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As an industry our efforts to combat human trafficking take place year-round. But January is a dedicated time to raise human trafficking awareness.

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation encourages truckstops and travel plazas nationwide to renew their commitment to our longstanding anti-human trafficking initiative.

This year, I'm asking you to begin your 2021 efforts in earnest on Jan. 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

ºÚÁÏÉçÇømembers are invited on Jan. 11 to participate in #WearBlueDay sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to raise public awareness about the crime of human trafficking.

#WearBlueDay represents an opportunity to kick-start a year-long online conversation about the crime of human trafficking and to spread online awareness about the truckstop and travel plaza industry’s extensive efforts to combat this crime.

The internet is a primary recruiting mechanism for child sex trafficking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children are spending more time on the Internet potentially increasing their exposure to human traffickers.

On Jan. 11 I encourage you to post a photo of yourself wearing blue on social media with the hashtag #WearBlueDay. Encourage employees, friends, family, and colleagues to do the same. Be sure to tag ºÚÁÏÉçÇøso that I can reshare your picture. (You can find ºÚÁÏÉçÇøon Twitter at  and Facebook at .)

Here are a few ways you can participate on Jan. 11:

• Snap a selfie. Wear blue (whether it is a shirt, uniform, or hat) take a photo of yourself, and post it to social media using #WearBlueDay.
• Share a video. Create a video explaining why your company participates in #WearBlueDay. Post it on social media with #WearBlueDay.
• Take a group photo. Use a virtual meeting to encourage participation in #WearBlueDay and take a screen shot to post on social media.
• Challenge your friends, family, or colleagues. Urge your friends, family, or colleagues to get creative with their #WearBlueDay photos and see who comes up with the best picture. Remember to share on social media with #WearBlueDay.

The DHS Blue Campaign has been a longstanding ºÚÁÏÉçÇøpartner in combating human trafficking. Through its alliance with the DHS Blue Campaign, the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation provides the DHS Blue Campaign’s training and awareness materials – including posters, handouts and other materials — to truckstops and travel plazas.

The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation offers these resources along with many other public awareness and education tools, including the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation’s online course, “The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking” and industry toolkit “Combating Human Trafficking.”

The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation also works closely with the Department of Transportation, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Truckers Against Trafficking and Polaris Project. Our goal is to provide our members with the tools they need to train their staff so that those individuals are equipped to help if they encounter a victim of this horrible crime.

To find out more about the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation’s resources and how you can help fight human trafficking, visit /combat-human-trafficking/ or contact me at twlazlowski@natso.com.

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Wlazlowski Neuman leads ºÚÁÏÉçÇøand the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation’s public affairs initiatives and communications strategies to promote the truck stop and travel center industry to the public, opinion leaders, elected officials, and the media. Her outreach includes a spectrum of policy issues facing the industry, with a particular focus on transportation and fuel issues, truck parking, and human trafficking. She serves as NATSO’s representative on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Truck Parking Coalition, the Clean Freight Coalition, and various state truck parking technical advisory committees. She is the architect of the truck stop and travel center industry’s anti-human trafficking campaign and currently serves as a Committee member for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Wlazlowski Neuman serves on the American Highway Users Policy and Government Affairs Committee.

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