OKLAHOMA CITY -- Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. has announced a partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness among professional truck drivers and travel stop employees to combat human trafficking in the United States.
Love's also donated $10,000 to help TAT with the costs of producing materials to support its mission.
"Love's is a critical player in the travel stop industry, so they have incredible potential to reach thousands, if not millions, with this message, including their own employees," said Kendis Paris, executive director of TAT. "As a corporation that actively cares about making a difference in their communities, Love's is now helping to empower and mobilize people all over the country with this message, which is a huge step forward in the effort to save lives."
As part of the partnership, Love's has incorporated a video produced by TAT into its training program for 10,000 employees working at more than 300 travel stops nationwide. The video helps employees identify trafficking situations, and it details the steps to alert proper authorities. Love's also worked with TAT to print and distribute posters with the hotline help number to be displayed in all of its locations.
"With much of our business taking place along interstate highways, we have a unique advantage to help Truckers Against Trafficking," said Jenny Love Meyer, vice president of communications for Love's. "It's our hope that by conveying the message to professional drivers and training our employees to recognize these situations, we can truly make a difference."
Pocket Card Networks, one of Love's vendors, is also showing support by donating advertising space and distribution for the TAT wallet-sized information cards on its card racks inside Love's Travel Stops geared to professional truck drivers.
TAT seeks additional ways for the trucking industry to get involved in the fight against human trafficking. The organization also builds coalitions between state and local law enforcement, anti-trafficking organizations and general managers of travel stops to create a tight bond between people who have the skills to identify and assist in stopping human trafficking along the nation's interstate highways. It is a 501(c) 3 that exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic sex trafficking.
Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is based in Oklahoma City and remains entirely family-owned and operated. With more than 300 locations and 180 Love's Truck Tire Care centers in 39 states, Love's approximate growth rate is 20 stores per year.
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