LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has issued a proclamation declaring Sept.13–19, 2026, as Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Arkansas. The Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA), alongside American Trucking Associations and the broader trucking industry, will join in recognizing the professional truck drivers who keep goods moving safely and reliably across Arkansas and the nation.
“Arkansas is home to 36,000 professional truck drivers who do everything from delivering our food to fueling our factories to keeping our hospitals and schools supplied,” said Governor Sanders. “This week and every week, we honor the truck drivers who keep Arkansas moving and thank them for their dedication to our state.”
As part of the statewide observance, ATA will host its annual Driver Appreciation Day on Thursday, Sept.17, at the TA Petro Stopping Center in North Little Rock. Professional drivers traveling the busy I-40 corridor are invited to stop for a free meal, refreshments and giveaways as ATA and its members take an opportunity to thank them for the work they do every day. More than 15,000 trucks travel this stretch of I-40 each day, providing an ideal opportunity for ATA to connect directly with the men and women behind the wheel.
“Professional truck drivers connect every Arkansas community to the goods and services people depend on,” said Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association. “Their skill, commitment and professionalism keep our shelves stocked, our businesses running and our economy moving. This week gives us an important opportunity to recognize their work and to offer a sincere thank-you.”
That contribution is especially significant in Arkansas, where nearly 87 percent of communities depend exclusively on trucks to receive essential goods. Whether transporting agricultural equipment, construction materials, medicine, food or technology, professional drivers support local businesses, strengthen the state’s economy and help sustain everyday life in communities of every size.
ATA encourages Arkansans to join in recognizing professional truck drivers during Truck Driver Appreciation Week by thanking a driver, sharing their appreciation on social media and remembering to practice safe driving around commercial vehicles.
The Arkansas Trucking Association extends its appreciation to the member companies that support and contribute to this year’s Driver Appreciation Day event: AON, Apollo Tires, AR FMCSA, Bill Davis Trucking, C.C. Jones Trucking & Ben E. Keith, Great West, An Old Republic Company, J.B. Hunt Transport, McKee Foods Transportation, Nirvana Insurance, Ozarko Tire Center, Phillips Connect, PrePass, Stoughton Lease, Tracy Law PLLC, TravelCenters of America, Tyson Foods, Inc., Utility Tri-State, W&B Service Co, and Woodfield, Inc.
Learn more about National Truck Driver Appreciation Week at http://www.ntdaw.org/.
