How a New Trucking Nonprofit Is Changing Lives of Human Trafficking Survivors – Fleet Management

After nearly 40 years in trucking and logistics, Sharon Siar has found a deeper purpose in helping some of society’s most vulnerable – victims of human trafficking.

Siar, who is vice president and chief financial officer for Dallas-based Talon Freight Services, teamed up with two other women trucking and logistics leaders to co-found Gift of Freedom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young survivors of human trafficking. 

For Siar, the drive to help these young people is deeply personal. Her sister was raped at the age of 20 and never recovered from the mental trauma of the experience.

“She never got the counseling that she needed,” Siar said in an interview on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

“[The attitude was], ‘It’ll go away. Just move on.’ Well, she spiraled downward and she died at an early age.”

So when the veteran trucking and logistics leader saw the human trafficking happening in her state of Texas, she knew the importance of trafficking victims getting the counseling they need after they are free from their traffickers.

And she decided to do something about it.

“We all have a purpose in life,” Siar said. “And it just hit me that this was it.”

The Tragedy of Human Trafficking

The statistics surrounding human trafficking are staggering. According to Siar, about 25% of trafficking victims are children, and the numbers are likely underreported.

Billions of dollars are generated annually from human trafficking in the United States. Texas, Siar’s home state, ranks second in the country for human trafficking incidents, behind California.

“We often think that these kids are getting kidnapped and taken overseas, and they are,” but the United States is one of the top countries for trafficking, she said.

And human trafficking goes beyond the stereotypical images of dark alleys, kids bundled into white vans against their will, dingy motels, Siar said.

“When it’s happening in nice neighborhoods and in nice hotels and people aren’t saying anything, that’s why it’s such a worldwide problem.” 

Even more chilling, she said, “It’s not just your cartels. It’s families. A lot of mothers and fathers… start trafficking [their children] for the money.”

What Happens After Trafficking Victims Are Rescued?

When Siar began encountering stories of trafficked children and young people, she was struck by the parallels to her sister’s struggles. 

“We’re educating people about trafficking; we’re rescuing kids,” she said.

There are trucking groups, such as TAT, that train truck drivers and others in transportation to spot the signs of trafficking.

“But then what happens after they’re rescued? Nothing,” she said. “We just don’t have enough counselors. We don’t have enough facilities.”

Determined to fill this gap, Siar launched Gift of Freedom with the help of co-founders Nicole Glenn, president of Candor Expedite, and Kristy Knichel, president of Knichel Logistics. 

“We felt like it was meant to be,” Siar said. “Everything that we did just fell into place. Everybody wanted to volunteer, everybody wanted to do things pro bono. And so the doors just started opening.”

Closing the Gap in Post-Rescue Support for Trafficking Victims

While many organizations focus on raising awareness or rescuing victims, Gift of Freedom targets what Siar sees as an overlooked but essential area: post-rescue support. 

“The kids that don’t get help… they generally have PTSD, they have eating disorders, they commit suicide, or they’ll go back and continue doing what they’ve been doing, because they don’t know any other life,” she explained.

Gift of Freedom raises funds to cover the cost of counseling and other recovery services for survivors. The organization estimates that it takes about $4,000 a year per child.

About 95% of donations to the organization go directly to help trafficking victims, Siar said. None of the co-founders gets a salary, leaving only some administrative costs to cover.

The organization collaborates with law enforcement, child protective services, churches, and legal teams to ensure survivors receive holistic care. 

However, she emphasized the immense challenges they face, including a lack of housing. Churches and other private groups are building housing for these victims, and Siar’s group is lobbying their representatives to get government funding released for this purpose.

Trucking’s Role in the Fight Against Trafficking

The trucking industry is uniquely positioned to combat human trafficking. 

Trucking and other forms of transportation are a key factor in human trafficking, as traffickers move their victims over highways, waterways, railroads or airways.

Siar and her team collaborate with trucking and intermodal groups to raise awareness and improve prevention efforts. 

“If there’s no way to move [victims] around, it’s going to hinder their growth,” she said.

For example, intermodal teams are trained to monitor containers for hidden trafficking victims, while trucking professionals are encouraged to report suspicious activities.

Building Awareness and Tougher Laws

In addition to direct support for survivors, Siar’s group advocates for greater awareness and stronger laws to deter traffickers. 

“Texas is the only state where it is a felony to buy sex from a victim,” she said. “A conviction can get up to 25 to 30 years. But I think it needs to be worse than that.”

Siar also stressed the importance of educating families to protect children from traffickers who prey on vulnerabilities. 

“With social media, that’s how a lot of these traffickers are getting these kids,” she warns. “They’re always looking for people that are having problems at home. So pay attention to what apps your kids are on.”

Growing Beyond Texas

Although Gift of Freedom is currently focused on Texas, Siar hopes to expand its reach nationwide. 

The organization is already making strides. 

“When we launched in October… we immediately started receiving donations,” Siar said. “Everybody wants to hear about the program. So we’ve raised quite a bit of money a lot faster than I thought we would.”

Despite the magnitude of the human trafficking problem, Siar is determined to make a difference in the lives of human trafficking victims. 

“We’re taking it one step at a time, one child at a time,” she said. “Our focus is just helping a child recover and live a normal life free of abuse.”

Watch the full interview with Sharon Siar: