Awards – TAT
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Awards
The fight against the injustice of human trafficking is the work of thousands of dedicated and committed people taking place on continents and in countries around the world. As a global problem, it must have a global solution. TAT has turned to the members of the trucking, bus and energy industries, as well as to law enforcement, grantors, funders and other like-minded organizations and associations, to engage what we see as critical populations in this fight. Without the support, commitment and actions of each of these entities, we would cease to exist, and the gains made in the fight against human trafficking in North America would take a huge leap backward.
At TAT, we believe in the power of individuals and organizations to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. We are grateful to be
recognized for our work
in this effort but, in line with our mission, we are proud to highlight members of the industries and agencies we work with that are changing and saving lives. Our awards – the Harriet Tubman Award and the TAT Champion Award – recognize those who have gone above and beyond to protect the vulnerable, raise awareness, and act as a force for change within the transportation industry and beyond. Through their dedication and commitment, they help bring us closer to a world free from human trafficking.
TAT created an award to honor members of the industries we work with whose direct actions impacted those victimized by human trafficking. The award is named in honor of Harriet Tubman, the famed abolitionist credited with using the Underground Railroad to transport enslaved people to freedom. She was never caught and never lost a passenger.
Nomination Process
Anyone wishing to be considered for this award or who knows someone who should be considered for this award should fill out the nomination form. Nominators must be able to provide all of the details requested for the event or situation resulting in the intervention. The incident must have taken place in the United States or Canada.
Once vetted, the nomination will be submitted to the TAT award selection committee for consideration.
All Harriet Tubman Award winners will be honored in TAT’s publications and on our website.
Criteria for nominees:
Has been TAT-trained
A member of one of our
key industries
Took action to aid a potential victim
Award prize package includes:
$5,000 cash prize
Paid trip to the award ceremony
Honored at industry event
Featured in TAT publications, website, etc.
Award presented to you and your company
Nominate a hero
See our past winners
TAT Champion Award
Each year, we want to recognize and honor the outstanding creative, innovative, generous and dedicated efforts of specific TAT partners whose actions have significantly furthered our work in engaging more members of the industries we work with, as well as the efforts of more agencies and organizations within their state or province/territory and nation, in the fight to end this crime and recover more survivors and prosecute more perpetrators.
To that end, we have expanded the annual awards we present to include not only our highest honor, our prestigious Harriet Tubman award, but also the TAT Champion award.
Chief David Lorenzen, of Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement, receives the TAT Champion Award in the Government Agency category on behalf of Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement, on April 1, 2019 at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance conference in Saint Louis, Missouri.
CEO of the American Trucking Associations, Chris Spear, receives the TAT Champion Award in the Association category on behalf of the American Trucking Associations, on October 7, 2019 at the ATA’s MCE in San Diego, California.
Chairman and CEO of Ryder System, Inc., Robert Sanchez, receives the TAT Champion Award in the Organization category on behalf of Ryder System, Inc., on June 5, 2019 at the Ryder Carrier Quality Awards dinner in Chicago, Illinois.
Major Mike Krumm of the Michigan State Police received the TAT Champion Award in the Government Agency category on behalf of the Michigan State Police on September 21, 2020, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance virtual fall conference.
Hal Miller, Mississippi Trucking Association (MTA) president, (on right) and Steve Boudreaux, MTA Safety, Compliance and Membership director, received the TAT Champion Award in the Association category on behalf of the Mississippi Trucking Association, on May 8, 2020, via a virtual presentation.
Barry Richards, COO and president of TravelCenters of America, received the TAT Champion Award in the Organization category on behalf of the TravelCenters of America, on February 13, 2020, at the TravelCenters of America biannual leadership expo in Sandusky, Ohio.
Receiving the 2021 TAT Champion Award in the Government Agency category for the Ohio State Highway Patrol were (L to R) Staff A Lieutenant Reimer, Captain Ray Martin and MCEIS Brandon Evans.
Dr. Ken Armstrong, outgoing FTA president and CEO (fourth from left), received the 2021 TAT Champion Award in the Association category for the Florida Trucking Association (FTA). From left are Scott Perry, TAT Board Chair and incoming FTA Board Chair; Phillip Fulmer, outgoing FTA Board Chair; Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, who presented the award; Armstrong; and Dr. Alix Miller, FTA president and CEO.
From left: Lou Rivieccio and Nikki Clifton, from UPS, both spoke following the presentation of the 2021 TAT Champion Award in the Organization category to UPS by Kendis Paris, TAT executive director.
In 2022, TAT honored the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division (NSP CED) with the TAT Champion Award in the Government Agency category. Among its many anti-trafficking efforts, NSP CED has provided initial and ongoing human trafficking training to its officers, hosted and participated in numerous awareness activities throughout the state, and conducted undercover operations to disrupt human trafficking networks.
Jake Elovirta, director of Enforcement Programs at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), received the 2022 TAT Champion Award in the Association category on behalf of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
Inland Kenworth received the 2022 TAT Champion Award in the Organization category. Inland Kenworth Trucking Company spearheaded the creation of three Everyday Heroes Trucks, which raised thousands of dollars in donations to TAT and helped raise awareness of human trafficking. Inland Kenworth also included TAT wallet cards in all of their new trucks, reaching over 60,000 drivers with TAT materials.
The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Motor Carrier Safety Section received the 2023 TAT Champion Award winner in the Agency Category. CSP was recognized for its firm commitment to TAT’s mission, consistent training of their officers and willingness to take every opportunity to further their outreach to raise awareness of this crime. Louie Greek (far right), TAT Coalition Build specialist, presented the TAT Champion Award in the Government Agency category to (from left) Captain John Hahn and LaDonna Rogers on behalf of the CSP Motor Carrier Safety Section.
The Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) received the 2023 TAT Champion Award in the Association category. From TAT’s inception, State Trucking Associations have been instrumental in opening doors to their membership, championing human trafficking awareness to their constituencies and the media, supporting TAT financially.
Bridgestone, one of TAT’s earliest partners, received the 2023 TAT Champion Award in the Organization category. Bridgestone’s partnership with TAT began in 2013, and over the years, they’ve increased their investment in fighting human trafficking in numerous ways. Accepting the award from Esther Goetsch, TAT executive director (second from left) are (L to R) Debra Hamlin, director of Operations, BCDN; Josh Holland, vice president Dealer Development; and Steve Hoeft, president of Commercial Truck Group.
The Oregon Department of Transportation received the 2024 TAT Champion Award in the Agency category. Since 2018, ODOT has brought TAT trainers to the state three times to conduct multiple law enforcement trainings for their officers as well as officers from the Oregon State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies. Oregon DOT Program Analyst Ken Oke received the TAT Champion Award on behalf of ODOT at the 2024 the fall Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conference.
The American Bus Association received the 2024 TAT Champion Award in the Association category at the ABA Bus Industry Safety Council’s Summer Meeting in Orlando, Florida. ABA was recognized for the instrumental role it played in helping to open doors for the launch of TAT’s bus program. Jeff Shanker, chairman of the ABA Bus Industry Safety Council and chief strategy officer at Black Tie Transportation, received the award on behalf of the ABA from Annie Sovcik, TAT senior director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives.
Winners will be notified of their selection each January (based on their work on TAT’s behalf the previous year). TAT will work with each winner for the best venue and date for their award presentation.
The TAT Champion Award recipients support TAT’s work in a myriad of ways including, but not limited to, the following:
Government Agencies
Trains officers and employees with
TAT Law Enforcement Training DVD
Stocks weigh stations, ports of entry and rest areas with
TAT materials
Ensures that every CDL issued (or renewed) is accompanied with a TAT wallet card
Visits truck stops with
TAT materials
, urging them to train employees and distribute
Visits bus terminals with
materials
, urging them to train employees and display signage
Implements TAT training as part of mandatory safety meetings for truck and bus companies
Ensures all school bus drivers are trained with materials by coordinating with proper agency
Uses asset forfeiture funds to pay for TAT materials
Collects data from interdiction stops that lead to human trafficking investigations
Mandates
anti-trafficking training for CDL schools
statewide or provincewide
Hosts in-depth
LE trainings
Assists survivors in obtaining a driver’s license
Co-hosts or participates in a
TAT Coalition Build
Provides feedback to TAT on applicable undercover investigations or relevant case studies
Advocates with additional
state or provincial agencies
to adopt the IA MVE or Canadian CVE model, as well as with trucking, the bus industry and schools in their state/province concerning TAT, inviting them to train their drivers.
Utilizes CDL manuals, websites, and other types of correspondence to train bus and truck drivers about the realities of human trafficking and how they can be part of the solution
Plays TAT PSA wherever waiting room screens exist
Shares success stories with TAT
Organizations
TAT trains
and registers employees
Communicates with TAT when a call to the hotline has been made
Adopts anti-trafficking policy
with demand-reduction focus
Engages leadership
Leverages multiple streams of support from within the organization
Provides speaking platforms for the TAT message
Partners with TAT to assist
law enforcement
Shares TAT
newsletter and publications
Advocates with customers, clients, partners, employees, etc.
Provides
philanthropic support
Donates hauls to the
Freedom Driver’s Project
and their driver’s time to help work the event
Drivers participate in our
Man-to-Man
and TAT Ambassador programs
Shares success stories with TAT
Associations
Registers 100 percent of their board members’ companies as TAT Trained
Advocates with membership to register as TAT trained on a continual basis (i.e. shares quarterly touches with member companies, shares HT news story from the
with member companies, provides incentives for TAT training and registration, passes out
TAT materials
in the new member packet)
Invites TAT to present at annual conference
Works with TAT to assist
law enforcement
in their investigations and encourages them to adopt TAT’s Iowa MVE model
Co-hosts a
Coalition Build
in their state or province
Provides
philanthropic support
Enables a
TAT mobile exhibit
to participate in a trucking event in their state or province
Has drivers from member companies participate in our
Man-to-Man
and TAT Ambassador programs
Shares success stories with TAT
Awards Received by tat
2024 DOT Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award
2023 The Sword and Shield Award from the Attorney General Alliance
2020 Liberator Award from S.O.A.P. Project
2019 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons
2018 Humanitarianism Appreciation Award from Dow Chemical, presented by Dow Road Logistics
2018 Chief’s Specialty Award from Michigan State Police
2018 Truck Safety Partner Award from the Michigan Trucking Association
2017 Linking Arms Award from In Our Backyard
2017 Mike Russell Trucking Image Award from the American Trucking Associations
2016 Award of Distinction from the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Taskforce
2015 Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness from Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Awards
2014 Award of Service from Trafficking in America Taskforce
2013 Top 100 Practices to Combat Human Trafficking recognition by UN GIFT
2012 Norma Hotaling Award for Innovative Demand Reduction from Global Centurion
2012 Congressional Recognition Award from U.S. Senator Joe Heck, NV
2011 Special Recognition Award from Truck Driver Social Media Convention
2011 The Good Buddy Award from the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut