Penske Hosts Freedom Driver Project Event with Truckers Against Trafficking
On Oct. 4, Penske Transportation Solutions had the honor of furthering its partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) when a Penske Logistics location in Lumberton, New Jersey, hosted the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) Trailer.
The FDP is a first-of-its-kind travelling mobile exhibit that educates transportation professionals and the public about the realities of human trafficking. Visitors are exposed to stories from victims and are encouraged to step up and combat the issue. The exhibit contains artifacts from human trafficking cases and a CB radio from a truck used to report suspected instances.
Penske has been a diamond level sponsor of TAT since 2020. The nonprofit organization exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking, bus and energy industries to combat human trafficking. Their aim is to raise a mobilized army of transportation professionals who can help law enforcement recognize and report cases of human trafficking and assist victims in bringing their aggressors to justice.
TAT training equips drivers with the tools to spot warning signs of human trafficking and confidently use the TAT resources to report suspicious activity while on the road. As of October 2022, 85% of Penske’s drivers are TAT trained. That number is growing monthly; new drivers are asked to be fully TAT trained within the first six months of their onboarding date.
James Moton, senior operations supervisor for Penske Logistics, viewed the FDP and shared his appreciation for Penske’s support of TAT. “Being a part of a company that is on the forefront of educating the community as well as the industry about how we can help was a great experience. I was happy to be a part of that,” he said.
To date, 52,658 people have walked through the FDP trailer in person and 1,255 have viewed it virtually. The trailer has driven 206,217 miles across 45 states to share victims’ stories and educate drivers on what they can do to stop sex and labor trafficking.
This was a closed event offered to Penske associates, but the public can find out more about the Freedom Drivers Project and Truckers Against Trafficking on their website.
If you think you are witnessing a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 (U.S.) or 1-833-900-1010 (Canada).
Photo Caption:
Back row: (Left to right) Devon Lee-Derosa, Daniel Cosentino, James Moton, Jeff Jackson, Justin Howes, Aaron Henderson and Michael Spearman of Penske Logistics
Front row: (Left to right) Molly Griffiths and Laura Cyrus of Truckers Against Trafficking; Alex Karver and Carie Seymour of Penske Logisitics.
By Emma Creamer