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Human Trafficking in the News
Truckers Against Trafficking has saved more than 1K victims 
Truckers Against Trafficking is an organization that teaches drivers to recognize the signs of human trafficking and has helped rescue more than 1,100 victims. The organization's education mobile landed in the nation's capital this weekend to spread the word about a nationwide problem. (Editor's note: The survivor artifacts in the Freedom Drivers Project exhibit are not from cases resulting from TAT calls.)
 
Human trafficker at London Olympics gets 30-year prison sentence in U.S.
An "evil" man who tried to traffic a teenage boy into London to be sold for sex during the 2012 Olympics has been sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. prison, in a case of human trafficking that draws attention during international sporting events.

New laws ramp up protection for human trafficking victims
On Tuesday, more than 250 new laws will take effect in Illinois, two of which will increase protections for victims of human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking -- including involuntary servitude and labor trafficking -- will be allowed to sue their captors for damages, will have a longer window of time to do so and will be paid for turning them in to police .
Freedom Drivers Project goes coast to coast in January

National weather problems notwithstanding, the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) successfully traveled to events on both coasts in January, as well as one in Georgia.
 
From Jan. 7-9, the FDP attended its first busing event, the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where 154 people took the time to tour the mobile exhibit. "UMA is pleased to welcome Busing on the Lookout and the FDP to our annual EXPO," said Stacy Tetschner, president and CEO, United Motorcoach Association. "We believe it's imperative for the entire industry to rally around this important initiative, as each one of us has a role to play in the fight against human trafficking. As the largest annual gathering of bus and motorcoach owners and operators in North America, the UMA EXPO is a perfect location for an exhibit like the FDP, that will help inform and educate our members about how they can get involved."

 
From there, the FDP traveled to the formal presentation press conference for the Everyday Heroes truck on the National Mall on Jan. 15 (see article below). Though Washington D.C. was shut down due to a winter storm that had dumped more than half a foot of snow the day before, the press conference was well attended, and 45 people toured the FDP.
 
Three days later, the FDP was in Atlanta, Georgia for the Demand an End Transportation Training in preparation for Superbowl 53. The training was hosted at the UPS World Headquarters by the Georgia Attorney General's office. UPS CEO David Abney was one of the 135 people who toured the FDP there. Driver Ricky Brown, a member of the UPS All-Star Team, volunteered to work at the FDP alongside Madelaine Whalen of Great Dane, who drove up from Savannah for the opportunity to volunteer with the FDP again.
 
By Jan. 25, the FDP was in Sacramento, California at Matheson Trucking for a training event. Matheson is currently rolling out TAT training for all their drivers, and FDP Director Helen Van Dam conducted a training for their other staff. Matheson has committed to becoming a TAT Silver Level sponsor. Some 60 people toured the FDP there.
Everyday Heroes press conference successful
despite snow and government shutdown

Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs and Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine both took part in the first public presentation of the 2019 Everyday Heroes truck at a press conference Jan. 15 on the National Mall.
 

Following some snow removal prior to the event, both the Everyday Heroes truck and the Freedom Drivers Project looked shiny and pristine for the press and public who attended the 30-minute event. Major media covered the event, both locally and nationally, with 19 articles published, and it was livestreamed on the Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) Facebook page, garnering more than 13k views and counting.
 
The "Everyday Heroes" truck, a 2019 Kenworth T680 valued at $162,000, was built with the donations of multiple sponsors. It will be auctioned off at Ritchie Bros. Auction in Phoenix, Arizona, in May with all proceeds going directly to Truckers Against Trafficking.
 
The news conference to unveil the "Everyday Heroes" Kenworth T680 included speakers, from left, John McKown, UPS driver and Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) ambassador; Don Blake, New Truck sales manager, Inland Kenworth-Phoenix; Karl Racine, District of Columbia attorney general; Kendis Paris, Truckers Against Trafficking executive director and co-founder; and Kevin Baney, Kenworth assistant general manager of Sales and Marketing. (Courtesy: KENWORTH TRUCK CO.)

Speaking at the press conference in addition to Biggs and Racine were Don Blake, New Truck Sales manager at Inland-Kenworth-Phoenix; Kevin Baney, assistant general manager of Sales and Marketing, Kenworth; Kendis Paris, TAT executive director; and John McKown, UPS driver and TAT Ambassador.

"The press conference was held to help raise awareness for human trafficking, and we accomplished that goal through our Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680 and the Freedom Drivers Project," said Blake, who serves as a TAT board member. "There was even a local driver who passed by and decided to pull his rig over to check out our special truck. He was inspired after learning about the program, and wants to become TAT trained and to encourage others at his company to do so as well."

McKown said, "I'm in the fight, because I want to bring awareness to this horrible crime, and someday, somehow, make a difference in someone's life."

