Celebrating Truck Drivers!
Truck Drivers Keep Things Moving
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17. And it’s our chance to thank the 3.6 million men and women who deliver the goods we need from fuel and medicine to food and clothing and everything in between. Did you know that these men and women safely transport 70% of America’s total freight?
They not only work long hours, but they are away from family and friends for days and sometimes even weeks. They’re eating in truck stops and sleeping in their cabs; they’re dealing with frustrated folks at loading docks and ports; all the while, committed to keeping our roadways safe.
It’s no secret that the trucking industry is integral to a healthy economy, and the men and women who drive the trucks are the beating heart of the industry. We learned this firsthand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains true today. We simply couldn’t live the lives we are accustomed to living without these true American heroes.
Trucks drivers deliver over 10 billion tons of freight every year. It’s a staggering figure, isn’t it. And in the United States, a whopping 80% of communities receive all of their goods by truck. If you live in a small community like Olney, Illinois, where AM Transport Services is located, you know the importance of trucks and drivers. Without them our grocery shelves would be empty, our pharmacies would be without life-saving medications, and our gas tanks would be empty.
It’s hard to truly express just how important truck drivers are to our daily lives.
But here at AM Transport, we’ve been working with truck drivers day in and day out for over 33 years. We get to know these funny, wise, dedicated people. We love it when a driver stops in by our office to meet us. It’s always great to put a face with the voice on the telephone.
Because we respect and appreciate truck drivers, we do a few things to ensure their satisfaction when working with AMT.
- We pay FAST. We understand how many small trucking companies and owner-operators need that operating money. That’s why we don’t ever make them wait for their pay.
- We answer our own phones. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is. If you’re driving a truck, and need certain information to safely deliver your freight, you don’t have time to wait on hold or punch your way up a phone tree.
- We get to know the drivers we work with. Again–maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it makes our work more meaningful. We never forget we are working with people who appreciate a kind word or a funny meme!
The next time you are in the grocery store, take a look around. The milk, the eggs, the potatoes, cracker, cereal and popsicles were all delivered by a man or woman driving a truck. Keep in mind that September 11-17 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Don’t forget to thank a driver or two before, during, and after National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
If you’re looking for something special for that driver in your life, the ATA has set up a National Truck Driver Appreciation Store.