Lawmakers are looking to push a new law that would keep anyone convicted of human trafficking crimes from ever holding a USDOT-issued transportation license again.
What’s in the bill: The TRAFFIC Act was brought to the table by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Catherine Cortez Masto. It would mean lifetime bans for people convicted of these crimes, not just for truck drivers, but also for those wanting to work as train conductors, pilots, or mariners.
- This measure would close loopholes in federal laws and expand what’s already in place for commercial truckers. Since 2019, convicted drivers have been barred for life from operating commercial trucks.
- The new law would add rail, air, and maritime workers to the list, making sure all USDOT-licensed jobs are covered.
- Nearly 80% of international human trafficking cases involve crossing borders at official points, with trucking already addressed by earlier laws.
Why it matters: The bill has support from the American Trucking Associations. Their leader said, “Now it is time for the rail, aviation, and maritime industries to be a part of the solution. We applaud Senators Blackburn and Cortez Masto for introducing this bipartisan bill ... to crack down on predators and protect vulnerable individuals.”
If this bill goes through, all USDOT transportation jobs—whether trucks, trains, planes, or ships—would be off limits for anyone convicted of human trafficking, reported the U.S. Department of Transportation.