Celebrating Truck Drivers Around the Nation
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is a way to give back.
If you use or consume it, the chances that it will spend at least some time as cargo of a tractor trailer container are very high. From dry goods to produce to livestock to machinery and more, the United States runs because truck drivers deliver. With such a powerful influence on our nation, the least we can do is celebrate truck drivers for their efforts.
Each year in September, the America Trucking Association sponsors National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. This year, it was Sept. 14 through Sept. 20, but many organizations show support all month long. Across the country, businesses and organizations pay thanks to truck drivers, and at Ancora Training, we say thank you, too!
A Look at the CDL Industry
According to the ATA, 3.6 million men and women are professional truck drivers. These drivers are responsible for moving 72% of the country’s freight by weight. And there’s more to this industry that the men and women who sit behind the wheel. The ATA says 8.4 million Americans work in some capacity in the trucking industry. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had a median salary in 2024 of $57,440 per year.
What It Takes to Be a Truck Driver
Truck drivers endure long hours on the road, which means time away from loved ones and family, sometimes days or weeks at a time. It also involves rigorous training, certifications, and continuing certifications every few years to maintain a Commercial Driver’s License or any of the various specialty certifications that a job might require.
In addition, truck drivers must be okay with solo time in the truck cab with only themselves or possibly a pet, if allowed by the operator. Then factors such as heavy traffic, rerouted driving routes due to road construction, inclement weather, or strict delivery schedules make truck driving a career that requires adjustment and patience.
Reasons to Thank a Truck Driver
Truck drivers deserve recognition for more than just one week of the year. In case you are wondering why, here are just a few ways they touch the lives of so many.
- They keep shelves stocked. The next time you walk through the aisles of a grocery store and see the shelves stocked or a pallet of boxes ready to be unloaded, thank a truck driver!
- They support local economies. From the mom-and-pop bakery to the Fortune 500 financial company, they move goods efficiently for businesses of all sizes to thrive.
- They connect communities. Whether you live in an urban area or a rural one, truck drivers make it possible to deliver products and resources to everyone.
- They willingly sacrifice for the greater good. When that last-minute holiday gift arrives just in the nick of time, thank a truck driver!
How Companies are Honoring Truckers
With all the hard work involved, companies across the U.S. are offering discounts, deals, freebies, or even holding competitions to recognize truckers. Many of these deals are available throughout the month of September, not just during the special week. Companies like Love’s Travel Stops, RaceTrac, and Pilot Flying J are all participating in the festivities. For links and more details, check out this concise list of specials that was compiled by FleetOwner, an industry news provider for commercial truck fleets.
Ancora Training Solutes America’s Truck Drivers
CDL training has long been a mainstay for Ancora Training. We deliver CDL workforce training programs that help trucking companies train new hires, refresh skills of current truck drivers, or connect newly certified CDL drivers with businesses. We are proud of the work we do to help truckers keep America moving. We know the sacrifice and hard work that goes into a truck driving career, and we want to take this time to thank all those who get behind the wheel of a big rig.
