Lawmakers in Alabama have passed a bill that will require all new Commercial Drivers License (CDL) applicants to complete a human trafficking training course.
This week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 261 into law.
This law will require any new CDL applicant to undergo industry-specific training to spot human trafficking. The group Truckers Against Trafficking will work with truck driver training schools and trade colleges to facilitate the training. Drivers who already have their CDL will not be affected by the new law.
The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2020.
Alabama is now the ninth state that requires Truckers Against Trafficking training for CDL holders.
“Professional truck drivers are in a critical position to recognize human trafficking, and when properly equipped, to know how to respond,” said Kylla Lanier, Deputy Political Director of Truckers Against Trafficking. “To know that Alabama has decided to educate and empower the next generation of professional drivers at the CDL school level with anti-trafficking training is phenomenal!”
For more, see the video below.