Major U.S. highways—including Interstate 40—have long been identified as corridors used by serial offenders and human traffickers, according to federal law enforcement data. While I-40 is often referenced due to its national reach and heavy traffic, officials emphasize that the issue extends across multiple interstates nationwide, not just a single roadway.
The FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative, launched in 2009, began after analysts noticed a pattern of homicide victims found along I-40. Since then, more than 500 cases of bodies discovered near highways have been mapped, with an estimated 850 murders potentially linked to long-haul truckers over several decades. Although the vast majority of truck drivers are law-abiding professionals, the transient nature of interstate travel can be exploited by a small number of offenders to evade detection.
Victims in these cases are often vulnerable individuals, including women involved in sex work or those who are transient, making disappearances harder to track.
Human trafficking is also a growing concern along major interstates such as I-40, where traffickers take advantage of truck stops, rest areas, and heavy cross-country travel. Federal, state, and local authorities regularly conduct targeted operations, often partnering with groups like Truckers Against Trafficking, which trains drivers to spot and report trafficking indicators.
Officials encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious activity to report it immediately.
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733.
FBI Tip Line:
Submit tips through the official FBI reporting system.
