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National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Every day is a good day for carriers and fleet owners to show how much they appreciate the men and women who drive for them. If trucking companies need any more prompting to “do the right thing,” they’ll have it Nov. 1-7 during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2009. Founded by the American Trucking Associations, NTDAW “celebrates the 3.5 million professional truck drivers delivering life’s essentials across the country every day.”

This year’s celebration coincides with the start of the busy holiday shipping season. The ATA, other trucking organizations and countless carriers and truck stops across the country will mark the week with special events and gifts to honor the professional driver and remind the public that everything they rely on daily is delivered by a truck driver.

“ATA is proud to continue the tradition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week,” says ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “The trucking industry values the men and women who safely deliver not only our food, medicine and clothing, but also items like the movies you watch at the movie theater. This week is a time where companies, customers and the American family can show their appreciation and honor all drivers and their families.”

There are over 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide – delivering the goods U.S. consumers need every day of the year. Logging over 432 billion miles per year, trucks delivered 10.7 billion tons of freight in 2007, or 69 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage.

To help carriers and others get into the celebratory mood, the ATA (http://www.truckline.com/Programs/NTDAW/Pages/Default.aspx) is offering for sale a variety of gifts and merchandise suitable for drivers, including T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, duffle bags and more. Aside from presenting gifts, carriers are also planning cookouts and giveaways to mark the occasion. Many truck stops will offer fuel and food discounts during the week.

Of course, as noted earlier, there’s no need for any company to wait until NTDAW to show their appreciation for their No. 1 asset.

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