(INDIANA) - Human trafficking doesn't just happen in the shadows. It often happens in plain sight -- at truck stops, rest areas, and along busy highways. That's why the Indiana State Police is focusing this week on the people most likely to see it happening.
From January 12 through January 16, ISP commercial vehicle officers are working with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to talk directly with truck drivers during roadside inspections. The goal is simple: help drivers recognize the warning signs of human trafficking and know how to report it.
Officers are handing out materials from Truckers Against Trafficking, which trains drivers to spot red flags like young people being controlled by others, signs of abuse, or victims who appear afraid to speak.
Law enforcement officials say truck drivers are often the first -- and sometimes the only -- witnesses to trafficking activity. More than 40 percent of trafficking cases reported by drivers involve minors.
The effort is part of a larger nationwide initiative taking place this week across the United States, with similar campaigns scheduled later this year in Canada and Mexico. Nearly 2.5 million trucking professionals have already been trained to identify and report trafficking.
Officials say awareness saves lives. The more people who know what to look for, the harder it becomes for traffickers to operate unnoticed.