NTDAW 2026: Celebrating America’s Professional Truck Drivers

Updated: September 14, 2026 at 11:37 AM

NTDAW 2026 is officially underway, giving the trucking industry and the public a week to recognize the professional drivers who keep freight moving across the country. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) runs from September 13 through September 19 this year and marks the 38th annual celebration of America’s truck drivers.

What Is NTDAW?

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) launched National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 1988. The annual event recognizes professional truck drivers for their work, dedication, and importance to the U.S. economy.

Today, nearly 3.6 million professional truck drivers work across the United States. ATA also reports that more than 80% of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to meet their freight transportation needs.

Those drivers haul everything from groceries and medicine to construction materials, household products, machinery, and other essential freight.

Trucks also move more than 72% of the nation’s freight tonnage, according to ATA. Much of what Americans buy, use, build with, or depend on has spent at least part of its journey on a truck.

How the Trucking Industry Is Celebrating NTDAW 2026

ATA has organized activities throughout NTDAW and is encouraging trucking companies, industry organizations, employees, and the public to show their appreciation for drivers.

Monday encourages supporters to wear the official green and yellow colors for this year’s celebration. On Tuesday, companies are encouraged to offer drivers breakfast, coffee, snacks, or other refreshments at terminals and truck stops.

Wednesday includes a Women In Motion webinar highlighting women working throughout the trucking industry. Thursday focuses on sharing messages of driver appreciation on social media. On Friday, companies and individuals are encouraged to share photos and highlights from their celebrations.

ATA staff also plan to distribute gift bags at truck stops and rest areas during the week. The organization says it will participate in an event with the U.S. Department of Transportation at a weigh station as part of the celebration.

Trucking companies, state associations, industry suppliers, and other organizations across the country are also holding their own driver appreciation events.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has joined the recognition of NTDAW 2026. The agency is encouraging Americans to thank the more than 3.5 million professional truck drivers who safely transport goods and resources across the country.

Why Truck Driver Appreciation Week Matters

For professional drivers, trucking involves much more than moving freight from one place to another.

Drivers spend long periods away from their homes and families. They deal with traffic, bad weather, construction, changing schedules, and tight delivery windows. At the same time, they are responsible for safely operating large commercial vehicles while following federal and state safety requirements, including Hours of Service rules such as the 14-hour driving window.

Owner-operators take on even more responsibilities. In addition to driving, many manage maintenance, insurance, permits, taxes, fuel expenses, recordkeeping, and regulatory compliance while running their businesses.

NTDAW provides an opportunity to recognize those responsibilities and the people who handle them every day.

The importance of professional truck drivers can be easy to overlook when the supply chain works as expected. Grocery stores get restocked. Construction sites receive materials. Businesses get inventory. Hospitals and pharmacies receive critical supplies.

Behind those everyday deliveries is a professional driver who made sure the freight reached its destination.

NTDAW Is a Thank You to America’s Truck Drivers

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week lasts seven days, but the work being recognized happens every day of the year.

At FCCR, we work with trucking companies and owner-operators every day. We see the responsibilities that come with keeping trucks on the road, staying compliant, running a business, and delivering freight safely.

NTDAW is an opportunity for everyone in the trucking industry, and the communities that depend on it, to recognize the people behind the wheel.

To the professional drivers spending another day or night on the road, delivering freight, supporting communities, and keeping America’s supply chain moving, everyone at FCCR would like to say thank you.

Drive safe, and happy NTDAW 2026!