Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association, discusses how truckers are on the front lines in the fight against illegal trade.

“Over the past few years, we have faced supply chain issues, shortages in manufacturing, and port delays, coupled with an unprecedented demand for products. Unfortunately, criminals see these challenges as an opportunity. And that only makes our job more difficult.”

“TAEC and the American Trucking Associations federation have been working on strategic efforts to stop illicit trade for more than a decade. The organization has encouraged members to help combat human trafficking, implemented training programs, established zero-tolerance policies, and are heavily involved in Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). These strategies have made a real impact with more than 1 million trucking professionals registered as TAT trained; and approximately 2,700 calls have been made to a national hotline from truck drivers with nearly 1,300 victims identified.”

“But there is more work to do. Just as we have helped raise awareness about human trafficking, it is important to broaden the conversation to all aspects of illicit trade. Public private partnerships are key in getting this work done. United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USAIT) is a public education initiative to combat black market trade by helping inform and train local leaders and law enforcement about these dangerous crimes.”

“We know this is a large issue to tackle, but it cannot be ignored. The safety and economic wellbeing of our community and industry depends on it.”

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