Over the next week, we will be celebrating some of the most important contributors to the US (as well as the overall North American) economy—truck drivers. Without these hard-working people, America’s economy absolutely stops dead.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week runs September 16-22. The annual celebration is sponsored by the American Trucking Associations and salutes the 3.1 million truck drivers who travel the US highways every day.
According to ATA, these professional men and women log close to 398 billion miles each year and in 2011 delivered 67% of US freight tonnage—or over 9.2 billion tons of freight. Virtually every drop of fuel required to move the US economy is hauled by tank truck drivers, and they move a majority of the chemicals and other liquid and dry bulk cargoes that are needed by industry and consumers.
Eighty percent of US communities depend solely on trucking for delivery of their goods and commodities. “Our country runs on trucking, and the men and women who dedicate their working lives to this challenging job deserve our highest respect and thanks,” says Fred Andersky, director of government and industry affairs for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.
Many companies hold special events National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. As we hear about activities, we will post them on the Bulk Transporter website and in Bulk Logistics Trends , our weekly e-newsletter. E-mail driver event notices to Charles Wilson at [email protected]