The American Trucking Associations and the Georgia Motor Truck Association kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation week today with a highway safety demonstration in Atlanta.
President Bill Clinton once again issued a special proclamation wishing warm greetings to everyone celebrating the week. "Today American's are enjoying a time of unprecedented prosperity and economy growth," he said, "and America's professional truck drivers play a vital role in this success story
… I encourage all Americans to join me in thanking the more than 3 million men and women across our country who deliver our goods by truck for a living."
The governors of many states have issued similar proclamations, including Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
Trucking companies, suppliers and organizations all over the country are sponsoring special events for drivers in honor of NTDAW. Newport Communications and the Alamo Travel Plaza in Reno/Sparks, Nev., will host their annual Truckerfest driver appreciation event this week, beginning Thursday night with a truck "Parade of Pride" through downtown Reno.
A sampling of other special events:
· The Michigan Center for Truck Safety plans to give out free lunches and safety materials at the following locations: the Okemos rest area on westbound I-96, Aug. 14; the Galesburg rest area on westbound I-94, Aug. 16; and the Cutlerville rest area on northbound U.S. 131, Aug. 17.
· The two largest terminals on the Port of New Orleans will be celebrating NTDAW with a large party from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, August 18
· The South Carolina Trucking Association is hosting three cookouts during the week.
· Continental Express, Sidney, Ohio, is sending out "care packages" with drivers including free food and shower coupons, coffee thermoses, hats, T-shirts, laundry bags and other freebies. They'll wrap up the week with a Friday cookout and raffle.
· Michelin has bought three billboards along major interstates close to corporation headquarters in Greenville, S.C., with a "Truck Drivers, Thanks Loads" logo. Drivers will each get a 20-minute pre-paid phone card as the pass through any of Michelin's distribution centers this week.
· Members of the Wyoming Trucking Association Council of Safety Supervisors along with Wyoming Ports of Entry employees will be hosting "Appreciation Breaks" for truck drivers at various Wyoming Ports of Entry during the week by serving refreshments and distributing gifts to the drivers.
· Christenson Transportation, Springfield, Mo, is hosting a cook-out for all drivers at the Joplin, Mo., rest area on I-44 on Wednesday.
· Transforce locations are doing a number of things, such as taking drivers and families to nearby amusement parks, taking drivers and their families out for a day of baseball, family cookouts, drawing for gift certificates to local restaurants, a radio remote at a local truckstop with free coffee and donuts for CDL drivers and giving away coupons for discounts off truckstop purchases.
· Trucks Inc., Jackson, Ga., is holding its company picnic August 19 at Wild Adventures Amusement Park in Valdosta, including free admission to the park, a cook-out for all employees and their families, clowns, and balloon animals and face painting for the children.
You can even send a free personalized electronic greeting card from Blue Mountain Arts.