Posts

Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2026: How Our Clients Celebrated Their Drivers

, , /by

Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an opportunity for carriers across the country to recognize the professional drivers who keep their operations moving every day. 

 

This year, Drive My Way clients celebrated their drivers with cookouts, catered meals, gifts, giveaways, and events held throughout the week. From longstanding company traditions to personalized gifts for individual drivers, keep reading for a look at how some of our clients celebrated Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 2026. 

 

Food, Cookouts, and Time Together 

Food was a major part of the week for many Drive My Way clients, with companies finding different ways to bring drivers and staff together. 

 

S&H Express continued a tradition that has been part of the company for years. Cookouts were held throughout the week at locations including York, Hazleton, and Reading, with the company president cooking smash burgers and members of the management team helping with preparation. Drivers were also treated to donuts and coffee on Monday and soft pretzels on Thursday, and every driver received a Driver Appreciation shirt. 

 

C&M Water Trucking started the week with an appreciation station stocked with snack bags for drivers. On Tuesday, the company held a cookout dinner timed for drivers returning from the road and others coming in for their shifts. 

 

At JRayl, drivers had catered meals or food deliveries each day throughout the week. Each terminal also hosted a picnic or other event, and every driver received a gift bag. 

 

Driver Driven Transportation provided breakfast and lunch every day during Driver Appreciation Week, while Dart America brought drivers together for its annual driver appreciation picnic over the weekend. 

 

Truck One also planned a BBQ for its local drivers, giving those drivers a chance to celebrate together. 

 

 

Gifts Drivers Could Take With Them 

Several Drive My Way clients marked the week with gifts chosen specifically for their drivers. 

 

In addition to its BBQ, Truck One gave Carhartt backpacks to over 100 OTR and regional drivers. Peters Brothers provided each driver with a packed toolkit, while Driver Driven Transportation gave every driver $50 in cash in addition to the meals provided throughout the week. 

 

At River City, the celebration had a personal touch. Each driver received a personalized card, a Walmart gift card, and a stack of homemade cookies from management. 

 

NFI Industries made the week special by handing out company swag, including vests and hats, and arranged for food trucks to provide lunch to drivers. 

 

These gifts varied from company to company, but each gave drivers something tangible to take away from the week, whether it was useful on the road, something to eat, or simply an extra thank-you. 

 

NFI drivers received a range of merch options to celebrate the week.  

 

 

Giveaways and Company-Wide Recognition 

Driver Appreciation Week also gave companies an opportunity to recognize employees through larger giveaways and activities. 

 

At Cheeseman Transport, customers and vendors donated items that the company was able to distribute to employees. Three drivers won 55-inch TVs as grand prizes. 

 

The company also set aside another TV for a peer-nominated award. Employees could nominate a coworker who had gone above and beyond throughout the year and was known for a strong work ethic and being easy to work with. The recognition was open to drivers, dock workers, mechanics, and office staff, extending the celebration across the operation. 

 

Celebrating Drivers Throughout the Week 

While Truck Driver Appreciation Week puts a national spotlight on the profession, recognition can have an impact throughout the year. Taking the time to acknowledge drivers, listen to their feedback, and build stronger relationships can contribute to a workplace where drivers feel valued and connected to their company. 

 

For carriers, the week can serve as a reminder to consider how driver appreciation fits into the company culture long after the celebrations are over. 

 

 

For more trucking industry stories, insights, and updates, stay up-to-date on our Truck Driver Blog and connect with us on social media. 

Drive My Way Customers Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

, , /by

If there’s one job that deserves a week of recognition, celebration, and appreciation, it’s commercial truck driving. With drivers throughout the country responsible for transporting over 70% of the United States freight, it’s fair to say our world wouldn’t be the same without each and every driver across the nation.  

 

Each year, Driver Appreciation Week provides the perfect opportunity to recognize and celebrate the tireless commitment of commercial drivers around the country. Here at Drive My Way, we’ve noticed that many of our customers have found creative and thoughtful ways to uplift their drivers with gifts, fun games, and heartfelt messages. 

 

Keep reading to find out how our customers are shining the spotlight on their drivers this appreciation week, and how they keep the recognition going year round.  

 

Goody bags, prizes, and more! 

Presents don’t have to be limited to birthdays or the holiday season any more! This September 10-16, many companies will provide their drivers with unique merchandise, useful tools, or fun spirit wearto show their appreciation. A personalized gift is a thoughtful way for carriers to recognize your hard work and show how much they care.  

 

Company merchandise is a great way to show drivers how important they are to the mission, such as Go-To Transport’s tumbler.

This year, drivers at Go-To Transport can look forward to receiving a fun collection of company merchandise from display tables set up at their locations throughout the country. A Go-To tumbler, pen, and personal thank you card will be available to every company driver that stops by throughout the week. Drivers will also be able to choose between either a baseball cap, beanie, or a hoodie, depending on supplies.  

 

Drivers for NFI Industries are sure to enjoy choosing from a wide range of fun gear this appreciation week too. With locations across the country and over 4,500 team members, NFI has stepped up by offering company hats, shirts, duffle bags, lunch boxes and more!  

 

Meanwhile, Schwend, Inc. is utilizing its four locations across the South to set up stations for drivers to receive goody bags and door prizes this appreciation week. Prizes will range from Schwend merchandise to tickets for a weekend vacation!  

At each location, Schwend will also be setting up a breakfast and lunch serving station, where drivers can receive a home cooked meal each day of appreciation week. But for any driver that isn’t able to make it to a company terminal, there’s no need to worry! Schwend will offer to cover a few meals throughout the week for any driver out on the road.  

 

Do Something Nice 

At each location, Schwend will also be setting up a breakfast and lunch serving station, where drivers can receive a home cooked meal each day of appreciation week. But for any driver that isn’t able to make it to a company terminal, there’s no need to worry! Schwend will offer to cover a few meals throughout the week for any driver out on the road.  

 

Words of Appreciation  

You can never hear ‘thank you’ too often. For many commercial truck drivers, they aren’t told it enough. This Driver Appreciation Week, many carriers will be sending out a thoughtful message or organizing an exciting event to make sure their drivers know their hard work never goes unnoticed.   

 

The management team at Go-To Transport has been busy working with their marketing division to create a video of thank you messages for drivers to go on company social media pages. Hearing words of appreciation directly from management helps keep drivers invested in the company mission by highlighting the direct impact they have through their hard work.  

 

At NFI, it’s clear they know food is the way to everyone’s heart. Besides offering catered breakfast and lunch throughout the week, the company will be holding BBQ cookouts and picnics with food trucks, snow cone trucks, and raffle giveaways to celebrate their hardworking drivers across the country. 

 

At Schwend, their late summer employee appreciation picnics act as an extension of Driver Appreciation Week each year with cash prizes, CB radio giveaways, games, and more. Held at their Jasper, TN, and Dade City, FL, terminals, the picnics are open for all Schwend employees but focus on drivers and their families.  

 

Driver Appreciation Week is an annual reminder of the dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of commercial drivers across the nation. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate drivers, and to highlight the incredible contributions they make each day to the economy and our way of life. This is something to be celebrated and appreocaited every day of the year! 

 

If your company celebrates Driver Appreciation Week in a unique way or you’d like to shout out how your company demonstates their appreiation throughout the year, be sure to reach out to us on social media!