Ideas worth spreading

How a truck driver sees and saves people on America's highways

11,359 views | John McKown • TED@UPS

Human trafficking is a little known and practically invisible problem plaguing highways across the US. Truck driver and former police officer John McKown has made it his mission to be an activist on the road and implores all drivers of vehicles big and small to join him in protecting the approximately 293,000 children at risk of enslavement. In this eye-opening talk, McKown passionately advocates for others not to turn a blind eye and shares some easy ways to get you started as an ally on America's highways.

Human trafficking is a little known and practically invisible problem plaguing highways across the US. Truck driver and former police officer John McKown has made it his mission to be an activist on the road and implores all drivers of vehicles big and small to join him in protecting the approximately 293,000 children at risk of enslavement. In this eye-opening talk, McKown passionately advocates for others not to turn a blind eye and shares some easy ways to get you started as an ally on America's highways.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with UPS.

Read more about the TED Institute.

About the speaker

John McKown

John McKown

Truck-driving activist

Since joining UPS Freight in 2005, John McKown has driven more than two million accident-free miles. He is proud to share his knowledge about highway safety with the nation’s youth as a Road Team Captain, a title bestowed on a select group of exemplary drivers by the American Trucking Association. His experience on the road has also made him aware of the devastating problem of human trafficking on America’s highways—and has made him an ally in the fight to stop it.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with UPS.

Read more about the TED Institute.