Truckers Against Trafficking Reveals “Everyday Heroes” Kenworth T680 in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC… – In coordination with National Human Trafficking Awareness month, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) unveiled its 2019 Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680, at a press conference held recently at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
On a brisk and snow-covered day in Washington, 50
members of the national media and sponsors of the Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680
turned out for a chance to listen to speakers, get a first-hand look at the
special TAT Kenworth T680, and take a look inside the Freedom Drivers Project,
a mobile display featuring a video and artifacts from human trafficking
survivors.
Featured speakers explained the importance of
stopping human trafficking and the need to continue to raise awareness about
the crime. The speakers included Kendis Paris, Truckers Against Trafficking
executive director and co-founder; Kevin Baney, Kenworth assistant general
manager of sales and marketing; Don Blake, new truck sales manager, Inland
Kenworth – Phoenix; U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona); Karl Racine, District of
Columbia attorney general; and John McKown, UPS driver and TAT ambassador.
“The press conference was held to help raise
awareness for human trafficking, and we accomplished that goal through our
Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680 and the Freedom Drivers Project,” said Inland
Kenworth’s Don Blake, who serves as a TAT board member. “There was even a local
driver who passed by and decided to pull his rig over to check out our special
truck. He was inspired after learning about the program, and wants to become TAT
trained and to encourage others at his company to do so as well.”
Those in attendance had the opportunity to look
through the Freedom Drivers Project. “One woman told me that the Freedom
Drivers Project was incredible, but the only thing missing was a box of
tissues,” said Blake. “As sad as it is to walk through the exhibit, it really
does portray how terrible the crime of human trafficking is today. Hopefully,
with the help of TAT trained members, we may one day bring an end to this
crime.”
Fighting human trafficking takes money to fund, and
that is why the 2019 Everyday Heroes truck was built – as a fundraiser to
offset TAT program costs. The Kenworth T680, valued at $162,000 will be
auctioned off live on Ritchie Bros., site in Phoenix on May 17.
“Human trafficking is one of the greatest human
rights violations of our time and it is going to take every sector, both public
and private, and every individual no matter their profession, playing a role in
helping to bring freedom,” said Paris. “This Everyday Heroes truck stands as a
symbol that the American trucking industry is dedicated to doing just that.”
According to TAT, 2,250 calls have been made to the
national hotline by truckers which have helped identify over 1,100 victims of
human trafficking, many of whom are kids.
“At the office of attorney general, we see kids
every day and sadly we see kids who are victims of human trafficking,” said
Racine. “One of the earlier speakers spoke of the need to curtail trafficking
by ending demand. The only way we can do that is if we enlist more eyes and
ears on the roads, at the hotel, and at the transportation sites throughout
this country.”
The unveiling of the Everyday Heroes trucks kicks off a
four-month tour with stops at Kenworth’s Chillicothe, Ohio, plant (Feb. 21-22),
the TMC Annual Meeting in Atlanta (March 18-21), and the Mid-America Trucking
show in Louisville (March 28-30), before making its final stop at Richie Bros.
The special Kenworth T680 is fully loaded with a
76-inch sleeper, 485-hp PACCAR MX-13 engine, and PACCAR 12-speed automated
transmission.
“Kenworth is honored to be involved in the auction
to help maximize the value, create demand and generate top dollar for the
Everyday Heroes truck to benefit this worthy cause,” said Baney. “Helping
drivers understand human trafficking and knowing what they can do to help is an
extension of our message, and it’s an essential part of our mission to make
this a better world.”
To make the Everyday
Heroes Kenworth T680 truck possible, sponsors at the platinum, gold, silver and
bronze levels donated parts and money to help in the manufacturing process.
Providing support for the truck
are Platinum Level: Kenworth Truck Company, Inland Kenworth and Ritchie Bros;
Gold Level: PACCAR Engine, SEG Automotive, and Swift Charities; Silver Level:
Bendix, Bridgestone, Eaton, FlowBelow, Horton, Jost, Meritor, PACCAR Financial,
PACCAR Parts, Utility Trailer Sales of Arizona, Trimble, and WABCO; and Bronze
Level: Alcoa, Arizona Rock Product Association, Arizona Trucking Association,
Beaver Stripes and Molding, Chevron, ConMet, Davco, East Penn, Ex-Guard®,
National Seats, PrePass / Help Inc, Sheppard, and Tectran.
Since its founding in 2009, over 680,000 people have
become TAT educated and trained. With over 3.5 million truck drivers in the
U.S. alone, drivers are considered the eyes and ears of the road. Drivers like
John McKown, who is TAT trained and a driver for UPS, is one of those drivers
looking to make a difference.
“I’m a fighter against human trafficking. This is
where it gets tough because I'm a dad, a grandpa, an uncle, and a great uncle.
But, more importantly, I'm in this fight to bring awareness to this horrible
crime and someday, somehow make a difference in someone’s life,” said
McKown.
The Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680 is designed to
raise awareness for human trafficking, and encourage other drivers on the road
to report suspicious activity to the National Human Trafficking Hotline
(1-888-3737-888).
More information is available on the TAT website (www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org).
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