USDOT anti-human trafficking initiative exceeds goal

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) yesterday announced more than 200 transportation industry leaders — more than double the agency's goal — have answered Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s call to help fight human trafficking.

USDOT’s initial commitment in January was to obtain “100 Pledges in 100 Days” from transportation, labor and nongovernment organizations that would commit to raising public awareness about human trafficking and to training more than 1 million employees to help fight the crime.

More than 450 transportation industry leaders have signed the pledge, including from nine railroads, nine ports, 104 transit agencies, 49 state departments of transportation, eight states and 14 cities. 

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, affecting nearly 25 million adults and children in the United States and worldwide.