A bill supported by the Colorado truckers to fight human trafficking rolled out of the House and headed for the Senate Tuesday.

House Bill 1808 would add human-trafficking prevention to the training regiment of those seeking a commercial driver’s license. Truck stops are magnets for prostitutes, and the Colorado-based Truckers Against Trafficking was formed in response, receiving national awards for its work.

The bill passed the House 54-10. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Terri Carver, R-Fountain, and Dominique Jackson, D-Denver, with Sens. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and John Cooke, R-Greeley.

The bill was recommended for passage by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee last summer.

Sean Egan, president and CEO of Iron Woman Construction and Environmental Services in Denver and chairman of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, said the trucking industry is eager to do its part.

“1018 will help introduce and make new truckers aware of human trafficking, what to do to help eliminate it and what to do when they identify it,” he told the House Transportation and Energy Committee, which passed the bill, 12-1, last week.

Kendis Paris, executive director and co-founder of Truckers Against Trafficking, testified said other states have passed similar laws, and her organization provides the training materials to driving schools for free.

“We’re trying to get the next generation of truckers ready before they get behind the wheel,” she told the committee.

In a statement, Carver said:

“Human trafficking is a horrific and sickening crime-it is modern-day slavery and must be fought. It is imperative lawmakers take every opportunity to help reverse this growing threat. Giving truck drivers more education about trafficking will increase reporting to law enforcement, who can intervene and rescue these victims, many of them children. I especially want to thank Truckers against Trafficking for their efforts to help us craft this important public safety bill.”