More than 10,000 people stop at the "Iowa 80 Truckstop" in Walcott every day. That's one reason why truckers who pass through "The World's Largest Truck Stop" are getting involved in a nationwide fight against human trafficking.
The initiative is called "Truckers Against Trafficking" and truck drivers really are the perfect candidates to help out. The drivers who stop in Walcott make stops all over the country, so they're often referred to as the "eyes and ears of the nation's highways."
"Iowa 80's" Heather DeBaillee talks about why the company got involved--
"We enlisted the help of truck drivers to spot potential victims of human trafficking," DeBaillee said. "Drivers in the industry are a very caring group of people and they don't tolerate illegal activity."
Human trafficking is most often described as modern day slavery and it's often linked to child pornography. Anybody under the age of 18 engaging in prostitution is a victim of human trafficking.
It's a nationwide problem but it also happens right here, in the state of Iowa.
Truck stops and rest areas are some of the most common places that human trafficking occurs. So, management at "The World's Largest Truck Stop" decided it was time to get involved.
"Its really about educating drivers about what to look for," said DeBaillee. "We'll have pocket cards they can pick up that give them some information on what to look for, who to call."
The pocket cards are small, but they hold a lot of important information. Truck drivers are encourage to pick up a card at the "Iowa 80 Truckstop" before they leave town. The cards give information about human trafficking, red flags to look out for, and information on what to do if you witness human trafficking.
