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National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Sep 16, 2026

Recognizing the Professionals Behind the Wheel—and How We Can Support Them Every Mile

September 13–19 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, a time to recognize the millions of professional truck drivers who keep businesses, communities, and the economy moving.

Nearly everything we rely on has spent time on a truck. Food, medicine, clothing, construction materials, fuel, equipment, and countless other products reach their destinations because professional drivers spend their days—and often nights—on the road.

This week is an opportunity to say thank you. However, appreciation can go beyond recognition. It can also mean becoming more aware of the challenges truck drivers face and doing our part to support them both on and off the road.

Share the Road with Respect

One of the most meaningful ways the public can show appreciation for professional drivers is by making their jobs safer.

Large commercial vehicles operate differently from passenger cars. Trucks have larger blind spots, require significantly more room to stop, and need additional space to make wide turns.

When driving near a truck, avoid lingering beside it where the driver may not be able to see you. Do not cut closely in front of a truck after passing, and give trucks extra room when they are merging or turning. Drivers should also avoid following trucks too closely and remain patient when a commercial vehicle takes longer to accelerate.

A few extra seconds of patience can give a professional driver the space needed to operate safely.

Remember There Is a Professional Behind the Wheel

It is easy to view a large truck as another obstacle in traffic. Instead, remember the person operating it.

Professional drivers navigate congestion, construction zones, changing weather, unfamiliar roads, tight delivery schedules, and long hours away from home. They must constantly monitor traffic while managing a vehicle that is much larger and heavier than the passenger vehicles surrounding it.

Being courteous, predictable, and patient around commercial vehicles is a simple way every motorist can make the road a better workplace for professional drivers.

Businesses Can Show Appreciation, Too

For trucking and transportation companies, driver appreciation should extend beyond one week each September.

Recognition can be as simple as personally thanking drivers, providing meals, highlighting outstanding employees, or celebrating safe-driving milestones. More importantly, businesses can demonstrate appreciation through the way they support drivers throughout the year.

Listen when drivers raise concerns about vehicles, routes, schedules, equipment, or roadway conditions. Provide quality training and the tools necessary to perform the job safely. Maintain vehicles properly and create realistic expectations that do not encourage drivers to rush or sacrifice safe practices to meet a deadline.

Drivers are often one of the best sources of information about what is happening on the road. Creating an environment where they feel comfortable speaking up can help organizations identify hazards and opportunities for improvement.

Support the People Behind the Technology

Today’s commercial vehicles may include telematics, cameras, collision-warning systems, electronic logging devices, navigation tools, and other advanced technologies.

These tools can provide valuable information and support safer operations, but they do not replace the experience and judgment of a professional driver.

Businesses should use technology as a tool to support drivers—not simply to monitor them. Data can help identify opportunities for coaching, recognize positive driving behaviors, and provide insight into conditions drivers experience every day.

When technology and driver experience work together, organizations can build stronger safety programs.

Appreciation Is a Shared Responsibility

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week reminds us how much our communities depend on the men and women behind the wheel.

Businesses can recognize their drivers. Fleet leaders can listen and provide meaningful support. Other motorists can be more patient and considerate when sharing the road.

Most importantly, appreciation does not have to end when the week does.

Every time you give a truck additional room to merge, stay out of a driver’s blind spot, avoid cutting closely in front of a commercial vehicle, or simply offer a professional driver a word of thanks, you are recognizing the skill and responsibility required to keep America moving.

This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, take the time to thank a truck driver—and give them the space and respect they deserve on the road.