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2019 Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 8-14th
Our favorite week of the year is finally here – National Truck Driver Appreciation Week! We try our best to show our appreciation to our team of professional drivers every day, but this week gives us an excuse to show some extra love.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
History of Driver Appreciation Week
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is the organization behind National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. While the idea for a whole week dedicated to showing drivers how much they are appreciated began in the early 1900s, some of the traditional events that companies put on also originated from ATA conventions and events. Here is a snapshot of some important years in professional truck driving history, courtesy of the ATA:
- 1934 – ATA holds its first annual convention in October in Chicago.
- 1937 – The 1st National Truck Roadeo is held and sponsored by ATA. The Roadeo eventually becomes the National Truck Driving Championships
Fast forward about 40 years:
- 1986 – ATA launches America’s Road Team, a group of trucking professionals chosen for their exemplary safety records to represent the industry and educate the public about trucking.
- 1989 – ATA celebrates the first annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
Fast forward 30 more years and ATA is celebrating almost 3.5 million professional drivers!
This week provides the trucking industry an opportunity to recognize all the hard-work, dedication and loyalty of drivers across the nation. Numerous trucking associations, industry suppliers and motor carriers both small and large participate in some way.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”80″][image_with_animation image_url=”636″ alignment=”” animation=”None” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”80″][vc_column_text]
Did You Know?
Did you know that these men and women drivers are responsible for safety delivering 71.4% of the country’s total freight tonnage? Did you also know that more than 90% of U.S. communities rely exclusively on truck drivers to deliver their goods and commodities? This provides the nation’s rural communities access to modern comforts.
Everyone in the world relies on these individuals who drive for a living. Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. is proud to participate in Driver Appreciation Week every year and spoil our fantastic team members a little extra. Being a professional driver is not just about getting behind the wheel, there is so much more to it than driving.
Each year Witte hosts a Driver Appreciation Picnic with a variety of activities throughout the day for drivers and their families to participate in. We enjoy having this event because it brings the Witte family together with our driver’s and their families too! On the lot, we have a truck rodeo that drivers sign up to participate in, a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting and usually a food or dessert truck on site! Plus, we serve everyone a delicious lunch, this year to be catered by Monty’s BBQ in Troy, MO. Following lunch, we conclude with tenure awards and prizes for our drivers.
It is no secret that drivers spend most of their time out over the road which is why we enjoy coming together as a company when our drivers are home. It is a wonderful chance for us to recognize their accomplishments within the company and mingle with them and their families. Each driver here at Witte truly is a Witte family member and hosting the picnic every year is the least we can do to show our appreciation for all the hard work they put in to make the company as successful as possible.
This week we honor all the professional truck drivers, especially our own. Thank you for being a part of our Witte family![/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” url=”https://www.wittebros.com/contact-witte-bros/” text=”Follow us on FB for more news and updates!” margin_top=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row]