by Brian Everett, on Sep 15, 2026
A team at ArcBest celebrates their drivers in a social post. (Photo courtesy: ArcBest)
Every day, millions of professional truck drivers take to America’s highways with a responsibility that reaches far beyond moving freight. They deliver food on our tables, medicine in our pharmacies, materials that build our homes and keep businesses operating, and countless products that are part of our everyday lives.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), taking place Sept. 13-19 this year, provides an important opportunity to recognize the professionals behind the wheel — and the skill, commitment and sacrifices required to keep America moving.
Today, approximately 3.6 million professional truck drivers work across the United States. According to the 2026-27 WIT Index recently released, approximately 9.5% of them are women. The WIT Index is the industry barometer to benchmark and measure the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation.
Recognizing the Professional Behind the Wheel
It’s important to recognize professional truck drivers not only because of the importance of their role in our industry and lives overall, but because truck driving can be a very demanding profession. Whether they’re long-haul or regional/local drivers, they can spend long hours on the road and need to navigate traffic and weather, meet demanding schedules, and manage complex equipment. They balance all these challenges while also maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety.
But perhaps the greatest value of NTDAW is that it creates a conversation about something that should matter throughout the year: How do we make sure professional drivers know they are valued? NTDAW gives for-hire motor carriers, private fleets, suppliers, customers and the general public an opportunity to recognize the professionalism that truck drivers religiously bring to the road every day.
Since its origination by the American Trucking Associations in 1988, trucking companies and other industry organizations like the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) celebrate drivers through special events, meals, giveaways, leadership messages and social media recognition.
WIT and the industry at-large use #NTDAW26, #ThankATrucker and #WomenInTrucking has tags to amplify the messages via social media. You also can access Social Media & Press Toolkits (hosted by ATA), which includes tips on how to promote your events and key messages via social media, digital and motion graphics that can be used in various marketing and communications channels, and templates that can help you to highlight the importance of truck drivers and those in your workforce.
Company Round-Up: How Companies are Celebrating Drivers
From special meals and giveaways to driver spotlights, recognition events and heartfelt messages of gratitude, WIT member companies are finding meaningful ways to celebrate the professionals behind the wheel during NTDAW. Here’s a look at how several WIT member companies are saying “thank you” to the many professional truck drivers who bring us what we need on a daily basis:
Schneider continues to be a shipping, transportation and logistics giant that recognizes its drivers during NTDAW. Schneider holds its Driver Associate Appreciation Days in September specifically to coincide with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. According to Schneider: “The events vary by location, but most major Schneider facilities offer food, refreshments and prize giveaways.” Schneider company leaders also are onsite to personally thank drivers and celebrate their accomplishments. In addition, Schneider’s broader driver-recognition program also includes its Advantage Club loyalty program, Million Mile and Consecutive Safe Driving awards, Haul of Fame, Driver of the Month recognition, longevity rewards and other driver benefits. See more details.
Bennett Family of Companies this year, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, is recognizing its drivers with patriotic celebrations across most of its locations. Bennett honors drivers not just for their professionalism but for their place in the fabric of this nation: “In a year when America is reflecting on 250 years of hard work and perseverance, our drivers represent that story better than anyone.” See more details.
Boyle Transportation sends its professional truck drivers $50 gift card, since most of the company’s teams are not local to where they come to a terminal. “Of course, we’ll have some cookouts and other appreciation events for drivers, but this way everybody receives appreciation rather than just those who are able to come through a terminal,” says one company representative. See more details.
Great Dane launched a 2026 Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes specifically for NTDAW. The equipment manufacturer is giving away 100 Great Dane hats, 50 $100 dinner gift cards, five Turtlebox speakers and a Traeger Woodridge Pro grill as the grand prize. See more details.
TA Dedicated has more than 1,100 professional drivers as part of its driver force, and recognition is a big part of its culture. The company provides budgets to its warehouse and operations network and its up to the site to determine the “vibe” and goals of the event, according to one operations executive: “For the drivers who don’t go through a location, we have extra messaging and videos that reach them to express our appreciation, and they get a voucher or gift card to make sure they have meal coverage.” This year the company also is giving its drivers a safety lantern that turns into a flashlight and does a couple different things. See more details.