The truck will next be on display at the 2019 annual meeting of the Technology and Maintenance Council in Atlanta (March 18-21), the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville (March 28-30) and then at Ritchie Bros. for the auction on May 17.
American Trucking Associations hosts training 
for TAT Ambassador Program

Every two years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) selects a group of elite drivers with superior safety records as America's Road Team members. These men and women dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.
 
From that group of drivers, a number will decide to become members of the TAT Ambassador Program (TAP). In the past, they've learned about this opportunity through a digital webinar training, but on Feb. 1, Laura Cyrus, TAT corporate engagement director, will provide the training in person in Arlington, Virginia at the end of the selection process.
 
"This is the first opportunity I've had to meet with these drivers face-to-face," Cyrus said. "I'll be able to help them understand the TAT mission and methods, give them a real feel for TAT and be able to answer their questions and concerns. For those who go on to become TAT Ambassadors, this training will enable them to speak more effectively on our behalf."

TAP began in 2017 to increase TAT's ability to respond positively to the many speaking requests received and to give truckers and trucking companies a platform to explain why they're involved in fighting the crime of human trafficking. TAT ambassadors make a difference through their presentations and the lives they touch. At service clubs, churches, schools, conferences, trucking and busing companies, these men and women speak on the realities of human trafficking, what TAT does and what the trucking industry is doing to fight this crime.

Events already on the books for TAT Ambassadors in 2019 are the Community Awareness Event, York College, York, Pennsylvania on Feb. 14, the HeForShe Gala at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio on March 2, the Ohio Safety Congress in Columbus, Ohio on March 7 and the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS) Regional Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas on Oct. 2.

Susan Dold assumes new duties 
at Truckers Against Trafficking

Susan Dold
Susan Dold, who has served as the bookkeeper for Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) for the past three years, now holds the position of TAT systems administrator. In this position, she'll be responsible for maintaining TAT's books, while helping to ensure donor management systems run efficiently. The position also requires hands-on assistance with our Freedom Drivers Project and logistics coordination, as well as presentation duties for TAT at various speaking engagements.
 
Dold has her master's of business administration from Western Michigan University and has been active in the non-profit world for over a decade. This work included helping to operate a non-profit with an emphasis on raising awareness and funds for anti-trafficking organizations and helping with a start-up of a survivor recovery house.

"I'm looking forward to contributing to TAT in a more substantial way as my role expands in this full-time position," she commented. "I've been impressed with both the level of professionalism and the impact TAT has had during their existence, and when the opportunity to work for TAT full-time opened, I jumped at the chance. I've been on the periphery of the anti-sex-trafficking arena for many years and am looking forward to being on the front lines, helping others identify and assist those who are caught up in this horrific crime as well as helping to put the traffickers behind bars." 
Upcoming Events

Feb. 1  - TAT Ambassador training (as part of ATA Road Team Captain selection), Arlington, VA, Laura Cyrus, TAT corporate engagement director, presenting

Feb. 8 and 11 - Law enforcement training, Billings, MT, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Annika Huff, survivor-advocate, presenting

Feb. 11 - Human trafficking prevention series, Colorado Springs, CO, Molly Griffiths, TAT administrative specialist, presenting

Feb. 12 - Alabama coalition build, Montgomery, AL, Esther Goetsch, coalition build specialist, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting

Feb. 12 - Training for District 38 School Bus Drivers, Monument, CO, Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, presenting

Feb. 13 - California Highway Patrol Border Event, Calexico, CA, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting

Feb. 20-22 - Conversion Interactive Recruiting and Retention Conference, Nashville, TN, Laura Cyrus, TAT corporate engagement director, attending

Feb. 21-22 - FDP at Kenworth plant, Chillicothe, OH, Helen Van Dam, TAT FDP director, presenting

Feb. 25 - Omnitracs conference, Dallas, TX, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting

Feb. 27 - Oklahoma Highway Patrol training, Oklahoma City, OK, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Annika Huff, survivor-advocate, presenting
TAT's work is made possible through the generous support of our corporate sponsors, foundation partners and individual donors. Our education, training, legislative engagement, and advocacy efforts would not exist without those who invest in the change that we work towards each day. If you are interested in learning more about how you can provide financial support, please visit our corporate engagement webpage 
or contact Laura Cyrus at 612-888-4828 or lcyrus@truckersagainsttrafficking.org to explore our giving opportunities.
Thank you to our copper level and above individual donors!
Platinum:
Douglas Kegler
Gold:
Andy and Karin Larsen
Silver: 
Bob Paris,  Lou and Ronda Leeburg, Anna McCoy
Bronze: 
Scott Perry,  Mark and Julie Mihevc,  Dan and Emily Dykstra
Copper:
Michael Mowat & Janet Runbeck,  Grayling Klunker,  George Cravens,  Mike and Karen Kuykendall,  Wayne Watkins,  Lindsey England,  Karen Rasmussen,  Patti Gillette,  Courtney Hill,  John McKown,  Don Blake
Truckers Against Trafficking 
PO Box 816 | Englewood, CO 80151
tat.truckers@gmail.com

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