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National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2024

posted by TrueNorth Transportation on Monday, September 16, 2024

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Celebrating the Heroes of the Road

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an annual initiative celebrating professional drivers, led by American Trucking Associations. It highlights the hard work and sacrifice drivers make year-round and encourages all Americans to show their gratitude and reflect on their invaluable contribution to our every-day lives.  

TrueNorth celebrates this week every year and makes it our mission to express our gratitude to drivers, while also spreading awareness to the public. Our services are dedicated to aiding drivers' safety and wellbeing, enabling us to witness what their job entails daily; but for many Americans the challenge of the job is often something they are unaware of. This week is vital to shedding light on the major impact truck drivers have.  

A First-Hand Perspective

Bert Mayo, Vice President of Risk Solutions at TrueNorth, started his career in the transportation industry 34 years ago as a truck driver.  His 3 years as a driver gave him a deep appreciation for drivers, their contribution to our lives, and the difficulties they face. In this video, Bert shares his perspective.

Impact by the Numbers

To better understand the sacrifices made by drivers and their contribution to society, here are some statistics:

• There are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States  
• Long-distance truck drivers drive over 100,000 miles yearly 
• A typical day can be up to 14 hours long 
• More than 80% of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking for the delivery of their goods and commodities  
• Trucks move 72.6% of the nation's freight by weight 

What You Can Do

We encourage you to express your gratitude to truck drivers this week. As mentioned in the video, a simple thank you to show your appreciation can go a long way.  

Here are some ideas of ways you can show your thanks: 

1. A friendly wave or handshake 
2. Pay for their items at a rest stop or gas station 
3. Buy them a coffee  
4. Give drivers a shoutout on social media