Every day, more than 3.6 million professional truck drivers head out on the roads to safely and efficiently deliver the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the medicine we rely upon. Almost every item in your home or office was delivered by a truck, so it’s important to take the time to recognize the men and women on whom we depend on for so much. Trucks and truck drivers pass in and out of the background of our lives, always working hard to make safe, on-time deliveries.

Over the past year and a half, truck drivers have played an even more crucial role in keeping America moving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been considered as some of America’s frontline heroes, risking their personal health in order to safely deliver our food, medical supplies, and cleaning supplies. While restaurants and rest stops were closed, and while we were safely quarantined in our homes, truck drivers were working to make sure we had what we needed. Now more than ever, we must recognize the effort put forth by the people moving America’s goods and thank them.

September 12th through 18th, 2021 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, a time for America to honor professional drivers for their hard work and sacrifice. This industry is the backbone of our economy and the drivers are the heart of it.

Last year these dedicated drivers delivered 11.84 billion tons of freight around the country, according to American Trucking Associations (ATA). Today, more than 80% of U.S. communities rely on truck drivers to deliver goods, allowing some of the nation’s most remote locations access to modern conveniences. With stringent regulations and commercial training, professional drivers are committed to safely delivering all the things that make our collective quality of life possible.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week was founded by ATA in 1998 when it first began honoring drivers. Take a moment this week to reflect and be thankful for America’s drivers. It’s hard to imagine a society without them and the important role they play in keeping our communities safe and stocked.

America’s truck drivers sacrifice precious time with their families, all while they deliver for ours, and this week we pause to say “thank you” to them.