OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops Campaign Supports Veterans Nationwide

OOIDA launches 20th annual Truckers for Troops campaign supporting service members and veterans

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has launched its 20th annual Truckers for Troops campaign, a fundraising and support effort that assists U.S. military personnel overseas and veterans receiving help at facilities across the country.

The 2026 campaign is scheduled to run beginning Nov. 15. It continues a program that started in 2007 as a grassroots effort to send care packages to service members stationed in combat zones. Since then, the campaign has expanded to include direct support for stateside veterans facilities serving wounded, disabled and homeless veterans.

“Truckers and military service members share the same core values of sacrifice, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to this country,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said. “With nearly 40 percent of our membership having worn the uniform, Truckers for Troops is one of the most meaningful traditions we have at OOIDA.”

Spencer said the annual campaign gives drivers and other OOIDA supporters a way to recognize service members and veterans during Veterans Day week. The program’s support includes care packages for deployed personnel and critical assistance for organizations that provide housing and services to veterans.

According to OOIDA, Truckers for Troops has raised more than $800,000 since its creation. The campaign has also shipped more than 3,369 care packages, supported more than 39,500 service members worldwide and supplied 65 veteran care facilities with needed aid.

For professional drivers, the effort reflects a long-standing connection between the trucking industry and the military community. Many veterans move into trucking after leaving active service, bringing experience in logistics, equipment operation, discipline and long-distance travel to the civilian workforce. OOIDA said nearly two out of every five members have served in the military.

One of the campaign’s key partners is the Veterans Community Project, a nonprofit organization founded to help end veteran homelessness. The organization operates specialized transitional villages designed to provide veterans with housing and supportive services while they work toward greater stability.

Veterans Community Project has active sites in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Longmont, Colorado; and St. Louis, Missouri. The organization is also expanding into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Glendale, Arizona. OOIDA’s support helps supply veteran-focused facilities with resources for residents and the programs serving them.

During the one-week campaign, OOIDA is offering a discounted annual membership rate of $35 for drivers who join or renew. The association said 10 percent of each membership fee is allocated to its troops fund, and OOIDA matches that contribution dollar for dollar.

Separate donations are processed through the OOIDA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, and are tax-deductible according to the organization. The campaign also accepts donations connected to membership dues and contributions made directly to the foundation.

OOIDA is additionally collecting information for future care-package shipments. Families and friends of currently serving military members may provide a recipient’s full name, complete military mailing address and projected stateside return date to help ensure packages reach the intended service member.

The campaign comes as trucking organizations and fleets continue to recognize the contributions of veterans working in transportation. Veterans are represented throughout the industry, including among company drivers, owner-operators, fleet managers, technicians and logistics professionals. For many, the transition from military service to trucking offers a way to continue working in a field built around responsibility, coordination and service.

Truckers for Troops remains one of OOIDA’s longest-running charitable initiatives. Its 2026 campaign combines the original overseas care-package effort with assistance for veterans facing housing instability, disability and other challenges after their military service.