Just like everyone else, we like to use Thanksgiving as a time to reflect on what we are most grateful for. This holiday reminds us of how thankful we are for all the hardworking and dedicated truck drivers across the country!
Here are three reasons why you should thank a truck driver this holiday season:
- Transporting your meals:
Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie… Yum! Now, how did it all get here? Well to put it simply, we have truck drivers to thank for that. According to the Minnesota Trucking Association, it’s estimated that it takes 83,000 truckloads to transport the traditional thanksgiving meal to local grocery stores across America. Since truck drivers are responsible for delivering a large portion of all food to stores, it’s safe to say that nearly every ingredient of your meal has been touched by the trucking industry.
- Making roads safer
Last year, AAA forecasted that more than 55 million people would be traveling 50 miles or more for their Thanksgiving celebrations. With that prediction, it was the second-highest ranked travel volume for the period since AAA began tracking. As we hit the road once more, it’s important that we recognize all that truck drivers do to keep our roadways safe. According to the American Trucking Association, in 2016, the trucking industry spent $9.5 billion on road safety. The money invested went towards on-board technology, driver training, safety-related compensation, and regulatory compliance. These investments not only improve safety for those within the trucking industry but for all motorists traveling.
- Driving the economy
Have you ever noticed how busy the stores get during the holiday season? Yeah? Us, too. In 2019, Americans spent over $730 billion on holiday retail as stated by the National Retail Federation. Truck drivers serve a major role in making sure products are delivered quickly and safely from Thanksgiving until Christmas. And, let’s not forget how popular online shopping has become as well. Truck drivers play a big part in that too by distributing and shipping goods right to our front doorsteps. Every year, the economy surges with holiday spending, and we’re extra thankful for the truck drivers who make it all possible for their countless hours on the road.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, truck drivers play a huge role in our lives – and not just during the holidays – but all year. We’re extremely thankful for all that truck drivers do for our country. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Liquid Trucking!