The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) have teamed up to help fight human trafficking.
When asked how MoDOT can help combat human trafficking, MoDOT Deputy Director Ed Hassinger told KTVO the number of employees and areas they work are key factors in spotting potential victims.
In 2018, MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna signed the "Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge."
It provides specialized training for employees, teaching them the common indicators of human trafficking and how to report possible cases.
"At MoDOT, our maintenance and operations folks and our construction teams are on the road every day. We've got 3,500 people who are out there every day and it really is them being aware of the problem and they're able to notice things out of the ordinary," Hassinger said.
MoDOT continues to train its employees and share with them information about human trafficking.
The agency also urges you to learn the signs and immediately report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement.