Public transit is integral to community well-being.
Public transit agencies encounter human trafficking victims in a variety of ways. Due to the correlations between factors that increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking and other systemic issues of racism and poverty, public transit agencies serve many at-risk individuals who are most dependent on their services.
Traffickers may go to bus stops or transit centers to find potential victims or use public transportation to shuttle their victims to and from places where they will be sold. When survivors attempt to exit trafficking, a bus, train or transit center may be the first place they will go to find safety or escape.
members of the bus industry trained on how to recognize and report human trafficking.
TAT partners with public transit agencies to ensure all employees – drivers, customer service representatives, dispatch, security guards, etc. – know how to recognize and report human trafficking.
Train your employees with TAT’s resources.
TAT’s training resources – including a video, wallet cards, an app, toolkit, driver room posters, etc. – are free of charge and specially designed for bus companies and transit agencies.
View the trailer to TAT’s transit training video.
Display victim-centered information.
TAT worked with survivors of trafficking to create posters that use language and visuals that are intended to be eye-catching for victims to see and learn about resources to help them. These can be displayed on buses, at bus stops, in transit centers, etc. TAT shares its poster designs free of charge.
Establish an internal reporting policy.
Ensure your employees know the steps they’re expected to take if they suspect human trafficking is occurring or if they believe they may have encountered a potential victim.
TAT created a human trafficking response procedure template for transit agencies in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation’s Statewide Transit Training and Technical Assistance (STTAT) Program.
Contact TAT to get started.
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TAT in Action
While driving his regular route, Kirk Rayner, a TAT-trained EMBARK bus driver in Oklahoma City, picked up a passenger in distress. The woman was crying and seemed frightened. She was dirty, disheveled and had cuts and bruises on her body. Kirk contacted his TAT-trained route supervisor, Nicole Cavicante. Nicole spoke with the woman, who described being transported state-to-state by people who were controlling her. She was confused about her whereabouts and said that when she boarded the bus, she was trying to get somewhere safe.
EMBARK partners with the Palomar Family Justice Center, which serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, so Nicole enrolled Laura Figueroa, the TAT-trained bus driver dedicated to the Palomar contract. Laura helped make the woman feel safe, and she confided information that indicated she was likely a victim of sex trafficking. Laura transported her to Palomar, where the staff coordinated with law enforcement and a shelter.
In 2022, TAT awarded Kirk Rayer, Nicole Cavicante and Laura Figueroa with its prestigious Harriet Tubman Award.