Truckers Against Trafficking
Abbreviation | TAT |
---|---|
Formation | 2009 |
Type | NGO |
Purpose | To oppose human trafficking |
Location | |
Region served | United States |
Membership | Truck drivers |
Official language | English language |
Executive Director | Kendis Paris |
Affiliations |
Pilot Flying J Truckload Carriers Association |
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a nonprofit organization that trains truck drivers to recognize and report instances of human trafficking.[1] This national organization formed in Oklahoma, United States[2] in 2009 and teaches truck drivers about the results of human trafficking.[3] TAT is based in Colorado and its executive director is Kendis Paris.[4]
TAT produces anti-trafficking materials which are commonly seen throughout the trucking industry.[5] They have teamed up with law enforcement agencies and trucking companies to provide training on identifying sex trafficking, and some companies require their drivers to go through it.[6] Through their efforts, they have freed hundreds of human trafficking victims.[5] According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, the majority of truck drivers who report tips learned about them through TAT.[7]
The organization began a partnership with Pilot Flying J in 2011[8] and the Truckload Carriers Association in 2013.[9] In 2012, the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada-based Persons Against the Crime of Trafficking in Humans was inspired by TAT to initiate TruckSTOP, a campaign that teaches truck drivers how to identify human trafficking victims.[10] TAT was promoted in "Killer Truckers", a 2013 television special by Investigation Discovery.[11] Also in 2013, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto spoke highly of TAT at a forum hosted by Western States Propane.[12] In one successful execution of TAT training, a truck driver called 9-1-1 after suspecting human trafficking in a particular situation, and his phone call precipitated the arrest and subsequent conviction of 31 traffickers, the release of 9 people from the sex industry, and the fall of an organized crime ring that had been active in 13 U.S. states.[13]
See also
References
- ↑ "Arkansas to stop human trafficking". Hola! Arkansas. September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ Abbie Alford (April 14, 2011). "The OATH to Expose Modern Day Slavery". KOKI-TV. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ "Truckers: Help Fight Sex-Slavery". Today's Trucking. November 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ "1,000 children in Ohio believed to be ensnared in commercial sex industry". Norwalk Reflector. August 26, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- 1 2 Truckers Take The Wheel In Effort To Halt Sex Trafficking
- ↑ Truckers Against Trafficking: 2015 Annual Report
- ↑ Sex Trafficking at Truck Stops
- ↑ "Pilot Flying J Supports Truckers Against Trafficking". Convenience Store News. November 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ Todd Dills (August 27, 2013). "TCA offers online certification course with Truckers Against Trafficking". Overdrive. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ Tyler Davie (February 23, 2012). "Campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking coming to Ontario truck stops this spring". Truck News. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ Todd Dills (August 17, 2013). "'Killer Truckers' TV special on re-air". Overdrive. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ Dylan Woolf Harris (July 18, 2013). "Truckers Against Trafficking: AG enlists road warriors to battle illegal sex trade". Elko Daily Free Press. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ↑ "OBAC joins awareness campaign to fight human trafficking". Truck News. April 27, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2013.