Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) has opened nominations for its 2026 Harriet Tubman Award, an annual honour recognizing truck drivers and other transportation professionals whose actions have helped rescue, protect or support victims of human trafficking.
Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 15.
Created in 2013, the Harriet Tubman Award is TAT’s highest recognition. It is presented each year to a professional working in the trucking, bus or energy industries whose direct actions either helped save someone from exploitation or prevented a trafficking situation from unfolding.
The recipient receives a $5,000 cash award, a trophy and national recognition. Beginning this year, the award is being presented in partnership with WEX under a new three-year sponsorship agreement announced during the Truckload Carriers Association trade show in March.
Named after Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery before repeatedly returning to guide others to freedom through the Underground Railroad, the award honours individuals who use their position within the transportation network to help move victims from danger to safety.
Since its introduction, the award has recognized truck drivers, bus industry professionals and travel plaza employees whose quick decisions have led to the rescue of trafficking victims.
Among them is professional truck driver Joe Aguayo of WinCo Foods, who received the 2023 Harriet Tubman Award after reporting a woman he found alone on a rural roadside. His call led authorities to identify her as a victim of human trafficking.
Other recipients include professional driver Kevin Kimmel, whose report from a truck stop led police to rescue a young woman who had been held captive and exploited in a nearby recreational vehicle.
Charles Bernsen, general manager of the Petro travel plaza in Florence, South Carolina, received the 2024 award after recognizing signs of trafficking involving a distressed young woman at his facility and alerting authorities.
The award has also honoured professionals in the bus industry, including Lakefront Lines driver Larren Tarver and District Safety Director Lauren Gnall. After identifying signs that a female passenger was being trafficked during a bus journey, they notified law enforcement, leading to the suspect’s arrest and the victim’s recovery.
According to TAT, transportation workers are uniquely positioned to identify trafficking because of the environments in which they work. Truck drivers, bus operators and travel plaza employees regularly travel through freight corridors, truck stops, parking areas and remote highways where trafficking activity can occur.
To help industry professionals recognize potential warning signs, TAT provides free training that teaches participants how to identify suspected trafficking situations and respond safely by contacting the National Human Trafficking Hotline or emergency services rather than intervening directly.
The Harriet Tubman Award highlights the real-world impact of that training by recognizing individuals who acted when something appeared wrong.
Eligible nominees must work in one of the industries served by TAT, have completed the organization’s training and have taken action to assist a potential trafficking victim in either Canada or the United States.
Nominations are submitted through TAT’s website and must include details of the incident, including what occurred, the actions taken and when and where the event happened. The winner will receive the cash prize, travel to the award ceremony and recognition for both the individual and their employer during the presentation at the 2026 WEX OTR Summit.
TAT says the award is intended not only to recognize exceptional individuals but also to encourage greater awareness throughout the transportation industry, demonstrating how vigilance and a single phone call can make a life-changing difference.
