State-Based Initiatives

One of TAT’s most effective strategies in the fight against human trafficking is the Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement model (Iowa MVE), created by Chief Lorenzen, to activate state agencies in combatting human trafficking. Given the remarkable success of this model, coupled with our coalition builds, and a series of legislative changes, TAT seeks to partner with interested states on a series of state-based initiatives (SBI) outlined below.

There are six key components of the SBI that governors and/or government agencies can easily implement to quickly make a difference including:

Hold a press conference and issue an Executive Order directing state agencies to participate in the anti-trafficking effort;
Train state patrol, motor vehicle enforcement (MVE), and other law enforcement agencies on how to most effectively respond to incidents of human trafficking;
Distribute information about human trafficking and how to best respond at weigh stations, rest stops, bus terminals, commercial driver’s license issue and renewal centers, safety compliance meetings, and ports of entry;
Use asset forfeiture funds to pay for the minimal cost of this educational campaign;
Join the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) law enforcement network;
Ensure anti-trafficking training is included in the statewide CDL curriculum.

Additional Efforts

Interested agencies can expand the impact of the SBI by adding other proven strategies including:

Conducting TAT coalition-build meetings that include the trucking and busing industries (and at times, oil and gas), local, state, and federal law enforcement.
Help train truck stop employees and bus terminal workers on how to best use TAT materials.
Encourage trucking and busing companies to implement anti-trafficking training as part of mandatory safety compliance meetings.
Appoint a critical industry stakeholder (i.e. State Trucking Association President) as a member of the statewide task force to combat human trafficking.

How TAT can help

To support governors and government agencies in this effort, TAT can:

Help the governor’s office in crafting Executive Orders to initiate this effort.
Assist with press conferences to announce the SBI.
Provide TAT materials for implementation efforts.
Nominate key industry members for positions on human trafficking task forces.
Assist in/conduct law enforcement trainings.
Provide the Freedom Drivers Project, a full-scale tractor-trailer that has been retrofitted into a mobile anti-trafficking educational museum.
Co-host a TAT coalition build.