JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is partnering with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to bring the Freedom Drivers Project traveling exhibit to the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia beginning Aug. 18 and continuing through the end of the fair on Aug. 21.
The exhibit will be located next to the grandstand on the fairgrounds.
“Human trafficking remains a growing concern in Missouri, particularly along the transportation corridors,” MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna said. “That makes uniting the efforts of everyone driving the interstates of vital importance in combating this rapidly expanding criminal enterprise.”
A first-of-its-kind mobile exhibit, the Freedom Drivers Project is a premiere tool in educating the public about the realities of domestic trafficking and how the trucking industry is combating it.
FMC Transport brought the trailer to the Missouri State Fair.
In 2018, McKenna signed the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge, committing MoDOT to providing specialized training to employees about the common indicators of human trafficking and how to report potential cases while raising public awareness of human trafficking issues impacting our state and nation.
“Education and public awareness are just two things we can do to help eliminate human trafficking,” McKenna said. “Because our jobs carry us to all four corners of the state, MoDOT, the Highway Patrol and our commercial trucking allies serve as the eyes to recognize and the voice to report suspicious activity along some of the busiest transportation hubs in the country. This exhibit is one more important tool to raise public awareness of human trafficking issues impacting our state and nation.”
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.