Truckers Against Trafficking Opens 2026 Harriet Tubman Award Nominations

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) has opened nominations for its 2026 Harriet Tubman Award, recognizing transportation and logistics professionals whose direct actions prevented human trafficking or aided victims. Named after the Underground Railroad conductor who never lost a passenger, the award carries a $5,000 prize, trophy, and national recognition. The award celebrates ordinary supply chain workers—truck drivers, bus operators, and travel center employees—who recognize warning signs and report suspicious activity through proper channels. The transportation industry occupies a unique vantage point in the fight against human trafficking.

Drivers operate on rural highways, at truck stops during off-hours, and across trade lanes where exploitation typically occurs away from public view. Since the award's inception in 2013, winners have included professionals like Kevin Kimmel, whose alert reporting freed a trafficking victim being held in an RV, and Larren Tarver, whose quick action on a bus resulted in an arrest and victim recovery. TAT's model trains industry personnel to recognize trafficking indicators and contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline or law enforcement—not intervene directly. For supply chain leaders and transportation professionals, this recognition program underscores a critical operational reality: frontline workforce awareness and empowerment directly support both legal compliance and corporate social responsibility.

The nomination deadline of August 15, 2026, presents an opportunity for companies to highlight staff contributions to community safety and reinforce a culture of vigilance. Eligibility requires TAT training, industry membership, and documented action taken to aid a victim—making this award a tangible incentive for the safety behaviors that transportation companies increasingly prioritize.