A quick glance at nearly any truck stop will reveal the reality – women and children being bought and sold for sex. Truckers have labeled them as “lot lizards,” and most truck stops consider them a simple nuisance. Complaints from truckers can be read all over the internet regarding these “prostitutes.”

“…the Lizards are coming out of everywhere and infesting the parkin’ lots lets run over ‘em.”

“I’m envisioning a device modified from a TAZER that ZAPS the SKANK when she touches the mirror mount for instance.”

But, in reality, these “lot lizards” could more appropriately be referred to as “victims of sex-trafficking.” Every day in our country, women and children are enslaved to traffickers or “pimps,” who force them, either through physical violence or manipulation to engage in sexual acts and then return all earnings over to them. Some estimate that as many as 300,000 children are victims of sex-trafficking in America every year.

Travel Centers of America (TA) is one of our nation’s largest and most respected truck stop chains. They employee approximately 11,900 people, operate 165 centers, and service hundreds of thousands of truckers along with practically every major trucking fleet.

Let’s ask TA’s President and CEO, Thomas M. O'Brien, to take a stand for these victims. TA’s employees could be extremely influential in the fight against sex-trafficking if they were equipped with knowledge about the issue. They could be eyes and ears and be ready to report to the appropriate officials should they suspect someone is being victimized. Let’s ask Mr. O’Brien to put a mandatory training in place for all of his employees and to be a voice for change among the trucking community.