The Department of Transportation has announced a new policy permanently banning any driver convicted of human trafficking from ever driving a commercial vehicle again.
According to a press release, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the rule on July 16, 2019.
It follows up on the recent passage of the “No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act,” which President Trump signed into law.
The new policy prohibits anyone who has used a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving human trafficking from operating any other commercial vehicles for life.
A list of offenses permanently disqualifying people from driving commercial vehicles that require a commercial driver’s license already exists, but it did not include human trafficking offenses.
“The commercial motor vehicle industry is uniquely positioned to help detect and report human trafficking, and thankfully professional drivers’ efforts often bring an end to these tragic situations. Sadly, however, some human trafficking activities are facilitated by the use of commercial trucks or buses,” said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez. “By enforcing a lifetime ban on any CMV driver convicted of severe human trafficking, we aim to deliver a strong and effective deterrent to this abhorrent behavior. If a commercial driver is convicted of using their commercial motor vehicle related to human trafficking—that person will never be driving interstate commercial vehicles again.”