The Kenworth “Everyday Heroes” T680 will make an appearance at the Mid-America Trucking Show next week as part of its five-month-long road tour before it is auctioned for sale, with proceeds going to Truckers Against Trafficking. The non-profit organization is devoted to stopping human trafficking by educating, mobilizing, and empowering the nation’s truck drivers and rest stop employees.
MATS Thursday through Saturday at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville.
This is the second time an “Everyday Heroes” Kenworth T680 is auctioned for the nonprofit group. In 2017, the auction netted $83,000 for Truckers Against Trafficking.
The auction is May 17 in Phoenix.
The special Kenworth T680 will be displayed in the hallway outside the south wing of the Expo Center. Members of the Trucking Against Trafficking staff will be at booth No. 30215 to provide information about the organization, which has trained more than 680,000 truck drivers on the warning signs of human trafficking since it was founded in 2009.
The truck, which has a retail value of $162,000, is fully loaded with a 76-inch sleeper and features the Paccar Powertrain with a Paccar MX-13 485 horsepower engine, Paccar 12-speed automated transmission, and Paccar 40K tandem rear axles.
Don Blake, new truck sales manager at Inland Kenworth – Phoenix, is spearheading the industry fundraising effort for the special truck.
“Truck drivers have an incredible opportunity to bring down the perpetrators of human trafficking,” said Blake. “Our hope is that through events like Mid-America, we can generate as much awareness about the TAT program and inform owner-operators and fleets about the opportunity to own a fully loaded Kenworth T680 with the proceeds going to help such a worthy cause. I believe this year’s auction will be very successful, and that we will be able to generate a significant donation for TAT.”
Providing industry support for the Everyday Heroes Kenworth T680 are: Platinum Level: Kenworth Truck Company, Inland Kenworth and Ritchie Bros; Gold Level: PACCAR Engine, SEG Automotive, and Swift Charities; Silver Level: Bendix, Bridgestone, Eaton, FlowBelow, Horton, Jost, Meritor, PACCAR Financial, PACCAR Parts, Trimble, Utility Trailer Sales of Arizona, and WABCO; and Bronze Level: Alcoa, Arizona Rock Product Association, Arizona Trucking Association, Beaver Stripes and Molding, Chevron, ConMet, Davco, East Penn, Ex-Guard®, National Seats, PrePass / Help Inc, Sheppard, and Tectran.