A Roadmap for Countering Human Trafficking in Transportation

Leadership commitment and dedicated resources ​are the foundation.
​

COMMITMENT & VISIBILITY

• Executive-level commitment & sponsor​
• Sign TLAHT pledge ​
• Issue organizational proclamation and leadership statement ​
• Visible leadership ​(briefings, events, ​newsletters, industry events)​
• Dedicated/shared email for continuity ​
• Public-facing webpage ​

GOVERNANCE & STAFFING​

• Hire/designate coordinator and primary POC ​(SME, survivors)​
• Establish cross-functional governance body​
• Engage compensated survivors on initiatives & materials from conception​
• Assign POCs across functions ​(operations, safety, security, legal, HR, IT, facilities, training, communications, events, research, analytics, evaluation)

​

FUNDING & OPERATIONAL INTEGRATION​

• Consider funding sources​
• USDOT (award, CDL & transit grants), State/local grants, industry associations, foundations, corporate giving, etc.
• Integrate into budget structures across functions​
• Integrate responsible sourcing (workers, contractors, raw materials)​
• Embed in safety, security ​& emergency plans​

USDOT RESOURCES

• Funding
• Sample Organizational Proclamation
• Sample Leadership Statement Talking Points

Policies translate leadership commitment into ​enforceable organizational standards.
 

POLICY FRAMEWORK

• Legal Compliance​
• Zero tolerance​ (human trafficking​, commercial sex procurement using organizational resources​, retaliation against those who report​)
• Reporting Protocols​
• Employee Conduct & Responsibilities​
• Responsibilities​
• Responsible Sourcing & Hiring​
• Training & Continuing Education​
• Data Collection & Information-Sharing​

SUPPLY CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE​

• Ban forced labor​
• Measurable benchmarks​
• Contractual enforcement​
• Map & screen supply chains​
• Prefer direct hire & vet agents​
• Worker voice & grievance mechanisms​
• Federal compliance​

SAFE & SECURE ENVIRONMENTS​

Facility Design & Lighting​

• Well-lit stations, terminals, platforms, yards, shelters​
• Clear sight lines (hidden corners, landscaping)​
• Convex mirrors + transparent materials for visibility (glass, perforated barriers)​
• Maximum visibility information centers, ticket machines & kiosks​
• Maximum visibility operator booths + staff positions & bathrooms​
• Visible off-hour waiting areas with intercom​
• Clearly marked safe waiting areas and monitored pickup points​
• Evening “safe routes” lit to focus pedestrian activity + emergency backup lighting​

Security & Staffing​

• Visible, trained staff at key positions​
• Regular high-visibility patrols​
• Prioritize high-risk locations​
• Bathrooms with outward-swinging doors and internal alarms/signage​
• Secure/restrict entry points (facilities, gates, crew areas) + access controls​
• CCTV/camera systems strategically positioned with active monitoring capability ​
• Nonpublic access point intrusion detection​
• Increase uniformed presence during peak vulnerability windows​
• Reporting & response protocols, including dispatch/security coordination​

OPERATIONAL GOVERNANCE​

Privacy​

• Tiered, role-based access to data​
• Firewall PII associated with reports​
• Redaction protocols before external sharing​
• Reporter confidentiality preserved​
• Ensure records retention policies support investigations​

Sustainment​

• Long-term sustainment plans ​
• Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed (RACI) Matrix​
• For prevention, reporting, response, review, and external coordination​
• Routine integrity and security audits​
• Quarterly SOP testing + policy reviews​

USDOT TOOLS + ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• USDOT Tools
  • Modal Toolkits
• Responsible Sourcing Tools (Verité) 
  • Human Trafficking and Other Labor Risks in the Transportation Sector
  • Transportation Sector Toolset

Structured response pathways safeguard individuals at risk and guide organizations through their obligations.

SAFEGUARDING PROTOCOLS

Do No Harm

• What you see, not who you see
• Multiple indicators call for reporting
• Act naturally
• DO NOT engage, confront, or pursue
• Ensure safety by reporting
• Follow organizational reporting protocol

Support & Referrals

• Trauma-informed response standards
• Survivor-centered referrals to local service provider partner
  • Emergency shelter, crisis services, legal services, mental health services, medical care, housing, transport, education

REPORTING CHANNELS​

Follow Internal Reporting Protocol

REPORTING PROTOCOLS

Overview

• Standardized incident-reporting data fields with clear event code
• Date, time, locations, route, personal descriptions, observed behaviors and indicators
• Related modes
• Modal reporter role

Sequence

• Report to internal security
• Immediate danger? 911
• Report to National Human Trafficking Hotline OR DHS HSI Tip Line OR StrongHearts Native Helpline
• Enter full tip details into internal tracking system

TRANSPORTATION-RELATED DATA FIELDS

Location & Mode

• Aviation
• Bus
• Car
• Maritime
• Pipeline
• Rail
• Transit
• Rest Stop
• Truck

Role-Based Examples

• Captain
• Check-In
• Conductor
• Crew
• Driver
• Foreman
• Gate Agent
• Janitorial
• Maintenance
• Parking attendant
• Platform attendant
• Rental counter
• Retail
• Security

USDOT RESOURCES

• Indicators of Human Trafficking
• How to Report a Tip
• Sample Transportation-Related Data Fields

Connect with the partners who can respond and support victims and survivors.

