Archive for June, 2012

The efforts of the trucking industry to fight human trafficking by becoming Truckers Against Trafficking have been recognized by the U.S. State Department’s inclusion of the TAT Everyday Heroes poster in the 2012 Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

This report is “the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also the world’s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue. It represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it. The U.S. Government uses the TIP Report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations alike as a tool to examine where resources are most needed. Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S Government’s anti-human trafficking policy.”

The poster can be seen by scrolling down to page 391 at this link: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/192599.pdf 

Well done, Trucking Industry!!!!

Englewood, CO –Iowa 80 Truckstop, the World’s Largest Truckstop, has joined forces with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to raise awareness about human trafficking among professional drivers and expand its employee training program with regard to this issue.

“The management of Iowa 80 Truckstop has taken a very studied approach to human trafficking and has concluded Iowa 80, as a prominent organization in the trucking industry, can play a pivotal role in the fight against this crime,” commented Kendis Paris, TAT national director. “We are thrilled to have them on board with TAT.”

Professional drivers are encouraged to pick up a TAT wallet card at Iowa 80 Truckstop, which provides red flags to look for if trafficking is suspected, specific information to note for law enforcement and the national hotline number to call with the tip.

Iowa 80 Truckstop also now includes general training about human trafficking and TAT resource materials to all company employees.

“We have always trained our employees to be aware of people in our facility who may need assistance,” said Delia Moon Meier, Iowa 80 Truckstop senior vice president. “Our employees, customers and business partners can all play a role in helping those who need it and save lives.”

She continued, “We’re proud to support TAT’s work and do our part to end human trafficking. The trucking industry is full of caring people who we believe can make a real difference.”

TAT is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating, equipping, empowering and mobilizing the trucking industry to fight human trafficking. Its resources include a website, a trucking-industry-specific training DVD, webinars, posters, speakers/trainers and more. More information is available at www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com.