Law enforcement officers in Ohio have two new important allies in their fight against human trafficking.
As part of his ongoing efforts to increase awareness of the problem, Attorney General Dave Yost and his Human Trafficking Initiative have teamed with Ohio-based TravelCenters of America — one of America’s largest truck-stop chains — and the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking.
The collaboration is aimed at encouraging the public to report tips to the new Ohio-specific human trafficking hotline: 844-END-OHHT. For its part, Truckers Against Trafficking will distribute hotline bumper stickers to the big-rig truckers who drive Ohio routes, and TravelCenters of America will display the number on digital screens in its Ohio stores.
“Under this new partnership, truck drivers and other motorists will be educated and reminded to report human trafficking to law enforcement — if you see something, say something,” Yost said at the news conference announcing the partnership. “Their awareness on the road can save a life.”
Human trafficking — the illegal trade of people for sex or labor — has been described as modern-day slavery. Since taking office in 2019, Yost has made the fight to eliminate the crime a top priority. He created the Human Trafficking Initiative within his office to empower Ohioans to take action in their communities, to strengthen victim services throughout the state, and to ensure that traffickers and “johns” are brought to justice.
But building public awareness is a vital first step, because victims rarely report the abuse themselves. Victims are usually vulnerable in some way — poor, homeless, drug-addicted. Often, they know their traffickers and depend on them for support, even as they fear them. What’s more, victims often see themselves as the guilty ones, especially in sex-trafficking cases.
For all these reasons, human trafficking is a crime that thrives in the shadows, and eradicating it requires the help of citizens who know what to look for and are willing to act.
Because traffickers use the same roads and travel facilities as everyone else, people in the transportation industry are an especially important source of information about suspicious behavior.
“Trafficking is happening all across our country,” said Esther Goetsch, executive director of Truckers Against Trafficking. “But truckers are everywhere, too. They are in places that law enforcement is not and are uniquely positioned to see potential victims and to be a point of safety and recovery for victims of human trafficking.”
When truckers are trained to recognize the signs of human trafficking, she said, “they can be change-makers; they can be heroes in the course of their everyday job.”
Truckers Against Trafficking has trained more than 1.9 million people since 2015. Its courses are free, online and self-paced. All 18,000 employees of TravelCenters of America take the training annually.
“As large travel centers located along the nation’s highways, we are in a unique position,” said Debi Boffa, CEO of TravelCenters of America. “Our team members are the eyes and ears of our highways.”
The issue is one that the company doesn’t take lightly, she added.
“We are committed to helping combat this crime and thank the Attorney General’s Office and Truckers Against Trafficking for allowing us to be part of this important campaign.”
Sara Sefried, director of strategic partnerships for Truckers Against Trafficking, said collaboration is the key to eliminating the problem.
“We know we cannot do this work alone,” she said. “The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and TravelCenters of America have been vital partners in creating safer communities. By raising awareness and empowering drivers to recognize and report human trafficking, we are driving real change and actively disrupting human trafficking.”
Ohio’s hotline now even easier to use
The new statewide Human Trafficking Hotline established by the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost can now be accessed in four convenient ways, making it easy for the public to report information about suspected human trafficking.
“We need every Ohioan to be our eyes and ears,” AG Yost said, “because one tip can save a life, one tip can help us free someone who desperately needs our help.”
Since the hotline went live in the fall, Ohioans have been able to call the number — (844) END-OHHT — to share tips. Since then, Yost’s team has also worked to expand the options for reporting such information.
If calling isn’t the most practical option, the public can instead opt to:
- Text “ENDOHHT” to 847411.
- Use our new END OHHT app, which can be downloaded on Apple or Android devices.
- Or submit an online form at OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ENDOHHT.
The Ohio-specific hotline streamlines the process for reaching professionals who are trained in investigating human trafficking.
Tips coming into the hotline, which is operated 24/7 by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, are assessed by criminal intelligence analysts, who forward relevant information to the appropriate local law enforcement agency or, for social services, a victim-advocacy center.