Educating Our People and Communities on the Realities of Human Trafficking
ArcBest hosted the TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking) Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) at our headquarters in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on May 3. The FDP is a first-of-its-kind mobile exhibit that travels cross country, educating members of the trucking industry and general public about the realities of domestic sex trafficking and how the trucking industry is combating it. The exhibit includes artifacts and real-life stories from trafficking cases and a video with testimonies from professional truck drivers who support this cause, all within a 53-foot trailer.
“Walking through the Freedom Drivers Project trailer is impactful. Reading stories from survivors was a heavy but necessary experience to learn more about these horrific situations and the part we can play in recognizing and reporting them,” said Erin Gattis, ArcBest chief human resources officer. "While we wish crimes like these didn’t exist, I’m thankful for organizations like TAT that actively fight to end domestic sex trafficking across North America. This is a natural partnership for ArcBest as we continue educating our people and spreading awareness.”
Alongside our people, several community members toured the trailer, including Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, law enforcement, various nonprofits, and administrators and counselors from regional universities, high schools and middle schools. Participants received informational handouts that covered topics on how to talk to children about human trafficking and provided online resources to learn more.
ArcBest has partnered with TAT since 2016. We recently increased our sponsorship to a Diamond level, providing additional support and resources to help in its mission to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of key industries and agencies to combat human trafficking. Additionally, in 2018, we began requiring all ABF Freight drivers to complete TAT training, ensuring they have the knowledge and confidence to safely spot and report these situations. Campus employees can access the training anytime through our digital employee platform.
“We appreciate ArcBest for having TAT and The Freedom Drivers Project at its headquarters to teach, equip and empower their employees and several community members on what human trafficking can look like and how to combat it,” said Brandy Belton, Freedom Drivers Project Director. “We had many meaningful conversations with ArcBest’s employees, local community members and educational administrators who came out to tour the exhibit. I look forward to continuing our partnership now and into the future as we fight together to end human trafficking.”
On the same day, ArcBest hosted the 2024 SafeHaven Security Group RISC conference, which covered topics about national security threats for the private sector, creating the safest places to work and shop, open-source protective intelligence, and mental health and violence trends. At the end of the conference, attendees toured the Freedom Drivers Project exhibit.
ArcBest’s Commitment to Human Rights
We support every person’s right to safety and security. Because human trafficking often intersects transportation and logistics, we make it our responsibility to help prevent these crimes and protect basic human rights — making our communities safer places to live and work. Learn more about our commitment to human rights.
About TAT
Established in 2009, TAT started with a simple yet powerful belief: that every truck driver can be a crucial ally in the fight against human trafficking. Since then, TAT has grown to encompass a greater portion of the transportation industry, forming deep alliances to maximize collective effort through programs that include innovative training, partnerships with law enforcement and advocacy efforts. Using targeted systems change as their model, they have raised awareness about trafficking, who it targets and its signs, and equipped individuals to take action whenever their lives intersect with it and its victims.
