Human Trafficking Prevention Month: An interview with Truckers Against Trafficking

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Openforce is proud to announce its recent partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking, a non-profit organization that is raising up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking, to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.   

In this harrowing episode, host Nick Hancock interviews Laura Cyrus, TAT Director of Corporate Engagement to discuss how independent contractors are uniquely positioned to spot human trafficking activity – and what we can do about it that could potentially save a life.    

For more information, please visit the Truckers Against Trafficking website: truckersagainsttrafficking.org 

**If you suspect human trafficking activity at your location, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline immediately at 1-888-373-7888 to report what you know. Your call can remain anonymous.**  

The Gig Academy host

Nick Hancock, Openforce Gig Academy Podcast Host and Customer Success Manager of Key Accounts
Nick monitors all areas that pertain to and affect the gig economy and IC model to best advise and meet the needs of Openforce’s clientele. Prior to working at Openforce, Nick worked in the dental manufacturing industry and has a background in insurance as a producer.

Nick has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies of Humanities from Northern Arizona University. Nick resides in Phoenix, Arizona where he and his wife recently welcomed their firstborn daughter in October 2021.

About this episode’s guest

Laura Cyrus, Director of Corporate Engagement at Truckers Against Trafficking
Laura is primarily responsible for shepherding and growing corporate relationships as it relates to training, engagement, and using corporate influence and position to help spread the TAT message. Her time is spent working to build partnerships with companies of all sizes but with a specific focus on large shippers, manufacturers, carriers and investment firms, helping them to light pathways of engagement. Laura works with various stakeholders as well as participates in the dissemination of information on program materials to further TAT’s work, primarily the Industry Training Program, Shipping Partners Program, and TAT Ambassadors Program. She also travels frequently to speak and represent TAT at various events throughout the year, working to educate audiences about the realities of domestic sex trafficking while pointing to viable solutions.

Laura is grateful to be using her gifts, education, and passion to help raise up a mobile army of transportation professionals to help disrupt trafficking networks.

About Truckers Against Trafficking
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a 501(c)3 that exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking, bus and energy industries to combat human trafficking.

Modern-day slavery, or human trafficking exists whenever people are bought and sold for forced labor or commercial sex. Around the world, it is estimated that there are over 40 million slaves today. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, and the number of victims in the United States is estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

While illegal, human trafficking is a booming business. Traffickers recruit out of our schools, online, in shopping malls, as well as the streets and other locations. A large percentage of the people trafficked are women and children. Many of them are used in the sex industry. They are the prostituted people on the street and in private homes, and in legitimate businesses such as restaurants, truck stops and motels. They need to be identified and recovered.

Truckers Against Trafficking recognizes that members of the trucking, bus and energy industries are invaluable in the fight against this heinous crime. As the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways, you are in a unique position to make a difference and close loopholes to traffickers who seek to exploit our transportation system for their personal gain.

About Openforce
Openforce is the leader in technology-driven services that reduce operating costs and mitigate risk for companies using independent contractors. Their cloud-based applications help companies and contractors alike achieve more sustainable, profitable growth by removing financial, operational, and compliance barriers to getting business done.