The Alabama Trucking Association has been recognized with the prestigious TAT Champion Award in the Association Category by Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). This award, presented during the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition (ATA MCE) in San Diego, highlights ATA’s long-standing commitment to the fight against human trafficking.
For years, the Alabama Trucking Association has been a partner in TAT’s mission to eradicate human trafficking. Through TAT’s comprehensive training and resources, thousands of industry professionals in Alabama have been equipped to act as vigilant allies for law enforcement, identifying and reporting signs of trafficking across the nation’s highways.
TAT Executive Director Esther Goetsch presented the award to Alabama Trucking CEO Mark Colson, acknowledging its role in recruiting and training countless trucking professionals to be the eyes and ears on the road.
According to Goetsch, Alabama Trucking has been committed to combating human trafficking for over a decade, beginning under the leadership of former CEO Frank Filgo and continuing under Mark Colson and Tim Frazier.
Goetsch added, “ATA was the first state trucking association to support Truckers Against Trafficking as a Silver-level sponsor, maintaining that support over the past ten years. It has integrated TAT materials into its new member packets and regularly invited TAT to speak at its annual conferences, ensuring the message reaches a broad audience.”
In addition to its sponsorship, over the past decade, ATA co-hosted several coalition-building events, actively working to form local coalitions aimed at closing loopholes exploited by traffickers. Its advocacy extended to supporting and helping pass legislation requiring TAT training at CDL schools throughout Alabama.
By introducing TAT to key industry stakeholders and leveraging their extensive networks, ATA has played a pivotal role in strengthening the fight against human trafficking within the trucking industry and beyond.
“Every time we have asked them to promote a new training or new offering to their membership, they have,” said Goetsch. “In addition to their work directly with TAT, the Alabama Trucking Association has become a recognized leader in their state’s anti-trafficking movement, speaking and representing the trucking industry at anti-trafficking summits and conferences throughout their state.”
The honor was part of TAT’s participation in the ATA MCE, where TAT officials also showcased their Freedom Drivers Project and shared updates on new initiatives, including corporate training, disaster-related trafficking resources, and upcoming challenges for state trucking associations.
