The 30th truck and trailer wrap designed as part of the Know Human Trafficking campaign has hit the road, bringing awareness of the crime to motorists on Canada’s busiest highway between Trenton and Oshawa, Ont.
As reported by Trucknews.com, Mackie Transportation will pull the 53-ft. trailer, wrapped with key messages about human trafficking thanks to sponsors including: QJS Services; Elexicon Energy; the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade; Smurfit Westrock; and the Ajax and Oshawa Lions clubs.
The wrap was designed by Big Rig Wraps, as part of the Know Human Trafficking initiative started in 2022 with the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada (WTFC) and Crime Stoppers.
The images on the trailer are striking.
Casandra Diamond, founder of BridgeNorth, looks to bring awareness to the problem, noting truck drivers can help by looking for telltale signs of trafficking as they travel the continent.
“We cannot enforce our way out of this problem,” she said, acknowledging insufficient police resources. “What is possible is educating our way out of this problem and we can do that, and we’re doing that now.”
Part of her goal at BridgeNorth is to shatter myths about human trafficking. She said most Canadians believe trafficking victims are recruited abroad, flown to Canada and put to work in the sex trade.
“That’s not true,” she said. “It happens, but that’s not the majority of cases. Ninety-three per cent of victims [here] are Canadian citizens. This is our issue to solve and sort out. We need these trucks rolling down the road because there are more victims than you think there are, and they are younger than you think they are.”
Sara Mackie spoke on behalf of the Mackie family, thanking the sponsors who made the wrap possible. She runs the business with brother Shawn, and their parents Dean and Cindy.
“We believe that our drivers play a unique role and pivotal role in the fight against this horrible crime,” she said. “Our drivers are the eyes and ears on the road, and they often find themselves in places where human trafficking can occur. That’s why we’ve chosen to take a stand and educate, not only our team, but also the communities we serve. Together, we can make a difference one mile and one conversation at a time.”
Asked what individuals should do if they come across suspected human trafficking, Diamond said it depends on the situation. If the potential victim flashes the hand signals depicted on the trailer (the thumb folded across the palm and the remaining fingers folded over top the thumb –
the universal plea for immediate help.
Full Story here.
*photo: Via Trucknews.com