National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) is an annual, nationwide celebration of professional truck drivers organized by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). ATA launched the week in 1988 to recognize the drivers who move the country's freight, and it is held each September.
For carriers and private fleets, the week is a chance to thank drivers in a way they will notice, and to show that the company backs its appreciation with safe schedules, well-maintained equipment and support on the road.
When Is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 2027?
ATA has not yet announced the 2027 dates. The week is held in September, and ATA publishes the dates on its website ahead of each year's celebration.
The 2026 celebration ran September 13–19. Watch ATA's NTDAW page for the 2027 dates and any campaign materials before you plan events or recognition.
Why It Matters at Work
Truck driving is a large and demanding occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 2.2 million jobs in 2025. BLS also notes that drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, largely because of the risk of traffic crashes, and one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities.
The job carries other strains. Long-haul drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time and often spend much of that time alone. The work can be physically demanding, with long hours behind the wheel and, for some drivers, loading and unloading cargo. Fatigue, isolation, poor sleep and limited access to healthy food all affect safety as well as well-being.
Appreciation that only shows up one week a year will not keep good drivers. What drivers tend to remember is whether dispatch respects their hours, whether defects they report get fixed and whether the company listens when they raise a concern. NTDAW is a good moment to look at those everyday practices as well as to say thank you.
How to Take Part
- Follow ATA's lead. Check ATA's NTDAW site for the year's dates, messaging and social media channels, and share them with your team.
- Thank drivers in person. Have managers, dispatchers and shop staff greet drivers at the terminal, and call drivers who are on the road.
- Recognize safe driving. Publicly recognize drivers with clean inspections, safe driving milestones or strong pre-trip habits.
- Ask for feedback. Run a short survey or listening session on schedules, equipment and safety concerns, and report back on what you will change.
- Invest in comfort and health. Provide meals, care packages or wellness resources that support rest, hydration and healthy eating on the road.
- Involve families. Consider inviting drivers' families to terminal events, since families share the burden of time away from home.
Toolbox Talk: Taking Care of the Driver
Use this outline at a driver meeting during NTDAW.
- Thank you. Start by thanking drivers for their work and naming specific examples of safe driving or good catches during inspections.
- Rest is a safety control. Plan your sleep before a trip, use your off-duty time to rest, and tell dispatch if a load cannot be run safely within your hours.
- Look after your body. Stretch before and after long drives, use three points of contact getting in and out of the cab, and get help or equipment for heavy loads.
- Speak up about the truck. Report every defect on your inspection report. We want to know, and we will fix it.
- Stay connected. Long stretches alone are hard. Know who to call at the company, and know that support is available if you are struggling.
Discussion question: What is one thing the company could change that would make your next trip safer or less stressful?
Related Requirements
FMCSA rules set the baseline for who can drive and how long. Motor carriers must keep a driver qualification file for each driver of a commercial motor vehicle. According to FMCSA's safety planner guidance, the file includes:
- The driver's signed employment application.
- Safety performance history inquiries to previous employers covering the prior three years.
- Motor vehicle records from each state where the driver held a license in the past three years.
- A road test certificate or an accepted equivalent, such as a valid CDL.
- The medical examiner's certificate or, for CDL holders, the CDLIS motor vehicle record, with verification that the examiner is on the National Registry.
Carriers must also obtain and review each driver's motor vehicle record at least once a year and note the review in the file. Separately, FMCSA hours-of-service rules allow up to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour work period, followed by at least 10 hours off, and drivers must keep a record of their hours.
How SMS360 Helps
The Driver Qualification module in SMS360 keeps driver files organized and current, with documents stored in one place and expiration dates for items such as medical certificates and annual reviews tracked so nothing lapses. You can schedule and track driver training, record observations and recognition for safe driving, assign follow-up actions and use dashboards and mobile access to keep office staff and drivers on the same page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2027?
ATA has not yet announced the 2027 dates. The week is held each September, and the 2026 celebration ran September 13–19. Check ATA's NTDAW page for the latest dates.
Who started National Truck Driver Appreciation Week?
The American Trucking Associations launched National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 1988. ATA continues to organize the week as an annual, nationwide celebration of professional truck drivers.
How can a fleet celebrate truck drivers?
Fleets can host meals and terminal events, recognize safe driving records, send care packages to drivers on the road and invite families to join in. The most lasting recognition comes from respecting drivers' hours, fixing reported defects quickly and acting on driver feedback throughout the year.
