Fourteen years ago, Brad White was looking for a career change. Although he grew up down the road from Werner, one of the nation’s leading trucking companies specializing in freight shipping and logistics management, he said trucking wasn’t in his blood. So, he admits it was a “leap of faith to join the trucking industry,” but after speaking to current employees who recommended Werner to him, he applied.

“I couldn’t be happier with that decision,” he said, “and the opportunities that have opened up for me. One of those is being able to use critical thinking to solve complex issues that ensure the safety of people on our nation’s roadways … that’s what initially drew me to the transportation industry and the safety department specifically. This continues to keep me engaged and excited about my work.”

Before assuming his current role as Safety director earlier this year, White covered a variety of roles in Safety, including associate director of Safety, oversight of regulatory compliance for Werner in several capacities and working in the 24/7/365 driver support call center. In 2015, Werner began partnering with TAT by incorporating TAT training in their onboarding process as well as annual recurrent training. And White was introduced to TAT and fighting human trafficking as a member of the trucking industry.

Before he became more involved with human trafficking prevention awareness, White said he thought of human trafficking as a problem confined to big cities and major events. However, listening to TAT Training Specialist Liz Gray, a survivor-leader, tell her story shattered that misconception. “This issue is happening right here in Nebraska, in my own town,” White stated. “Although it’s a difficult topic to discuss, it’s crucial that we do so. We need to raise awareness and understanding, so everyone can stay vigilant and help prevent the next potential victim from experiencing the horrors of this crime.”

In 2020, Werner signed the USDOT’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge. From that moment on, the organization has committed a growing amount of time and resources to anti-human trafficking activities. These have included:

• Nominating White for the 2023-24 USDOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, to which he was appointed.
• Rolling out TAT training to all driver, maintenance and office associates at Werner Enterprises, ECM Transport, Baylor Trucking and Werner Final Mile
• Developing a zero-tolerance policy in their associate handbook
• Creating a quick call link in the Drive Werner Pro application, where drivers can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline
• Participating in the United Against Slavery’s National Outreach Survey for Transportation
• Recognizing the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign on January 11, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
• Producing and releasing a podcast with TAT, focusing on raising awareness and driving action around human trafficking prevention and featuring Gray and Paul Yates from I’ve Got a Name
• Hosting Gray for a companywide Lunch ‘N Learn event
• Hosting a networking event via Werner’s Woman’s Leadership Alliance Associate Resource Group to collect letters of encouragement and support for survivors in conjunction with World Day Against Trafficking In Persons
• Announcing Werner’s Pathways To Freedom program, an initiative designed to recognize the proactive efforts of customers, vendors and third-party carriers in establishing and maintaining robust anti-trafficking programs within their workplaces
• Showcasing TAT’s Freedom Driver’s Project (FDP) at Werner’s outreach event, as well as helping transport the FDP to and from events

White works to use everything he’s learned about human trafficking to motivate others to engage in the fight. “Becoming more involved, understanding the data and speaking with survivors has grown my desire to want to make a difference. That is when the work I was doing switched from being a part of my job to something I have grown passionate about,” he explained. “And, I’m fortunate to work for a company that is committed to doing the right thing. We take our responsibility seriously to use our resources and influence to make a difference.”