The American Trucking Associations is taking the week of September 19-25, 2010, to honor the 3.4 million professional truck drivers that deliver America’s freight safely and securely everyday.
“Professional truck drivers deliver our nation’s essential freight safely everyday,” said Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “As a result of this commitment, our nation’s highways are the safest they have ever been, and our grocery shelves are stocked. We as a nation owe a great deal to the truck drivers out on our nation’s roads everyday.”
During this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, ATA and its state affiliates will mark the celebration by holding events across the nation.
Celebrations this week hosted by motor carriers, shippers, and other trucking-related industries include million-mile and safety awards, cash bonuses or gifts, an extra paid day off, a cup of coffee or windshield cleaning at truckstops, goodie bags with fresh fruit and water, free health checks, and celebration meals—some lasting all week until every driver cycles through company headquarters. Office personnel at some companies are also encouraged to spend a few days out on the road to see the driver’s side of their business. Many celebrations will be kicked off with a video tribute to the professional truck driver.
ATA is hosting a video contest focusing on the professional truck driver. To view some of the industry submissions, click here.
Dates for upcoming National Truck Driver Appreciation Week celebrations will be: September 11-17, 2011; and September 16-22, 2012.
More than 3.4 million professional truck drivers nationwide deliver the goods US consumers need every day. Logging more than 431 billion miles per year, trucks delivered 10.2 billion tons of freight in 2008, or 68.8% of total US freight tonnage. To learn more, visit www.ntdaw.org.
