Meet Wayne: UPS tractor trailer driver Wayne Ponschke has 29 years of safe driving with UPS. That equates to more than 2 million accident-free miles. He’s also passionate about showing up for his community, so it’s only natural that he’s deeply involved with TAT – a nonprofit that helps truck drivers identify the signs of trafficking and take action.
A real superpower: “UPS is everywhere. Our vehicles are everywhere,” Wayne said. “We can get the word out on highways and residential streets. A simple human trafficking prevention training can bring a child home safe to their family.”
Wayne first got involved with TAT in 2019 and quickly dedicated himself to creating safer communities. His most meaningful effort so far? Participation in the Freedom Drivers Project – a mobile 18-wheeler exhibit that brings the realities of human trafficking to life. Since 2014, UPS drivers have driven the exhibit more than 32,000 miles and hosted over 8,500 tours.
“The saying goes, ‘If I can help just one person, my job is done.’ Well for me, it’s just getting started,” Wayne said. “Having the blood, sweat and tears of TAT’s vision backed by UPS is one of the most humbling experiences I will ever be a part of.”
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the devastating impact of human trafficking. UPS stands with human trafficking survivors everywhere, and we’re committed to doing our part in stopping its spread.
What UPS is doing to make a difference:
- We have trained nearly 230,000 UPS employees to recognize and report human trafficking.
- To date, UPS and UPSers have raised more than $12 million to combat human trafficking. Our dollars fuel community impact programs and train victim service providers to support survivors globally.
- The Freedom Drivers Project mobile museum will tour 2026 World Cup host cities including Atlanta, Miami and Toronto to raise awareness of human trafficking.
- We’re also hosting a panel with key leaders, like the Georgia Attorney General and representatives of the Office of the Atlanta Mayor, to discuss how we can develop and roll out counter-trafficking initiatives around major sports events.
What you can do:
- Learn about the red flags of human trafficking.
- Call the hotline number 1-888-373-7888 to report human trafficking.
- Hear from Nikki Clifton, president of social impact & The UPS Foundation on three ways businesses can fight sex trafficking.
- Dive deeper into how UPS is driving the fight against human trafficking.
- UPSers can donate to UPS’s anti-human trafficking impact fund to combat human trafficking, fuel community impact programs and train service providers to assist victims.