TAT Highlights Truck Driver’s Role in Combating Human Trafficking

TAT is recognizing professional truck driver Arian Taylor for his efforts to help combat human trafficking and highlighting free training resources available to transportation professionals.

TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking) is recognizing professional truck driver Arian Taylor, recipient of the organization’s Harriet Tubman Award, for his efforts to help a woman escape an attempted human trafficking situation and for his continued advocacy to raise awareness within the trucking industry.

Taylor received the award after assisting a trafficking victim in 2018 and now serves on the TAT Advisory Committee, where he continues supporting the organization’s mission to educate transportation professionals about recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking.

“Freedom is a privilege that every human being should have, and being identified with a freedom fighter like Harriet Tubman enriched my life to keep that fight alive at all costs,” Taylor said.

Why Professional Drivers Can Make a Difference

According to Taylor, professional drivers are in a unique position because they travel through cities, rural communities, truck stops and highways across the country, allowing them to observe situations that others may never encounter.

“We have eyes all over the road, on city streets, neighborhoods and all over,” Taylor said. “Everything in the country is delivered by trucks, which means there are a set of eyes everywhere.”

He added that drivers are accustomed to staying alert throughout the workday and often notice activity that appears out of place.

Training Helps Drivers Recognize Warning Signs

Taylor said TAT’s training gives drivers practical information about recognizing potential trafficking situations and understanding how to respond appropriately.

Rather than encouraging drivers to intervene directly, TAT emphasizes observing suspicious activity, documenting details when it is safe to do so, and reporting concerns to law enforcement through the appropriate channels.

According to the organization, its educational resources include online training, refresher courses and a mobile app designed to help transportation professionals identify potential warning signs and understand recommended reporting procedures.

A Life-Changing Experience

Taylor said assisting the trafficking victim in 2018 changed his perspective on the issue.

“The incident with a trafficking victim changed my life,” he said. “Human trafficking didn’t feel real until you heard about their life dealing with it.”

A U.S. military veteran, Taylor said he has long believed in helping people in need whenever possible, adding that his experience reinforced the importance of remaining aware of situations that may require law enforcement assistance.

Free Resources Available for Drivers

TAT offers free training materials for transportation professionals, including on-demand online courses, refresher training, and a mobile application available for Apple and Android devices in multiple languages.

According to TAT, individual training courses take approximately 35 minutes or less to complete and are available to both individual drivers and companies that choose to train their employees.

Additional information about TAT’s training resources is available on the organization’s website.