National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: What to Look for in 2026

From September 13th to September 19th, trucking groups have begun planning for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) events. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week should be more than a day on a calendar. This annual celebration of truckers honors the lives of those who keep our nation’s economy rolling.

Roughly 3.5 to 3.6 million truckers work across the United States. They deliver goods across the nation securely, safely, and on time. For that reason, we gratefully celebrate the 3.5 million truckers across the United States who work tirelessly to keep our nation supplied with goods.

Nearly everything you can think of in stores today gets delivered by semi-trucks. This is why they created a national week to honor truckers everywhere.

How to Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

One way that people can celebrate this national event is to thank any truckers that they know, expressing gratitude for the work they do. Even a simple thank you can go a long way. You could also use social media to share inspiring stories about the truck drivers you know and the sacrifices they have made.

To do this, add the hashtags #NationalTruckerDriverAppreciationWeek, #NTDAW26, and #TruckDriverHeroes, which spread awareness of the event.

What to Expect for NTDAW in 2026

This year, Love’s, for the whole month of September, will be giving away 20 million My Love Rewards points. An estimated 2,000 of Love’s Loyalty members will win 10,000 points, which is the equivalent of instantly winning $100.

Every time you swipe your My Love Rewards card at a fuel pump, for tire care purchases, or merchandise, you enter and have the chance to win 500,000 points. That’s the cash equivalent of $5,000 that you can spend at Love’s for food, fuel, and merchandise.

This year, Denny's plans to offer special discounts and prizes. For example, you could enter a sweepstakes to win free Grand Slams for a year, or you could receive a Denny’s gift card. One thing to remember is that this is only available at participating Denny’s.

If you want to eat great barbecue food, check out Boss Truck Shops, which will have free barbecues at all 44 Boss Shop locations. They’re found in 22 states. Most of these barbecues happen from September 12th to September 14th. Even if you’re on the road, just stop in and have some great barbecue.

What Kind of Events Do They Have?

Another thing that you can do is to participate in a local event that celebrates truckers. Some of the most common events you’ll encounter include:

• Parades

• Cookouts

• Community BBQs

• Charity events

Participating in an event is a great way to celebrate and connect with others in the trucking community.

You can find events like this by looking with your local state trucking association, which could connect you with a regional weigh station lunch or a community lunch.

It’s too broad to simply point to a single state, but one example is the Washington Trucking Associations, which will tell you where the event is, when it is, and how to get there. Use your own state with a trucking association, and it will probably point out where you can have a free lunch.

Another way to find an event is to look at the many trucking carriers and logistics companies that may hold an annual event to celebrate. Examples of trucking companies that celebrate NTDAW include Knight-Swift, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, and Werner Enterprises.

Swift has been celebrating this event for over 50 years, so it shows how long it has been going on.

One thing to know about celebrating with trucking carriers is that sometimes they will only be designated for the drivers, company associates, and their families. Check this in advance.

How are You Planning to Celebrate NTDAW?

At Trucker Social, we would love to hear your thoughts on National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and how you plan to celebrate. Even if you’re out on the road, you might be able to celebrate by going to one of the local events nearby and trying out the free food. If you enjoyed this article, share it on your social media so others can also learn about how to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 2026.