Charles Bernsen, general manager of the Petro in Florence, South Carolina, was awarded the 2024 Truckers Against Traffickers (TAT) Harriet Tubman Award. This accolade recognizes his crucial role, and by extension, the role of every truck driver, in identifying and reporting human trafficking, whether they are on long-haul journeys or delivering goods locally.
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Bernsen is one of 18,000 TravelCenters of America (TA) employees who undergo TAT’s annual human trafficking training. His vigilance led him to notice a young woman who frequently appeared distressed in the store lobby, often disappearing into the restroom. After observing her for several days, Bernsen approached her to offer assistance. She tearfully revealed she had escaped a man who had been holding her captive in a nearby hotel, forcing her into sex work.
In response, Bernsen provided her with food, clothing, and a blanket, along with information about TAT. He facilitated her call to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and purchased a bus ticket for her return home, covering her travel expenses. The young woman, Nikki, later shared her story in a video with TAT, crediting Bernsen’s gentle demeanor and compassion with earning her trust and ultimately saving her life.
Founded in 2009, TAT operates on the fundamental principle that truck drivers can be vital partners in combating human trafficking. To learn more about how to get involved with TAT, please visit their website.
Load-to-Truck Ratio
Load posts for dry vans saw a predictable 23% surge last week, consistent with typical market behavior in the short workweek preceding July Fourth celebrations. Concurrently, carrier equipment posts declined by 21% week-over-week. As a result of these combined factors, the dry van load-to-truck ratio remained largely unchanged at 6.66.
Linehaul spot rates
Dry van linehaul spot rates saw a $0.05 increase last week, reaching just over $1.70 per mile in anticipation of the July Fourth holiday. This is $0.01 lower than the rate at the same time last year.
The average rate for DAT’s top 50 lanes by load volume was $2.03 per mile, a $0.05 per mile increase from the previous week. This average is $0.33 higher than the national 7-day rolling average spot rate.
In the 13 key Midwest states, which represent 45% of national load volume and often indicate future national trends, spot rates rose by $0.08 per mile. Despite this, outbound load volume in the region decreased by just under 1%. Carriers in these states earned an average of $1.92 per mile, which is $0.22 above the national 7-day rolling average.
