OOIDA says Senate bill on human trafficking unfairly attacks truck driver community

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association supports efforts to combat human trafficking but opposes the recently proposed S 1532 legislation, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act.

The bill, introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD), would disqualify individuals from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for their lifetime if they used a commercial motor vehicle to commit a felony involving human trafficking. The Association says the bill unfairly singles out truckers.

“We are exasperated that at a hearing where truckers were applauded for their critical role in combatting human trafficking that any lawmaker would single out that same profession for a crime that happens everywhere,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice-president. “Truckers are on the front lines of defense in the battle against this horrendous, global crime by way of identifying, reporting and ultimately preventing it.”

OOIDA expressed concern about the possible precedent this bill creates as it relates to CDL penalties and also said the bill is redundant because of existing criminal penalties for those convicted of human trafficking.

The Association is a supporter of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a group dedicated to fighting against human trafficking.