After shepherding the nation through the most uncertain period of the pandemic, truck drivers have not exactly felt the love. At least one politician possesses a first-hand experience of what CDL professionals go through every day. Alaskan State Sen. Robert Myers Jr. filed a bill that would make the second Monday in September “Truck Driver Appreciation Day.”
The Alaskan Republican, and card-carrying CDL holding, sees no reason why truckers shouldn’t garner recognition for delivering upwards of 71 percent of the country’s goods and materials. It was the women and men behind the wheels of commercial motor vehicles that kept the supply chains open during the darkest moments of the pandemic. And with Covid statistically in retreat, importers have shifted away from rail transportation in favor of the reliable agility truckers deliver.
“Driver shortages are causing more strain upon our truck drivers,” Myers reportedly said. “We want to show appreciation they more than deserve. They are quite literally driving the Alaskan economy.”
Myers indicated that truckers deliver more than 95 percent of freight in Alaska. Joe Michel, executive director of the Alaska Trucking Association, has thrown his support behind the measure. He called the legislation easy to pass “in these contentious times.” Philip Whitlatch, an Alaska Trucking Association board member, reportedly testified in front of state lawmakers. He pointed out that truckers in sometimes frozen Alaska do far more than make deliveries.
“When you have an accident out on a lonely stretch of highway, of course, you’re looking for the police and fire department to show up, Whitlatch reportedly said. “But usually, a lot of times, the first people that are going to be on scene are going to be truck drivers to help you out and help you deal with the entire shock of an incident on our highway system.”
Given the proven benefits truckers provide and the hardships they endure, Alaskan lawmakers appear inclined to carve out a Truck Driver Appreciation Day. That being said, isn’t it also time that politicians in Washington, D.C., follow suit and shine a light on the Herculean efforts made by local, state, and OTR drivers? Consider the other deserving occupations that are already honored by a designated day.
- National Pharmacist Day
- National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
- National Women Physicians Day
- National Mail Carrier Day
- World Bartender Day
- National Dentist’s Day
- Legal Assistants Day
- National Lineman Appreciation Day
- National Library Workers Day
- National Hairstylist Day
- International Firefighters Day
- Teacher’s Day
- International Receptionists Day
- National Waitstaff Day
- System Administrator Day
- Professional Speakers Day
- Human Resources Professionals Day
- National Farmers Day
- Clergy Appreciation Day
- Medical Assistants Recognition Day
- National Author’s Day
- National Miners Day
- Salesperson Day
It may come as something of a surprise, but ugly sweaters have their own day and truckers do not. It may be challenging to persuade D.C. politicians following the People’s Convoy, but truckers clearly deserve a day all to themselves.
“At a time when confidence in our national institutions sits at a low, and crises of leadership have seemingly become the norm, I’m pressed to find a group of Americans more deserving of our appreciation and respect,” American Trucking Associations CEO Chris Spear reportedly said.
Sources: ttnews.com, trucking.org, prnewswire.com
Yes, there should be National Truck Driver ApprecItion day!!!
This article is incorrect. There is a whole truck driver appreciation week, 9/8-9/14. To say that there is no day allocated to celebrate our appreciation of truck drivers, but there is one for ugly sweaters is just not correct information.
So we have it up here in Ontario. The boss pays a food truck to come and grill some burgers and hot dogs for us. Seeing that half of our drivers are vegeterian and most of the other half don’t eat pork it just shows how out of touch this company is. Why not bring us some Sushi, Caviar and foise de gras? ? Not to mention a hefty bonus? This is what the suits and ugly sweaters think of us: junk food gorging, unsophisticated pigs.
I didn’t spend 8 years in the US Army infantry, or 27 as a truck driver, looking for recognition. It is nice once in a while. When some young kid thanks me for my service it means a lot. We are paid pretty well as truck drivers, especially now. I guess it is good when people recognize the sacrifices you make, and the risks you take. But I don’t demand it. Eventually people realize how important what you do is. For truck drivers, they sure are now.
Really I think this country has bigger issues to deal with and yes I am a professional truck driver, not a steering wheel jockey!