Arkansas will require anyone applying for or renewing their "Class A" commercial driver's license (CDL) to become a certified trucker against trafficking.

In recent weeks, a similar bill was brought forth in the Texas Senate that would make it compulsory for anyone looking to attain a CDL to undergo a human trafficking awareness course.

Other states, like Ohio, already require prospective truck drivers who opt into any of its state regulated professional truck driver training programs to complete human trafficking training prior to receiving their CDL.

Considering this, you will be pleased to know that Saia has partnered with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a national organization leading the fight against human sex trafficking through extensive partnerships with the trucking industry. Each year, TAT trains thousands of truckers, rest stop employees, and law enforcement officials on how to recognize trafficking and to intervene by safely calling a national hotline that alerts law enforcement. This approach has resulted in a significant increase in the number of reports of human trafficking, arrests, prosecutions, and, most importantly, recovery of victims.

Sex trafficking occurs any time there is a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person engaged in the act is under the age of 18. Sex trafficking is a serious and growing problem in the United States. Polaris, an anti-human trafficking organization based in Washington, D.C., runs the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, has reported human trafficking cases in all 50 states. It is especially tragic and alarming to consider that the victims are often children. FBI sting operations, including Operation Stormy Nights and Operation Precious Cargo, have recovered children as young as 13 that were being prostituted at truck stops, among other places.

TAT has developed a video based training that is recognized by the states referenced above. Upon completion of the training, drivers will be issued a certificate and become a certified trucker against trafficking. Additionally, TAT and Saia have developed a co-branded certificate that is accepted by any state that requires certification. Initially, we'll implement the training in Arkansas, Ohio, Texas and Washington starting next month and then proceed to roll it out to remaining states.

Saia is in a unique position to help identify traffickers and trafficking victims by educating our drivers and management. We are proud to take a stand in fighting human trafficking and look forward to working with TAT on this initiative that will save lives.