USDOT PARTNERSHIPS

Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking

• Multimodal signatories; industry/labor, every mode & state
• Training 1.3M+ 
• Call to Action
  • Train Employees
  • Raise Public Awareness
  • Track Data

DOT/DHS Blue Lightning Initiative

• Domestic and foreign aviation sector partners
• 25-minute training
• 400,000+ aviation personnel trained

LAW ENFORCEMENT & NGO PARTNERSHIPS

Law Enforcement

• Trend-sharing
• Build trust, reduce harm, increase cooperation
• Empowers survivors to improve case outcomes
• Strengthens investigations and prosecutions 

NGOs

• Warm referral protocols with vetted partners
• Trauma-informed in-person training
• Service referrals
• Pattern identification Joint awareness campaigns
• Funding, volunteer, and in-kind support

USDOT PARTNERSHIPS

• Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking
• DOT/DHS Blue Lightning Initiative

A trained workforce is the primary detection mechanism

TRAINING FRAMEWORK

• Industry-specific
• Role-specific 
• Trauma-informed and survivor-informed
• Reflect best practices and principles 
• Includes both sex and labor trafficking
• Indicators not profile-based
• Integrated with reporting protocols
• Scenario and case-based

COMPONENTS & DELIVERY

Key Topics

• Understanding human trafficking
• Understanding risk factors 
• The transportation intersection
• Trafficking vs. smuggling distinction
• Recognizing indicators
• How to report

Delivery & Cadence

• Mandatory new-hire and recurrent
• E-learning modules + in-person training 
• Pre- and post-assessments (knowledge gain, application, outcomes)
• Tracked completion & compliance
• Leadership & executive briefings
• Content refresh cycle

USDOT TRAINING

• USDOT Counter-Trafficking Training

Empower travelers to recognize and report, and individuals at risk to self-identify and access support.

PUBLIC AWARENESS & OUTREACH GUIDELINES

• Core Principles
  • Evidence-based, person-centered, realistic
• Messaging, Tone & Wording
  • Strengths-based, person-centered
• Audience, Accessibility & Delivery
  • Tailored, concise, actionable, accessible
• Practical Details & Safeguards
  • Factual, safety-focused, citations, licensing
• Lived Experience Engagement

CHANNELS & MOMENTS THAT REACH

Physical Materials

• Restroom stalls & mirrors
• Seatback, station, platform, terminal, baggage claim, on-board
• Ticket counters, gate, waiting areas, baggage claim, elevators
• Crew & break rooms 
• USDOT QR Code: indicators & reporting guidelines

Digital Materials

• Displays: Station, platform, terminal, baggage claim, on-board
• Overhead announcements
• In-app education
• Social media & newsletters 
• Internal communications
• Dedicated web pages
• USDOT QR Code: indicators & reporting guidelines

Timing & Engagement

• Global & national observances
• Major event campaign
• Route & corridor targeting
• Internal awareness events & community outreach 
• Conferences, summits, webinars, booths
• Refresh & rotation

USDOT AWARENESS RESOURCES

Multimodal

• Cards: Pocket & visor
• Graphics: Infographic, digital displays, social media, logos
• Indicator Posters (3x5 to 40x60)
• Public Service Announcement
• Fact Sheets

Modal

• Modes: Aviation, bus, maritime, pipelines, rail, rest area, rideshare/taxi/private car service, transit, trucking, Native 
• Cards: Pocket & visor
• Graphics: Digital displays, social media graphics, logos
• Posters (3x5 to 40x60)
• Toolkits

USDOT TOOLS & RESOURCES

• TLAHT Awareness Campaign
• Public Awareness & Outreach Guide
• Compendium of Human Trafficking Awareness and Territory Laws

Build the feedback loop that turns activity into evidence and evidence into improvement.

WHAT TO COLLECT

• Funding & resources
• Staffing & human resources
• Survivor engagement & support
• Awareness, outreach & communications
• Reporting & detection
• Training, knowledge & capacity-building
• Coordination & partnerships
• Policy & compliance
• Operational metrics

HOW TO TRACK & SHARE IT

• Standardized incident data fields to enable aggregation
• Incident Tracking (integrate into safety/security/dashboard systems; reporting mechanisms used by employees & immediate actions taken)
• Data Sharing with law enforcement as appropriate with privacy protections
• Integrate into organizational analyses & reports 
• Inform policy recommendations
• Collect and share success stories demonstrating positive outcomes

MEASURING IMPACT
Continuous Improvement

• After-action reviews: Lessons-learned updates to SOPs
• Pre- and post-assessments
• False-positive tracking to protect against profiling exposure
• Quarterly reviews + annual leadership reporting
• USDOT Evaluation Tool (Forthcoming): Standardized metrics, survey instruments, benchmarking

Outcomes

• Short-term: Increased engagement with materials, increased knowledge and confidence, more consistent policies
• Medium-Term: Increased detection and reporting, new programming, strengthened coordination, increased referrals and support
• Long-Term: Measurable culture shift, sustained/growing program funding, reduced network vulnerability

USDOT TOOLS & RESOURCES

• Sample Transportation-Related Data Fields
• Forthcoming: Evaluation Tool

A prepared organization turns a single moment of identification into a sustained pathway toward safety, services, and self-determination.

FIRST RESPONSE, LASTING IMPACT

Frontline Response

• Person-centered multilingual materials
• Protocols to avoid secondary victimization
• Accessible, discreet panic buttons/call boxes
• Discreet displays in restroom stalls

Workforce Opportunities

• Workforce development programs
• Paid internships
• Employment opportunities 
• Mentorship programs
• Retention support

SUSTAINED MOBILITY

• Donate travel vouchers & airline miles
  • Reunification, repatriation, court dates, medical appointments, shelter placement, training, job interviews, etc.
  • Contact: NHTHSupport@compass.team​ or (210) 674-3010
• NHTH Staff
  • Books & confirms survivor travel
  • Shares impact reports with partners

USDOT TOOLS & RESOURCES

• Indicator Posters