CVSA Initiative Empowers Drivers to Recognize and Report Human Trafficking

A total of 56 jurisdictions from Canada, Mexico, and the United States participated this year in the Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative, the annual campaign led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which focuses on strengthening the prevention, education, and detection of this crime within the freight and passenger transportation industry.

The initiative brought together public safety agencies, transportation authorities, and motor carrier companies from all three countries with the goal of educating commercial vehicle drivers, fleet managers, owner-operators, and the public on how to identify signs of human trafficking and report suspicious activities.

According to the results report released by CVSA, the campaign generated 638 media contacts and 85 social media posts. In addition, 244 educational presentations were delivered, and 99 public awareness events were organized to highlight this issue.

On the enforcement side, authorities conducted 38,818 commercial vehicle inspections, including:

• 9,375 Level I inspections
• 14,376 Level II inspections
• 15,067 Level III inspections

A total of 1,035 commercial passenger-carrying motor vehicles were inspected, resulting in the documentation of 1,671 authorized passengers, while 42 unauthorized passengers were identified.

The campaign also expanded its reach through digital and entertainment media. Human trafficking public service announcement videos were aired during commercial breaks on Pluto TV, Paramount+, EYEQ Local, and Paramount/CBS Spanish-language channels, generating more than 15 million impressions.

2026 Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative

Organizers emphasized that commercial vehicle drivers and inspectors are strategically positioned to detect potential human trafficking cases due to their constant presence on highways, at truck stops, rest areas, border crossings, as well as in urban and rural communities. With proper training, these professionals can recognize warning signs, report suspicious situations, and help protect victims.

Among this year’s notable efforts were those implemented in:

• New Brunswick, where highway safety officers and new recruits completed specialized human trafficking training.
• New York, where informational outreach operations were conducted at airports and transportation terminals.
• Oregon, which carried out an extensive media campaign during Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

In Mexico, authorities implemented a coordinated prevention strategy based on training, monitoring, and institutional collaboration throughout the federal motor transportation sector. The initiative involved training centers, inspection units, bus terminals, and oversight offices, and also received support from the National Human Rights Commission, which distributed informational materials at bus terminals across the country.

Other participating jurisdictions included Hawaii, where educational activities were conducted in rural communities and universities, Nebraska, which promoted legislative efforts to incorporate human trafficking education into the commercial driver licensing process, and Idaho, where new freight transportation drivers received preventive training.

CVSA highlighted that human trafficking remains one of the most serious public safety and human rights challenges. Therefore, the active participation of inspectors, law enforcement officers, professional drivers, and transportation personnel is essential for identifying illegal activities and providing assistance to victims.