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Human Trafficking in the News
Law hits 60,000 truckers
About 60,000 truck drivers licensed in Arkansas will be required to complete a human trafficking prevention course under legislation enacted in this year's regular session, state officials said Tuesday. House Bill 1923 by Rep. Charlotte Douglas, R-Alma, is now Act 922.
 
NASCAR drops racetrack deal after owner's arrest 
related to human trafficking ring
NASCAR has severed ties with a Connecticut racetrack after its owner was charged with patronizing a prostitution ring that police say exploited young men with mental health issues by delivering them to wealthy clients for sex. 
 
To fight against human trafficking, this state senator wants to train 
motel employees to spot signs of human trafficking
State Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) wants to increase services for human trafficking survivors and make it easier in court to put away their abusers. Flanked by prosecutors and hotel industry officials at a news conference Friday in San Diego, the former Assembly speaker announced new housing and mental health assistance for victims and introduced legislation that would require hotels and motels to train their employees to spot signs of human trafficking.
Law enforcement training critical component of TAT work

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) continues to maintain a strong relationship with law enforcement across the country. It recently released its law enforcement training video, which is available, free-of-charge, to law enforcement, both on our
website and in hard copy, obtained by writing tat.truckers@gmail.com .
 
On May 23-24, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, will speak to law enforcement
from around the nation, including police, DEA, FBI, HIS and sheriffs, at a national interdiction conference (HIDTA) in Kansas City, MO. There, she will show the trailer for the law enforcement training video, as well as have a table with hard copies of the video available. On May 31, Lanier and Beth Jacobs, survivor leader and TAT field trainer, will join D/Sgt. Ed Price of the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force in Lansing, Michigan to provide a day-long training on human trafficking for the Michigan State Police. TAT will provide the video as a resource to the agencies in attendance.

Sign up NOW to bid at auction for Everyday Heroes truck

It's now time to put your name on the bidding list for the auction of the fully customized 2018 Kenworth T680 Everyday Heroes truck that will be auctioned off June 20. In this unique and creative fundraising event, Inland Kenworth and Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers have teamed up with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to raise funds for TAT by auctioning off the one-of-a-kind tractor.
 
The "Everyday Heroes" truck, retail value $157,000, is fully loaded with a 76-inch sleeper, 485-hp Paccar MX-13 engine, and Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission.

"We will highlight this truck through our social media," said Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, "and also hope to plan an event with it and our Freedom Drivers Project, so we hope many carriers will want to add this sweet Kenworth T680 to their fleet ... register to bid today!" 


TAT talks to dealers about TAT partnerships 
at Bridgestone Executive Symposium
 
Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, spoke to a couple hundred Bridgestone dealers on April 11 in Orlando, Florida, presenting on human trafficking and the effective role dealerships can play in fighting it by becoming
TAT Dealership Partners (TDP).
 
"Dealers have a critical role to play in combating human trafficking," Paris said. "By utilizing their locations as distribution points for life-saving materials, and by providing modest financial support to sustain our programs, TAT's Dealership Partners have the potential to reach an exponential amount of the driving workforce through this program. And we are thrilled by our newest TDP in Pomp's, who not only will be distributing materials in their 100 locations, but also donated a substantial amount to TAT via the silent auction of the beautiful Bandag painting created on-site. As always, we are so thankful to Bridgestone for providing us with the opportunity to present in Orlando, and for recognizing the importance of going beyond the bottom line in order to create social change via one's career." 
 
Paul Wochinske, Pomp's vice president, commented, "We are excited to be associated with Truckers Against Trafficking. Their presentation made a huge impact on the 12 people Pomp's had at the Bridgestone meeting in Orlando. Thank you for all that TAT does."

This Bandag painting was created and auctioned off at the event, with proceeds of the auction benefitting TAT.

Freedom Drivers Project sports new wrap and exhibits

The new wrap on the Freedom Drivers Project displays a patriotic theme.
Clad in a new exterior wrap and with new survivor artifacts and exhibits inside, the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) continues to churn up the miles as it attends events across the country. Its current
calendar includes events in Maine, coalition builds in Mississippi and Wyoming, Prime's Highway Diamonds Gala in Missouri, the Iowa 80 Jamboree, trainings and the Inland Kenworth truck auction in Arizona and the National Traffic Law Center Conference in Ohio.
 

Even if you've been through the FDP in the past, make sure you check out its new exhibits at any event you attend with it in the future.

TAT cohosts two coalition builds in Mississippi 

Working with the Mississippi Trucking Association and the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) has scheduled two coalition builds in one week in Mississippi.
 
TAT staff and the Freedom Drivers Project will travel to Jackson, Mississippi for the first build on May 2, moving to Tupelo on May 4 for the second one.
 
"We've never tried to hold two coalition builds in one week before," said Esther Goetsch, TAT coalition build specialist. "But we've had superb help from the Mississippi Trucking Association. They've been instrumental in securing facilities to host these builds, activating trucking stakeholders to attend and covering many of the associated costs. We hope to saturate the state of Mississippi with TAT's message and equip both law enforcement and trucking industry stakeholders with the knowledge and resources to effectively combat these crimes in their work."
Upcoming Events

May 2 - Coalition build, Jackson, MS, FDP present, Esther Goestch, TAT coalition build specialist, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting  

May 4 - Coalition build, Tupelo, MS, FDP present, Esther Goestch, TAT coalition build specialist, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting  

May 11 - Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association Safety Management Council, Harrisburg, PA, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director presenting

May 15 - Prime Annual Highway Diamond Gala, Springfield, MO, FDP and Helen Van Dan, FDP director, attending

May 16  - Utah Governor's Public Safety Summit, Salt Lake City, UT, Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting

May 17 - Ford Motor Company Carrier Meeting, Ford World Headquarters, Dearborn, MI, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director presenting

May 17-18 - International Registration Plan (IRP) annual meeting, Tempe, AZ, Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, presenting

May 19 - FDP at the state capitol, Augusta, ME, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, attending

May 20 - Maine Motor Transport Association Truck Driving Championships, Bangor, ME, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, presenting

May 22-24 - HIDTA Conference, Kansas City, MO, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting

May 31 - Michigan State Police law enforcement training, Lansing, MI, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting 

Truckers Against Trafficking 
PO Box 816 | Englewood, CO 80151
tat.truckers@gmail.com

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