National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Is Here

This week, the United States is recognizing the people who keep the country moving. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week brings celebrations and countless messages of gratitude for the drivers behind the wheel.

From September 13 through 19, trucking companies, industry associations, terminals, truck stops and government agencies are joining a nationwide celebration that marks its 38th year and puts the spotlight on the nearly 3.6 million professional truck drivers traveling America’s roads.

The week is led by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), which launched the national program in 1988 to recognize truck drivers’ essential contribution to everyday life and the U.S. economy.

This year’s celebration includes a full week of activities, from meals and gifts for drivers to events at terminals and truck stops, driver recognition programs and a major social media campaign.

A Different Activity Every Day

For 2026, ATA organized a Spirit Week, with a different way to celebrate professional drivers each day.

On Monday, September 14, companies and employees are encouraged to wear the official National Truck Driver Appreciation Week colors, green and yellow, and decorate terminals and workplaces to kick off the week.

Tuesday is all about food. Companies can host breakfasts at their terminals or surprise drivers at truck stops with coffee, breakfast or snacks.

On Wednesday, women in trucking take center stage. ATA will host a webinar through its Women In Motion program featuring women who make their living behind the wheel.

On Thursday, the celebration moves to social media. Companies, organizations and individuals are encouraged to post messages thanking professional drivers and share them using #NTDAW26 and #ThankATrucker.

Finally, Friday is dedicated to sharing photos and highlights from celebrations held throughout the week.

ATA has also announced that its staff will distribute goodie bags to drivers at truck stops and rest areas and join the U.S. Department of Transportation for a special event at a weigh station.

Meals, Giveaways and Gifts for Drivers

The celebrations go well beyond the national agenda. Trucking companies and industry organizations traditionally use the week to organize their own activities for drivers.

Events include barbecues, breakfasts and lunches at terminals, raffles and awards recognizing years of service and safety achievements.

Companies also hand out practical gifts for drivers who spend much of their working lives inside a truck cab, including insulated tumblers, apparel, seat cushions, hydration kits and other useful items for life on the road.

Some fleets also hold digital raffles and provide gift cards, allowing over-the-road drivers who may be hundreds or thousands of miles from their home terminals to participate in the celebrations.

Truck stops are also getting involved. Throughout September, for example, TravelCenters of America is holding a special sweepstakes for professional drivers at participating TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express locations. Drivers can earn entries through qualifying commercial diesel fuel or truck service purchases.

Nearly 3.6 Million Truck Drivers

Behind the celebrations is an industry of enormous scale.

ATA estimates that the United States has nearly 3.6 million professional truck drivers. Truck drivers also safely deliver more than 72% of the nation’s freight tonnage.

America’s reliance on trucking becomes even clearer when looking beyond the major cities: more than 80% of U.S. communities depend exclusively on trucks to meet their freight transportation needs, according to ATA.

Food, clothing, medicine, household products, construction materials and heavy equipment are just some of the countless goods that depend on trucking before reaching their final destinations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is also taking part in National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, calling on Americans to recognize the millions of professional drivers who keep the goods, supplies and resources that communities and the economy depend on moving.

A Profession That Comes With Sacrifices

The week also highlights something that is easy to overlook when a truck arrives at a distribution center or a product appears on a store shelf.

Behind every delivery are hours on the road, vehicle inspections, safety checks, route planning, traffic, construction zones, delays, difficult weather conditions and time away from family.

For over-the-road drivers, the job can mean spending extended periods away from home and traveling thousands of miles while complying with strict safety requirements and hours-of-service rules.

That reality is reflected in the message behind this year’s celebration: “For the Miles You Drive And Sacrifices You Make.”

It recognizes not only the enormous distances professional drivers cover but also the personal sacrifices that come with the job.

#ThankATrucker

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is not just for trucking companies.

The campaign encourages everyone to thank a truck driver during the week. That could mean posting a message on social media, buying a driver a cup of coffee or breakfast, or simply saying “thank you” when meeting a professional driver on the road.

The official National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2026 website also provides resources to share and encourages the use of #NTDAW26 and #ThankATrucker to bring together celebrations taking place across the country.

For one week, the spotlight belongs to the people who spend much of the year behind the wheel.

They are the drivers who help keep grocery store shelves stocked, pharmacies supplied with medicine, factories running with the materials they need and millions of shipments moving toward their destinations.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2026 is a reminder of a simple but essential fact: behind much of what America makes, buys and uses, there has been a truck and a professional driver keeping it moving.