National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Could Gain Federal Recognition
This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week may soon become federally recognized
A resolution introduced in Congress would designate Sept. 13-19, 2026, as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, giving professional drivers a formal congressional tribute for the work they perform throughout the year.
Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman introduced the resolution, which supports recognizing the full week of Sunday, Sept. 13, through Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Reps. Derrick Van Orden? No—based on the provided information, the resolution is described as having support from Reps. Hageman, Taylor, Figures and Gillen. The measure is a resolution, not a law, and its introduction does not by itself establish a permanent federal observance.
Still, the proposal would add congressional recognition to an annual industry tradition organized by the American Trucking Associations and supported by trucking companies, truck stops, suppliers and other industry partners. The week is intended to recognize the estimated 3.6 million professional truck drivers who move freight across the country.
A week focused on the work drivers do every day
Truck Driver Appreciation Week takes place each September. During the observance, companies and industry groups commonly provide meals, gifts, events and other forms of recognition for drivers. Some extend their programs throughout the month because drivers may be on different routes, working away from terminals or unable to attend a scheduled event during the official week.
For drivers, the recognition is tied to responsibilities that continue regardless of the calendar. Truckers deliver food, agricultural products, household goods, industrial materials and other freight that communities rely on. They also work through long hours, changing weather, traffic, loading delays and the challenges of spending extended periods away from home.
Hageman said Americans depend on truck drivers to make a wide range of goods available across the country. She pointed to drivers hauling cattle, stocking stores and serving small communities that may not have another transportation option capable of providing year-round deliveries.
“Americans everywhere have truckers to thank for the ability to buy the same goods almost anywhere,” Hageman said. “They haul our cattle, stock our stores and serve the small towns that no other form of transportation can reach with year-round deliveries of the raw material of the 21st century.”
Her statement also connected the resolution with other legislative work involving trucking, including efforts to address unsafe “chameleon carriers” and issues affecting opportunities for professional drivers.
Industry groups support the resolution
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents nearly 150,000 small-business truckers, welcomed the resolution. OOIDA President Todd Spencer said small trucking businesses make up an important part of the nation’s supply chain and often perform that work without public recognition.
“Every trucker in America deserves to have that kind of force behind them,” Spencer said, referring to congressional support for truckers and trucking-related legislation.
The American Trucking Associations also backed the measure. Greg Hodgen, ATA chairman and CEO of Groendyke Transport Inc., said the week gives the public an opportunity to recognize drivers’ dedication, professionalism, attention to detail and skill.
Those qualities are particularly important to drivers themselves. Professional truck driving requires more than moving freight from one location to another. Drivers are responsible for operating safely around other motorists, managing equipment and cargo, complying with regulations and making delivery schedules while dealing with conditions they cannot control.
Part of a longer recognition tradition
Truck Driver Appreciation Week has been recognized nationally by the trucking industry for years, with the ATA and its partners using the September observance to highlight the role drivers play in daily life and the economy. State trucking associations and individual companies often add their own events and public-awareness campaigns.
Arkansas, for example, has recognized the week through a state proclamation and industry activities. The Arkansas Trucking Association has also used billboards and a driver appreciation event to draw attention to the state’s professional drivers. Similar efforts take place across the country each year.
The federal resolution introduced by Hageman would build on that existing practice by formally recognizing the 2026 observance in Congress. The proposed dates are:
- Opening day: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
- Final day: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
- Extended recognition: Some companies may continue activities throughout September to reach drivers on different routes and schedules
Whether drivers are making local deliveries, crossing multiple states or operating as part of a small fleet, the resolution’s message is the same: the nation’s supply chain depends on their work every day, not only during one week in September.
