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Every September, during the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, the spotlight turns to the men and women who keep America moving. This year marks the 37th annual celebration and will take place from September 14th through the 20th. While many people see trucks on the highway every day, it’s easy to forget the true scale of their impact. Truck drivers don’t just move freight from point A to point B. They fuel the U.S. economy and hold the supply chain together in ways that affect every single household. While we face uncertain economic times once again, it’s important to reflect on the highway heroes who keep our country running no matter the circumstances.

The Backbone of American Commerce

Trucking is the most common way of moving goods in the U.S. According to data from the ATA, trucks moved about 72.6% of the nation’s freight by weight in 2022. Trucks also transported nearly two-thirds (66.5%) of the value of surface trade goods traded between the U.S. and Canada, and 84.5% of the value of surface trade between the U.S. and Mexico in 2023. Why is this important? Basically, everything from groceries and medicine to building materials and electronics depends on the dedication of our nation’s truck drivers. Without them, store shelves would be empty, hospitals would lack supplies, and businesses would struggle to keep operating.

All truckers have an impact, whether they work with companies big or small. As of March 2024, over 577,000 FMCSA-registered motor carriers were operating in the US with at least one tractor. Of these, 95.5% operate 10 or fewer trucks, and 99.6% operate 100 trucks or fewer. Additionally, according to the FMCSA, there were 922,854 independent owner-operators registered as of 2023. Every trucker at every carrier, no matter the size, as well as every owner-operator, is an important mover in the economy.

The Bureau of Transportation Services (BTS) reports that trucking accounted for the largest share among all freight transportation modes, contributing $611.5 billion to the country’s economy in 2023. Of that total, $244.0 billion came from for-hire carriers, while $367.5 billion came from in-house trucking operations. In comparison, household spending on transportation contributed $498.3 billion to GDP, which is more than any other single transportation mode but still second to trucking!

Simply put: no truckers, no trade, no economy.

Supporting Jobs Beyond the Cab

There were 3.55 million professional truck drivers in the U.S. in 2023. However, the trucking industry doesn’t just employ drivers. The industry supports millions of jobs beyond truck drivers! Trucking operations need the work of mechanics and technicians, dispatchers, freight brokers, freight forwarders, logistics managers, and more. The ATA estimates there were 8.5 million jobs related to the trucking industry in 2023. Industries such as retail, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and pharmaceuticals need the work of truckers for the success of their supply chains. Truck drivers are an integral part of keeping these other industries and jobs alive.

More Trucking Facts to Appreciate:

• High-Mileage Heroes: The average long-haul trucker drives more than 100,000 miles per year. That’s about four trips around the earth!
• Record Hauls: The largest load ever hauled by truck in the US was a nuclear reactor pressure core weighing 1,157 US tons (2,314,000 pounds) in 1972, transported on a specialized 384-wheeled truck.
• Life on the Road: OTR truckers can spend more than 240 nights, or 300 days, a year away on the road, making them some of the most traveled professionals in the nation.
• Animal Lovers: Many truckers bring their animal companions on the road with them. For example, a 2023 Truckstop survey of owner-operators found that about 50% of respondents travel with their pets. Many trucking companies also have programs that support their drivers and their roadway companions, such as dogs, cats, birds, and more!
• Skilled Operators: The average 18-wheeler semi-truck is about 70 to 80 ft long with its trailers attached. Semi-truck drivers are driving vehicles nearly as long as adult blue whales, the largest animals in the world!

A Week to Recognize a Year-Round Dedication

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is more than a chance to say “thank you.” It’s a reminder that every industry, and every person, benefits from the dedication of professional drivers. Whether hauling food across states, delivering medical supplies, or ensuring factories get the parts they need, truckers keep America running strong.

This week, and every week, we want to appreciate the vital role that drivers play. Truckers, you are not just operators behind a big wheel; you are behind the strength of our economy throughout the good times and the tough.