National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an annual recognition of the hard work and dedication of truck drivers across the country. Hosted by the American Trucking Associations, the weeklong celebration takes place from September 15 to 21, 2024, honoring the 3.5 million truck drivers nationwide. Among the many noteworthy statistics, 80% of American communities depend solely on trucks. According to the latest report in 2023, trucks transported a total of $948 billion worth of goods across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico —critical items that many Americans rely on daily. Living in a fast-paced world, it's important to appreciate and recognize the prompt delivery of our essential items. Let’s explore some of those everyday essentials that are part of our daily routine.
Top Commodities Moved By Mode (DOT Bureau of Transporation Statistics)
Food & Beverages
Labeled as high-value commodities, items like food and beverages are the most commonly transported by truck. Whether it’s the Red Bull truck restocking your local gas station with drinks, or a Meijer truck delivering quality and temperature-controlled food to its next location, it is the drivers behind the trucks that get the job done. During your next grocery or convenience store visit, take notice of the stocked shelves full of cereal grains, dairy products, soups, meat, alcoholic beverages, and more. Each one of those items has been delivered to that store, possibly in a completely different truck driven by different drivers, to fulfill the everyday needs on your dinner tables.
Electronics
Electronics are, now more than ever, an important commodity in consumer’s everyday lives. Electronics are considered one of the top high-valued commodities transported by any mode, including trucks. From computers, cell phones, TVs, electronic parts, and more, electronics allow us to stay informed and connected with the help of truckers everywhere.
Gravel
In the United States alone, over 1.8 billion tons of gravel are transported from coast to coast. Gravel plays critical roles in various ways across our nation. From construction projects, and road maintenance, to landscape enthusiasts, gravel transportation is crucial to finishing the job at hand. As the leading material most frequently transported by weight, it is an item worth recognizing by truckers and the public alike.
Gasoline
Gasoline serves as the force behind America’s transportation. This substance plays a critical role in keeping both you and the trucking industry on the road. Gasoline not only includes fueling motor vehicles and boats, but aviation gasoline fuels many airplanes too.
Alternative fuels, natural gases, and crude petroleum
While there are other modes of transportation for materials such as fuels, natural gases, and crude petroleum, trucks are still used to transport them coast to coast. By weight, trucks account for the second largest mode of transportation in natural gases and other fossil products, as well as fuel oils. These materials are used every day in multiple ways, including heating homes and engines, cooking, producing electricity, and more.
Other Commodities
It is important to note that among these everyday necessities in the American household, other commodities also take up a large portion of the trucking transportation industry. Commodities such as our vehicles, pharmaceutical drugs, clothing, machinery, and many more. Essentially every item around you right now has been driven by a truck in some form or another. Whether it is the product itself, or the materials that make up the product, trucks and truck drivers have had a hand in the delivery of your essentials.
#ThankATrucker
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and beyond, let's remember to show our gratitude and support for the truckers who play a crucial role in delivering essential goods. Their dedication and perseverance deserve our thanks. So, join us on social media and more in saying thank you, truckers, for all that you do!
Truckers & Iron Wing
Need replacement parts for heavy-duty trucks and trailers? Iron Wing carries a large inventory of parts to keep you on the road this summer. At Iron Wing, we are your global parts resource. Our inventory contains a range of genuine OEM parts, including New Old Stock (NOS) and other hard-to-find parts. We have parts from DANA Spicer, Meritor, SAF Holland, Truck-Lite, Bendix, and other manufacturers in stock and ready to ship now. Browse our heavy-duty truck parts inventory categories or use the search function to search using part #, description, or manufacturer.