Aim Transportation Solutions celebrates its drivers with messages of gratitude from leadership, daily prize drawings, new driver swag, and other recognition programs. This year, the company also is giving shirts to all drivers in appreciation of their service. See more details.
JX Truck Center is recognizing drivers who stop at JX Truck Center locations this week by giving treats and special giveaways, whether they're there for service, parts or simply passing through. See more details.
Trimac Transportation showcases exemplary truck drivers across the organization to show appreciation, and also is hosting various local events to bring its teams together to recognize the hard work of drivers and have some fun. See more details.
XPO has made driver recognition a visible part of its culture, including a companywide campaign during NTDAW in 2025 that celebrated professional drivers across its network and highlighted their essential role in keeping freight moving. Local XPO teams also participated in Driver Appreciation Week activities and celebrations. See more details.
ArcBest/ABF Freight has a strong history of celebrating drivers with free meals, gifts, giveaways and service recognition, as well as celebrations across its network of 240 service centers. See more details.
“This week, we’re celebrating the team behind every mile and recognizing the professional drivers, dockworkers and support teams whose hard work and dedication help keep freight and supply chains moving every day.” Sentiments from an ArcBest social post with many team photos showing gratitude (Photo Courtesy: ArcBest)
C.H. Robinson kicks off its driver celebrations under its 2026 “Built to Move” campaign and honoring its Carrier of the Year Award winners, ranging from single-truck Owner-Operator drivers to large fleets with thousands of drivers. Over the past few weeks, CHR employees at different U.S. locations have assembled carrier swag bags containing hand-written thank you notes and useful gifts for the road, which will be handed out to drivers at C.H. Robinson distribution centers throughout the week. See more details.
ContainerPort Group has developed materials that customers and facilities use to appreciate drivers who arrive at their docks, including driver check-in signs, cards employees can personally write on and a QR code allowing people to send drivers messages of thanks. The company also uses its social channels to talk about home time and what year-round driver appreciation actually means. See more details.
Appreciation Should Last 52 Weeks
An event, meal, gift or personal thank-you can be meaningful. But genuine driver appreciation also is demonstrated through the everyday experience a driver has with an employer. Many organizations with fleets, such as Landstar, ArcBest, FedEx Freight, Penske, Averitt, Ryder, Schneider and XPO, have been named by WIT as a Top Company for Women to Work in Trucking specifically because of the positive corporate culture they’ve created that attracts and keeps female professional truck drivers.
See press release: WIT Names 2025 Top Companies for Women to Work in Transportation
These corporate cultures are create through a number of strategies, including competitive compensation and benefits; safe, reliable and comfortable equipment; respectful relationships with dispatchers and managers; access to safe truck parking and clean restroom facilities; reasonable home time and work-life balance; attention to driver health and wellness; and opportunities for professional development and advancement. Perhaps most importantly, these companies simply listen and respond to drivers about what they need to succeed.
These issues take on added importance as trucking works to attract and retain more women behind the wheel.
For WIT as an organization, NTDAW closely aligns with its mission: To champion the employment and advancement of women in trucking, foster connections among them, and recognize their achievements.
Women continue to bring valuable skills, perspectives and experience to the professional driving workforce. During NTDAW, WIT is placing a special spotlight on these women — not simply because they are women working in a traditionally male-dominated profession, but because they are skilled professionals making significant contributions to their companies, customers and communities.
Related Articles
- Celebrating the Drivers Who Keep Us Moving: NTDAW
- Driven to Inspire: WIT Celebrates Seven Women Behind the Wheel
- Women In Trucking Announces Image Team Class of 2026
- Celebrating the Women Behind the Wheel This Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
Like this kind of content?
As a member of the Women In Trucking Association, stay on top of emerging trends and business issues impacting transportation and logistics; learn the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and the need for more women drivers; and see best practices in encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Join today! Learn More
