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Thankful for Truckers: Why America Depends on Drivers During the Holidays

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The holiday season brings many traditions each year, from family gatherings to festive meals and crowded retail stores. Behind all of this activity is the dedicated workforce of truck drivers who make the busiest time of year possible.  

 

Every year, CDL drivers travel long distances, adjust to unpredictable weather, manage tight delivery windows, and keep freight moving so families can celebrate without disruption. Their work is essential for every part of the season, and this time of year offers the perfect opportunity to recognize the commitment it takes to keep shelves stocked, packages delivered, and celebrations on schedule. 

 

Keeping Grocery Stores Supplied for Holiday Meals 

The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and other seasonal celebrations bring a huge increase in demand for food and cooking supplies. Turkeys, fresh produce, spices, canned goods, specialty ingredients, and bakery items all need to arrive at the right place at the right time. Grocery stores depend on freight arriving daily, and the volume grows significantly in November and December. 

 

Truck drivers move these shipments from farms, packaging facilities, and distribution centers to stores across the country. Many of these loads require strict temperature control and precise timing to ensure freshness. Drivers take on early mornings, late nights, and crowded loading docks to keep inventory flowing. Thanks to their work, families have access to everything they need, whether they are preparing a large holiday feast or picking up ingredients for a simple weeknight meal during the rush. 

 

Delivering Gifts and E-Commerce Orders 

Holiday shopping has changed in recent years, and online ordering now plays a major role in how people purchase gifts. More online shopping means significantly more freight on the road, and more openings for short-haul or last mile delivery driving options to help carry these packages to reach doorsteps and local stores. 

 

Retailers, fulfillment centers, and parcel carriers rely on drivers to move thousands of loads each day during the peak weeks. This includes toys, electronics, clothing, home goods, and specialty gifts. Drivers also play a key role in returns, replenishment shipments, and store restocking as customers search for last-minute items. Without drivers, delivery networks would not be able to keep up with the seasonal rush that so many families depend on across the nation. 

 

Supporting Decorations, Seasonal Events, and Community Traditions 

The holiday season is about more than shopping and meals. It also involves decorations, community events, and activities that bring people together. Everything from Christmas trees to holiday lights, seasonal displays, and winter festival materials needs to be transported. Many of these items move through dedicated freight networks that rely on professional drivers. 

 

Drivers haul trees, wreaths, ornaments, lighting systems, and outdoor displays to stores and event organizers throughout the country. They also support seasonal markets, charity events, toy drives, and cultural celebrations by delivering the supplies that make these gatherings possible.  

 

One example is Wreaths Across America, which relies on volunteer truck drivers to transport thousands of remembrance wreaths to veterans’ cemeteries across the country each year. Their involvement allows families, service members, and local communities to take part in an annual act of remembrance that brings people together during the holiday season. 

 

Keeping Essential Supplies Moving During Peak Demand 

The increase in travel, weather changes, and higher levels of consumer activity place additional pressure on supply chains. Drivers are responsible for moving fuel, heating supplies, pharmaceuticals, household essentials, and winter safety equipment. These shipments are in high demand as temperatures drop and winter storms roll in. 

 

Many carriers run around-the-clock operations in December, and CDL drivers are a critical part of maintaining stability during this busy period. Their work ensures communities have access to what they need, even when demand peaks or conditions become more challenging. Drivers support hospitals, schools, grocery chains, pharmacies, and other essential services that must operate smoothly year-round. 

 

Managing Weather, Traffic, and Challenging Conditions 

Holiday freight movement also often happens during some of the most difficult driving conditions. Winter weather creates hazards, and roads become busier as more people travel to visit family or attend seasonal events. Drivers navigate these challenges with professionalism and skill. 

 

They adjust routes to avoid storms when possible, follow safety procedures for icy conditions, plan ahead for detours, and communicate with dispatch to keep freight on schedule. Their adaptability plays a major role in maintaining on-time deliveries during the busiest season of the year. Many drivers spend days or weeks away from home during this time, sacrificing holiday traditions so others can enjoy theirs. 

 

 

Wondering about other ways to stay ahead of the curve in the transportation industry in 2025? Be sure to check out more posts on our blog and connect with us on social media! 

Giving Thanks: How to Give Back this Holiday Season

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Thanksgiving might have already passed, but the tradition of recognizing and giving thanks to the hardworking and underappreciated people in your life can be continued all year round. This holiday season, there are many ways to give thanks by giving back to your community and the people who just don’t hear “thank you” often enough. 

 

Here at Drive My Way, we know that truck drivers are truly the unsung heroes of our society, maintaining a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure by working in an industry that is built on giving. If you’re wondering how to keep the holiday spirit alive by giving back to fellow truckers and members of your community, keep reading for some of the best ways to give thanks this holiday season.  

 

Giving Thanks to Truckers in Need 

One of the best ways to celebrate the season of giving is by helping out fellow truckers.  Consider donating or volunteering for one of the organizations across the nation that make it their priority to support drivers in need.  

 

Many truck drivers face illness or injuries that keep them from working, which can seriously impact the driver and their loved ones. By giving back to an organization like St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, you can provide assistance to drivers who have financial need due to current medical problems. If you believe this organization could benefit you or someone you know, there is also a simple way to apply for support on their website.  

 

For some, access to a warm meal is taken for granted. That’s why supporting an organization like Meals for 18 Wheels is a great way to help fellow truckers who are unable to easily provide themselves and their loved ones a meal. Operating year round, the organization assists drivers nationwide, making it easy to give back to drivers in your community who are in need.  

 

Some carriers also make it a priority to give back their drivers and community each holiday season. For more than 50 years, Transervice Logistics has delivered holiday presents to their employees’ children and grandchildren at their facilities across the country. The company also goes the extra mile by then doubling the amount of gifts in a donation to The Salvation Army in the metro New York area.  

 

Giving Back to Your Community and Beyond 

If you’re interested in helping more than just your fellow truck drivers this year, there are many ways to get involved.  

 

Some of the most important ways to give back are available all year round, but especially make a difference around the holidays and during colder months. Consider donating or volunteering at a food drive, which provides many families their only holiday meal each season.  

 

As temperatures continue to drop all winter long, another great way to help those in need in your community is to donate warm clothes to a local homeless shelter, clothing drive, or charity. For those looking to help our four-legged friends, volunteering or donating toys and food to a local animal shelter can make a huge difference for such an important cause.  

 

Another way to support your community is to honor our fallen heroes. On Saturday, December 16, 2023, more than 2 million volunteers and supporters will honor fallen veterans at national cemeteries and more than 4,000 locations nationwide. If you’d like to participate, it’s not too late. There are a number of ways you can be a part of this mission:  

  

  1. Truckers can volunteer to haul loads – just scroll down the page and click “Volunteer for Trucking” to fill out the form.  
  2. Volunteer to place wreaths – just click on the “Volunteer” button to find a participating cemetery near you and fill out the form.  
  3. Sponsor a wreath – just click on the “Sponsor Wreaths” button and make your selection. You can also sponsor a specific cemetery or local sponsorship group.  
  4. Donate to the cause – donate monetarily towards the transportation fund. This fund helps provide fuel assistance to make sure all the wreaths get to the final resting place of our heroes.  

 

Let this holiday season act as a reminder that you can make a difference in the lives of fellow truck drivers, families in need, and people in your community. There are countless ways to give back, whether by donating your time or money to an important cause.  

 

If there’s an organization you think we left out, or you want to share a story of generosity and kindness in the trucking industry, be sure to reach out to us on social media and we’d love to learn more.  

Drive My Way Customers Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

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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!