As members of the trucking industry and the larger logistics community, we are all responsible for more than just moving goods from one location to another. Rodney Timms, founder of All Truckers Together Against Child Abuse (A.T.T.A.C.A.), founded his organization after realizing and accepting this responsibility.
In the latest edition of DriverReach Chats, Rodney sat down with DriverReach founder and CEO Jeremy Reymer to discuss the mission of A.T.T.A.C.A. and the social responsibility the trucking industry has to recognize and fight against child abuse, child abduction, and sex trafficking at every corner. You can watch Rodney and Jeremy’s entire conversation on this incredibly sensitive and important topic here.
The Mission of A.T.T.A.C.A
According to Rodney, the mission of A.T.T.A.C.A. is to prevent sex trafficking and abduction on the ground through the increased awareness and prevention of child abuse. The root cause of many sex trafficking and abduction cases is abuse – when children feel like leaving their home and fleeing to the streets is safer than staying home and being abused, they put themselves in harm’s way of predators.
Understandably, this early childhood trauma can cause a vicious cycle of insecurity and impact down the road. When children who were victims of child abuse start growing up, their self-esteem is so low that they are easily manipulated into situations where they could be at risk for sex trafficking.
ATTACA is working diligently to prevent sex trafficking by helping prevent child abuse and to provide the right education and resources so that these serious issues don’t keep spreading and growing. Unfortunately, since the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns began in the U.S., reports show that child abuse has increased 78%, due in large part to children being stuck at home.
Rodney started A.T.T.A.C.A. because, as a child abuse survivor himself, he feels like there is more to do than to simply see these terrible stories of child abuse and trafficking on the news every day. A large number of social issues in the U.S. – from homelessness to alcoholism to drug abuse – often stem from early childhood trauma caused by abuse, and shining a light on this issue can help prevent these serious socio-economic problems down the road.
What can the industry do to be more supportive?
The main request Rodney has of the trucking industry as a whole is to be vocal and outspoken advocates about child abuse and trafficking. Spreading the word about these issues, donating to causes that are taking action (like A.T.T.A.C.A), and doing your part in the community to stop this cycle of abuse is key.
Even if you’re in a role outside the trucking industry you can join in the fight. Together, we have the power to provide counseling, support, and resources to those impacted and affected by sex trafficking, child abuse, and abduction. Now is the time to say enough is enough and take a stand against the horrific situations children of all ages are finding themselves in.
Take Action with A.T.T.A.C.A Now
If A.T.T.A.C.A.’s message could be boiled down to a single message, it would be responsibility. It is time to take responsibility for what is going on around us and what is happening. It is our responsibility to help each other and support each other, especially children and vulnerable people put in dangerous situations. Many times, people who were or are abused then in turn become abusers themselves. It’s a vicious cycle that we have the power to stop, but we need to start somewhere.
Just $25 a year can make a huge impact. Join DriverReach and A.T.T.A.C.A. in the fight against child abuse, child abduction, and sex trafficking by visiting www.attaca.org to become a member, donate, learn more, and join the fight against child abuse and sex trafficking on our roads.
Stay up to date on CDL trucking trends! Be sure to check out the DriverReach blog or follow us on LinkedIn for other relevant articles and head over to our webinars page for an up-to-date list of upcoming events and on-demand recordings.
Interested in seeing DriverReach’s modern Recruiting and Compliance Management System in action? Take DriverReach for a test drive!
