Hey Truckers (and trucker adjacent?), it’s NTDAW!

Working in advertising comes with a lot of baggage…. like, the way you always seem to know exactly when those fun, niche, client-specific ‘holidays’ like National Truck Driver Appreciation Week are. For the rest of your life. The body never forgets, huh?

Is it the universe or is it cookies/LinkedIn/a lifetime of digital trails…?

NTDAW = National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

This week is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, for those who celebrate (Sept 15-21). I don’t know how I came about this in real-time but I have worked with Goodyear on their commercial tire lines previously, so, maybe that (see above). I know more about commercial trucking than I ever expected to. Forever.

Even more after driving through 13 states this summer (great in-field research opportunity as a marketer but my employer wouldn’t acknowledge that, so I resigned).

In my time working with Goodyear, I worked across trade specific media and dove into category adjacent publications to expand into potentially relevant audiences, making this Freightwaves article a familiar face at the top of my NTDAW Google search. Even more, I love that, in reading that article, I learned of a pretty cool initiative happening for NTDAW to #ThankATruckDriver on social media in support of the CH Robinson Foundation / St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund.

To recognize the hard work of drivers, C.H. Robinson (NYSE: CHRW) invites the world to #ThankATruckDriver. For each social media post using that hashtag during the week of Sept. 15-21, the C.H. Robinson Foundation will donate $10 – up to a total of $50,000 – to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund.

To join the celebration, Pennsylvania‘s Department of Transportation compiled safety tips for consumer drivers to help better share the road with commercial trucks.

The ATA is also diving into college sports media with in-stadium video at football stadiums across the country. I guess they had the same luck that I did when trying to target truck stops *specifically* on DOOH/GSTV.

Supporting NTDAW 2024

There are more than 3.5 million truckers on the road transporting over 70% of American freight. Freight = things (pretty much). The least we as consumers could do is give them a shoutout on social media, maybe just the added perspective gives you pause, now, or when you pass a truck next.

Which reminds me….. is it our generational duty to bring back a childhood tradition, the Trucker Honk (arm pump)? I read somewhere that truckers don’t see it much anymore despite all recent Reddit finds saying that truckers love when it happens, making it extremely true. Moreover, it seems to be called the Trucker Salute but, again, all parties agree that it’s a tradition worth saving. Millennials won’t be the scapegoat this time. *shoulder nudge*

Know a trucker? Make sure they check out Fleet Owner for special #NTDAW offers and events happening this month. For O-O’s and companies, WorkTruck outlines 5 ways to support truckers.

There’s even an online NTDAW Store for industry supporters to grab some sweet ATA merch. WATTBA.

How will you support? #ThankATruckDriver

Read more articles about NTDAW here, here, here, Truckers Against Trafficking…