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VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2025

The trucking industry’s role in fighting human trafficking

Human trafficking is a growing crisis in the United States, and the trucking industry plays a unique role in both the fight against it and, unfortunately, the environments where it often occurs. While truck stops, rest areas, and freight hubs can be hotspots for traffickers exploiting victims, many trucking organizations and drivers are taking a stand to combat this crime. Click here to read more. 

St. Louis County man accused of child sex trafficking

ST. LOUIS – A man from Northwoods, in St. Louis County, Missouri, has been accused of child sex trafficking. Rodarius Servick, 50, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday on one count of child sex trafficking and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He appeared in court and pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Click here to read more.

CHP and partners conduct Industry Day

CALEXICO — The California Highway Patrol Calexico commercial vehicle enforcement facility hosted “Industry Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to honor truckers and highlight their unique role in the fight against human trafficking. Click here to read more.

TAT holds second Coalition Build in Atlanta in preparation for FIFA World Cup 2026

Sara Sefried, TAT director of Strategic Partnerships (left) moderated the industry and law enforcement panel composed of (L to R) Lt. Stephen Burnham from the Motor Carrier Compliance Division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety; Anita Ivy, special agent in charge, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Human Exploitation and Trafficking; Eliza McCoy, vice president of Programs and Impact, AHLA Foundation; Hannah Palmquist, senior assistant attorney general, Human Trafficking Unit chief, Office of the Georgia Attorney General; Amy Hutsell, director of Special Projects and Partnerships, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; and Christian Murphy, CEO Wellspring Living.

It’s been 10 years since TAT held a Coalition Build (CB) in Atlanta, but on March 25, at UPS headquarters in Atlanta, it held its second one, co-hosted by UPS, the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia, the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the Georgia Motor Trucking Association. 

Attended by 90 leaders from law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, public agencies, transportation companies and the hospitality industry, the half-day event provided large group sessions, including a human trafficking 101, a sex trafficking survivor’s perspective, a session on how transportation and hospitality can work together to fight human trafficking and a law enforcement panel. During lunch, there were sector-specific breakout sessions to provide opportunity for small group discussion, tangible action steps and clear next steps in the fight against human trafficking. 

With Atlanta being one of the locations for matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, a strategic area of focus was the development of a specialized alert system to provide professional drivers with notifications about missing and vulnerable youth. Led by the Office of the Attorney General, this system will be piloted in advance of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, with the goal of strengthening coordination between transportation professionals and law enforcement.

"From the outstanding and informative speakers to the action-oriented breakout session, which included an invitation from the Georgia Attorney General's Office to join their 'Eyes on the Road' campaign, TAT's Atlanta Coalition Build fit the bill in not only providing a platform to display the strengths of Georgia's current counter-trafficking response, but also promote clear measures toward building even stronger public-private partnerships,” said Kendis Paris, director of Grantmaking Strategy for The UPS Foundation. “In light of Atlanta hosting the World Cup in 2026, and the increased need it will create, UPS was proud to use its convening power to help make this event a reality."

Atlas Van Lines holds impromptu fundraiser at TAT presentation

Following a mid-March TAT presentation to Atlas Van Lines’ operations and safety staff at their Network Operations Conference in Dallas, Atlas leadership held an impromptu fundraiser for TAT.

When Ben Johnson, senior director of Operations for Atlas, spoke, he announced the company would be recommitting to its TAT Bronze-level sponsorship. He was followed by Atlas President and COO Ryan McConnell who stated he and President and COO of Atlas Logistics Phil Wahl would be donating to TAT and called on each attendee to give as well. This resulted in $6,000 raised for TAT’s work, in addition to the sponsorship. 

Heather Fry, TAT Industry Training director (second from left , front row), posed with a number of Atlas Van Lines leadership and employees for a photo op at the event.

Heather Fry, TAT director of Industry Training, had presented to the group on the range of opportunities professional moving companies have to intersect with human trafficking – from long-haul drivers to in-home moving personnel to corporate employees – and showed the trailer of TAT’s new corporate video, You’ve Seen Us Before, speaking to the fact that each one of us has a role to play in the fight against human trafficking.

McConnell expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership stating, "Atlas is overjoyed to support TAT in light of human trafficking prevention."

Reflecting on the event, Fry stated, "It was an honor to bring TAT's anti-trafficking message to this group of leaders, who are so uniquely positioned to make a difference in the fight against a terrible crime. The fundraiser was such a surprise, and I am thankful for their generosity and for the partnership with Atlas."

TAT staff took the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) to the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky March 27-29 and teamed up with The Trucker's Network (TTN) on a fundraiser dependent on achieving 2,500 new downloads of the TAT app. 

TTN’s fundraising plan is to tie a $10 donation for every download of the TAT app, up to a total of $25,000, to encourage people to expand the app’s usage, while also ensuring TAT receives a donation for every new download made. The fundraiser runs from March 1-April 30.

Publicized throughout both TTN’s and TAT’s networks, it was a major push at both of the TAT booths and the TTN booth at the show, with a prize drawing opportunity there as well. MATS attendee Isaac Ball won the prize drawing, which included a diecast model of the FDP, TTN and TAT swag and a Yeti cooler.

"Because one pavilion at the show was closed for repairs, we had a huge crowd of people who came past our booth," said Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director and senior director of External Affairs. "We interacted with at least 4,000 people, passing out materials and educating about human trafficking, and at least half of them had never heard of us. It was an excellent opportunity to connect with owner operators, company drivers, small fleet owners, as well as CDL school instructors and many of our major partners. The Kentucky State Police were there, and they shared with us how they always add in a section on human trafficking at any trucking presentation they do. It was a very successful show for TAT."

TAT staff spoke with more than 4,000 MATS visitors and enjoyed seeing a TAT sticker on a truck window.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TAT