Bridgestone Americas plans to extend its relationship with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a non-profit organization that works with members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic human trafficking.
Bridgestone announced the plans during the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), where the tiremaker and TAT are sharing an exhibit space to bring greater visibility to the cause, Bridgestone said.
“Bridgestone is committed to improving the lives of those who live and work in the communities where we do business,” said Kurt Danielson, president Bridgestone Commercial Group, U.S. and Canada. “MATS is one of the most important events in our industry each year, and we wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on the issue of domestic human trafficking. Truck drivers are the eyes and ears of the commercial trucking industry, and we must work together to end human trafficking once and for all.”
The Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund has supported TAT since 2012 through financial contributions and the tiremaker has also supported the organization through program, event and outreach support, including volunteer work involving Bridgestone employees. Bridgestone leadership also serves on the TAT board of directors.
Since TAT was created in 2009, truckers have made more than 1,300 calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline and identified 415 likely human trafficking cases.
