CVSA unveils 2025 human trafficking awareness initiative impact: Major outreach and education efforts across North America

Key takeaways:

Widespread participation included law enforcement and industry members from 50 states, five Canadian provinces, and Mexico, resulting in heightened awareness and education.
The initiative distributed over 41,000 wallet cards and 17,000 window decals, reaching an estimated 140 million people through various outreach events and media interactions.
Collaboration with Truckers Against Trafficking provided training and resources for identifying and preventing human trafficking, highlighting the importance of teamwork in addressing this issue.

Law enforcement personnel in 50 states, five Canadian provinces, and Mexico participated in this year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative, an annual five-day human trafficking awareness and outreach campaign.

During the campaign, participating enforcement and industry members educated individuals about the crime of human trafficking, indicators to look for, and what to do when a victim of human trafficking has been identified. CVSA collaborated with TAT to offer human trafficking identification and prevention training and reference materials to the motor carrier industry and law enforcement.

This year, 41,102 wallet cards, 17,033 window decals, and 2,468 posters were ordered and distributed. There were 87 human trafficking outreach events, and 267 presentations were delivered. In addition, 670 media contacts were made, and there were 161 reported social media posts.

Since November 2024, when the 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative dates were announced, the estimated media reach was almost 140 million, peaking in January during the U.S. HTAI dates, with an average daily reach of nearly 627,000. CVSA’s website received 9,830 hits to its Human Trafficking Prevention Program webpages.

In addition, from December 16, 2024, to February 29, 2025, human trafficking public service announcement videos aired during commercial breaks of Paramount/CBS streaming television shows and movies on Pluto TV, Paramount+, EYEQ Local, and Paramount/CBS Spanish-language channels. Combined, those PSAs yielded more than 16 million impressions.

The following are some examples of this year’s HTAI outreach, awareness, and educational activities:

Louisiana State Police Transportation Safety Services created a video for social media.
Indiana State Police secured media coverage. In addition, school bus inspectors delivered presentations to school district transportation staff and distributed materials to school transportation officials and drivers across the state.
Nebraska State Police Col. John Bolduc, Governor Jim Pillen, and Attorney General Mike Hilgers held a press conference at the Nebraska state capitol to recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Washington State Patrol provided human trafficking awareness training to more than 270 motorcoach and school bus drivers.
New York State Department of Transportation representatives met with state legislators regarding human trafficking legislation; the state’s Safe DRIVE detail was combined with HTAI to expand outreach; new roadside inspection trailers were deployed with TAT and CVSA logos and contact information for reporting suspected human trafficking; and handouts were distributed at the New York City Port Authority bus terminal.