Truck Driver Appreciation Week Backed by House Resolution

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is already an annual nationwide observance, but a new resolution in Congress seeks formal recognition from the U.S. House for the 2026 celebration.

Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming introduced H. Res. 1535 on September 14. The resolution supports the designation of September 13 through September 19, 2026, as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Reps. David Taylor of Ohio, Shomari Figures of Alabama, and Laura Gillen of New York joined Hageman as original cosponsors.

The measure comes during the 38th annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. It focuses on recognizing the work performed by millions of professional drivers and the role trucking plays in moving freight across the United States.

Truck Driver Appreciation Week Already Exists

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is not a new event created by H. Res. 1535.

The annual observance has been held for decades, with 2026 marking its 38th year. Trucking companies, industry organizations, government agencies, truck stops, and other businesses regularly participate in events and recognition efforts during the week.

Congressional recognition, however, is a separate matter.

H. Res. 1535 specifically supports designating September 13 through September 19, 2026, as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. The resolution does not permanently establish the observance or create a new federal holiday.

Similar congressional resolutions have been introduced for previous celebrations. In 2025, for example, lawmakers introduced measures recognizing September 14 through September 20 as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

The Senate ultimately agreed to its 2025 resolution.

Resolution Highlights Truck Driver Contributions

H. Res. 1535 focuses heavily on the amount of freight professional drivers move and the communities that depend on trucks.

Hageman’s office said approximately 3.6 million Americans work as professional truck drivers.

Truck drivers collectively travel more than 330 billion miles each year, according to background information released with the resolution.

The measure also highlights several other parts of the profession:

• Trucks move nearly 70% of U.S. freight.
• More than 80% of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to receive goods.
• Professional drivers serve remote communities that may not have access to other freight transportation options.
• Truck drivers help deliver relief supplies following natural disasters and other emergencies.
• Drivers spend significant periods away from their families while working on the road.

The resolution also recognizes truck drivers who continued moving freight during the COVID-19 pandemic as businesses and communities relied on deliveries of food, medicine, and other supplies.

Truck Drivers Recognized Beyond Freight Movement

The resolution points to responsibilities that extend beyond moving goods from one location to another.

It recognizes the safety responsibilities associated with operating commercial vehicles across billions of miles each year. Drivers regularly face changing highway conditions, traffic, severe weather, and other challenges while sharing the road with the public.

The resolution also highlights cooperation between truck drivers and law enforcement in efforts to identify possible human trafficking.

Truck drivers spend much of their working time traveling through highways, truck stops, rest areas, and communities across the country. The trucking industry has participated in programs designed to help drivers recognize and report potential signs of human trafficking.

These efforts are included among the contributions lawmakers cite in support of recognizing the 2026 appreciation week.

Trucking Groups Back the House Resolution

Several trucking organizations have announced support for H. Res. 1535.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association noted the role of small-business truckers in the nation’s freight network. OOIDA President Todd Spencer said the organization represents nearly 150,000 small-business truckers.

The American Trucking Associations also backed the measure.

ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen said National Truck Driver Appreciation Week provides an opportunity to recognize professional drivers and pointed to the dedication, attention to detail, and skill required in the profession.

The Wyoming Trucking Association focused on the demands drivers face on the job, including long days and time away from family.

National Tank Truck Carriers, American Truckers United, and the Truckload Carriers Association also expressed support for the resolution.

TCA Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs Dave Heller highlighted the role professional drivers play in delivering goods to families, businesses, hospitals, and communities.

Hageman Connects Resolution to Other Trucking Measures

Hageman said the resolution also builds on other trucking-related measures she has introduced in Congress.

Her office pointed to the STOP Improper Licensing Act, which addresses state issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, and the SAFE Act, which focuses on so-called chameleon carriers.

Other measures cited by her office include the ROUTE Act, legislation involving younger CDL holders, as well as proposals related to English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.

Those proposals are separate pieces of legislation and are not part of H. Res. 1535.

The Truck Driver Appreciation Week resolution itself does not change CDL standards, hours-of-service regulations, driver compensation, or other federal trucking rules.

What H. Res. 1535 Means for Truck Drivers

For professional drivers, H. Res. 1535 is primarily about recognition.

It does not create a new federal holiday, establish a financial benefit, or introduce new requirements for drivers or motor carriers.

Instead, the resolution asks the House to recognize the 2026 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and formally acknowledge the contributions professional drivers make to the country.

It also places attention on several realities of the profession, including long periods away from home, difficult road and weather conditions, safety responsibilities, emergency deliveries, and the amount of freight transported by truck.

Congress has considered similar recognition in previous years. In 2025, the Senate agreed to a resolution designating September 14 through September 20 of that year as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. A separate House resolution supporting the 2025 observance was also introduced.

H. Res. 1535 continues that approach for the 2026 celebration rather than permanently establishing National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

For this year’s observance, the resolution gives lawmakers another opportunity to formally recognize the approximately 3.6 million professional truck drivers responsible for moving much of the freight that travels across the United States.