Truck driver Arian Taylor, who drives for Ballard Trucking, was honored with the 2018 Harriet Tubman award by Truckers Against Trafficking.
In 2013, Truckers Against Trafficking created an award to honor a member or members of the trucking industry whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those enslaved or prevent human trafficking from taking place.
The Harriet Tubman Award, which carries with it a $2500 check, is named in honor of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, whose courageous personal actions resulted in the transportation of 300 slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad and whose overall role in the freedom movement was instrumental in the freeing of thousands more.
In January of this year, Taylor pulled into a California business to make a delivery at 3:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter, he received a knock on his cab door from a 19-year-old woman. He learned from her that her friend’s older boyfriend was trying to force her into prostitution. After she had refused and argued with him, he dumped her in the parking lot and sped off. She was cold, exhausted, had no money or identification, was carrying everything she owned in her arms and was desperate to get back home to a neighboring state.
After getting her warm and giving her water to drink, he called the National Human Trafficking hotline. They worked with him to secure the woman shelter for the night, a pre-paid cab ride to get her to that shelter and a chaperoned train ride back to her home the next day, where she was reunited with a family member.
Taylor received the award from Protective Insurance in Indianapolis, Indiana, over Memorial Day weekend. Protective Insurance partners with TAT.
Source: Truckers Against Trafficking