By a unanimous vote, the Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) Board of Directors has finalized the promotion of Esther Goetsch from interim to permanent executive director. Goetsch assumed TAT’s helm in March, replacing Kendis Paris, who led TAT from 2011-2022.

“The Board of Directors and I are pleased to support Esther as our executive director of Truckers Against Trafficking,” Board President Scott Perry said. “We’re extremely fortunate to have someone of Esther’s capabilities take on this responsibility and continue the great work being done by our entire team. We’re confident that our industry partners, the law enforcement community and the survivor community will all quickly recognize the passion Esther brings to this role and to our collective fight to end human trafficking.”

“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed as TAT’s new executive director,” Goetsch stated. “The organization, founded on a firm vision to train professional drivers to help recover victims of human trafficking, not only remains strong but has grown significantly to include more modes of transportation, industry sectors and even countries. TAT’s tangible impact on the lives of those affected by human trafficking is due to the dedication of the board, a creative and relentless team, and partners in the private and public sectors, who have made it their mission to end the atrocity of human trafficking. I’m a firm believer in one of TAT’s driving principles, that through the mobilization of individual action, even the world’s greatest challenges can be overcome. Because this fight is not over and our mission is not complete, I am energized to carry forward this critical work and embrace the next phase in TAT’s mission and development.”

TAT packed up, gassed up and headed out on a Walmart multi-state Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) tour! A TAT partner since 2014, Walmart initiated this tour to take the message deeper into the heart of the Walmart family. The elements inside the FDP are designed to help visitors understand the push and pull factors of why trafficking is prevalent in our society and feel more personally connected to survivors by hearing their stories and viewing actual artifacts. Most of all, touring the FDP should help visitors leave with the knowledge of what each individual can do to be a part of the solution.

The FDP rolled into eight states in May, June and July on the Walmart location tour, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee and Illinois. In total, Walmart drivers hauled the FDP 4,027 miles. More than 1627 guests toured the exhibit, which spent an average of 11 hours at each event.

Walmart volunteers worked at the FDP at each location, earning credited hours through Walmart’s Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program, which recognizes and further supports their associates’ volunteer efforts by providing grants to eligible community organizations based on the hours volunteered. Walmart donated all VAP hours connected with this tour to TAT.

The idea for the extensive tour began with a plan to bring the FDP to select Walmart terminals, so drivers could tour the mobile exhibit while waiting to have their trailers loaded. From there, Walmart and TAT coordinated the addition of other locations, including several distribution centers connected to their truck terminals.

Additionally, Walmart designed a line of co-branded items to help raise money for TAT. With t-shirts donated by Xtreme Wear, the fundraiser raised $7,960 for TAT programs. Other available items for employees included pens with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-3737-888), a human trafficking information handout and flashlight keychains for anyone who showed they had the TAT app or downloaded it to their phones at the event.

Attendees praised the exhibit and commented on how it affected them personally. “It was very educational, but sad to know this does happen,” said Sam Schaffer, who toured the FDP at its Plainview, Texas, stop.

At the Bentonville, Arkansas location, the heart of the Walmart family, Women in Trucking joined TAT and the FDP with WITney, their own mobile exhibit. Allyson Hay, a Walmart Fleet Driver, Road Team Captain and WIT Partner, along with WIT Director of Driver Engagement Andrea Adeyanju, were on hand to help both organizations raise awareness for women drivers, safety and trafficking. More than 70 drivers and employees toured the exhibit.

Walmart Operations Manager Rotara Smith said until he did a learning module last year, he didn’t even realize human trafficking was as pervasive as it is. “This is something we need to stop, and through supporting and bringing awareness, we can make a step in the right direction to eliminate it,” he commented.

Heather Jameyson, Walmart General Transportation manager, who helped create the tour, exclaimed, “This has been an incredible collaborative effort between TAT, the FDP and the hosting locations. It’s a testament to our collective passion for this cause. One undeniable outcome of this tour is that more people are enlightened about this issue than ever before. You see people’s faces change between the time they step on the trailer and when they step out. They have a different perspective and feel motivated to look for and do something about situations they see that just don’t look or feel right. I may never know if even one person is saved as a result of this tour, but I know we have changed what people know about human trafficking, who the victims are and who is fueling it. If that knowledge increases the odds that someone is saved by a phone call to the hotline, I’ll take it. If just one of those people who have toured the FDP trailer comes out with a fire in their belly to do something more in their community, I’ll take that too.”

“This has been a humbling experience,” said TAT Freedom Drivers Project Director Brandy Belton. “To see so many Walmart drivers, management staff and employees from the terminals and distribution centers learn about human trafficking and how many different forms it presents itself, has been incredible. It’s truly an honor to engage, answer questions and help our guests better understand how they can safely help protect themselves, their families and their communities.”