Tracy Mullins, the general manager of the Petro Stopping Center in Spokane, Wash., has won the first annual Harriet Tubman award from Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) after she helped to prevent the possible human trafficking of two minors.
Mullins, who has been trained to help identify and report potential signs of human trafficking, called local law enforcement after she found two young runaways seeking rides to Seattle at her location.
“This is a very special award for me, because, as a mother, I know we helped two young girls not become a statistic that day,” Mullins said in a press release.
Tom O’Brien, President and CEO of Travel Centers of America, said he is honored by the news that Tracy received the award.
“Human trafficking is a worldwide issue. … Because of our prime locations principally along the Interstate Highway System, our professional driver customers and our employees just might be in the right place at the right time to help a victim,” O’Brien said.
Truckers Against Trafficking is a human rights advocacy group dedicated to training transportation professionals to identify victims of human trafficking and report the information to the appropriate authorities.
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