“Everyday Heroes” Kenworth Truck Riding on GT Radial Tires to Fight Human Trafficking
An eye-catching Kenworth T680 truck is rolling across America on GT Radial tires with a very special mission – to raise money for the Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) organization. The “Everyday Heroes” truck, featuring a distinctive paint scheme, was built by the Inland Kenworth dealership in Tolleson, AZ, with significant financial support from Kenworth, a PACCAR Company, and Ritchie Bros. It made its first public appearance at the ATA Technology and Tire Maintenance Council convention in Nashville and appeared last week in Phoenix for a presentation to the Arizona Human Trafficking Council. After several more appearances, the truck will be auctioned off at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Phoenix on June 20.
Proceeds from the sale of the T680, which has a retail value of $157,000, will go directly to Truckers Against Trafficking – a 501(c)3 non-profit devoted to stopping human trafficking by educating, mobilizing, and empowering the nation’s truck drivers and rest stop employees.
“We are thrilled to have GT Radial tires on this incredible Kenworth T680 and to be supporting this very important and needed cause,” said Armand Allaire, executive vice president of commercial sales for GITI Tire (USA) Ltd., which markets a full line of GT Radial commercial tires in North America.
The T680 is riding on GT Radial GSL213FS steer tires and GDL651FS drive tires, both of which are SmartWay® verified. The GDL651FS drive tire was introduced in North America earlier this year to provide long haul operations enhanced fuel economy, combined with good traction and long tread wear.
According to TAT, human trafficking is an estimated $32 billion industry in the U.S. alone and $150 billion globally. The organization has trained and educated nearly 300,000 truck drivers and truck stop operators to date on how they can help fight this terrible problem.