U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced two bipartisan bills, the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act and the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, to combat human trafficking in the transportation sector.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., introduced the bills with Klobuchar. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which Klobuchar and Thune are members, also had a hearing to explore the role of transportation providers in combatting human trafficking, a news release from Klobuchar's office said.

"As our eyes and ears on the road, truckers and commercial drivers are often the first line of defense against human trafficking," Klobuchar stated in the news release.

The Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act focuses on the prevention of human trafficking. The bill would designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator at the U.S. Department of Transportation and increase outreach, education and reporting efforts at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The bill is supported by Truckers Against Trafficking, National District Attorneys Association, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the release said.

The No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act would disqualify individuals from operating a commercial motor vehicle for their lifetime if they used it to commit a felony involving human trafficking.