Truck Drivers Continue to Deliver for American Communities
Every day, millions of Americans get behind the wheel and head out on the highways. Some of them are off to the grocery store, some to their place of work, and some are of the 3.6 million professional truck drivers in America. These are the hard-working professional men and women that deliver the goods that keep America moving.
From the food we eat, the clothes we wear, to the medical supplies and equipment we use to stay healthy – professional truck drivers get things where they need to be, on time, safely, and securely.
Beginning on September 12, 2021 we will celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW). When the world stopped, they kept moving. During the COVID-19 pandemic, professional truck drivers took on a heroic role by delivering the essential goods to our country. The sacrifices that professional drivers made to help carry the nation through the pandemic must never be understated. To deliver for American families, drivers put their own health, and the health of their families on the line. Their dedication and sacrifice is deserving of our praise, recognition, and appreciation.
Truck drivers deliver over 10 billion tons of freight every year, which is about 70% of all the freight moved in the U.S. In the United States, 80% of communities – cities and towns just like yours – receive all their goods via truck.
The trucking industry is the backbone of our economy, and our professional drivers are the industry’s heart. Their commitment to safety and dependability ensures our quality of life remains intact – even during a global pandemic.
This week, when you’re in a grocery store, take a minute to notice how stocked the shelves are – and always remained, even during the most trying moments of the pandemic. Then think about the professional drivers that delivered all the food you, and everyone else you know, put into your carts and brought home to your families. When sitting at home, maybe in your home office, look around and realize that everything inside it was at some point in the back of truck before it got to where it is now.
When next at a restaurant or picking up takeout, think about the meal you’re about to eat and how the ingredients were very recently delivered by truck. Think about all the jobs truck drivers have made possible out of the commitment to do theirs.
The next time you’re cruising down the highway and pass by a truck, give them the famous honking sign – they’ll love it! If a passenger in your vehicle is able to capture the moment on video, post it to social media and include the hashtag #honkforhighwayhereos and #thankatrucker.
During this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, take a moment to be thankful for the efforts of America’s truck drivers and recognize that without them, your home, your workplace, your dinner table, and your life, would look very different.
Our most sincere thanks to America's professional truck drivers, who truly do move our great country forward!