The Drivers Who Keep America Going During Thanksgiving
- Kameel Gaines
- Nov 25
- 6 min read
Thanksgiving week feels different in trucking. While most of the country is slowing down, gathering at home, and preparing meals with family, drivers are doing the exact opposite. Freight is moving faster. Delivery windows get tighter. The weather starts turning. And thousands of men and women are out on the road making sure everyone else can enjoy the holiday.
When I think about Thanksgiving for truck drivers, I think about the sacrifices I have watched for more than fifteen years. I think about the drivers who have called me from rest areas, grocery distribution centers, or fuel stops, telling me they will miss another family dinner, but they are still pushing through the miles. And I think about how many people sit down to a Thanksgiving meal without ever realizing a driver made that moment possible.
This week is a reminder of just how much this industry gives.
The Truth About Thanksgiving Week in Trucking
For drivers, this isn’t a slow season. It is the opposite. Turkeys, produce, holiday freight, and early retail volume all hit at once. Drivers are running long hours and covering tight schedules. Traffic picks up with travelers heading home. Weather shifts in the Midwest and Northeast. Roads get slick. Delivery appointments stack up.
The holiday is not a week filled with warm kitchens and long tables. It is a week of sacrifices that most people never see.
Many drivers miss Thanksgiving altogether. They miss the laughter in the living room. They miss the chance to carve the turkey. They miss those small, quiet moments that live in our memories forever. And they keep going because they know their work keeps the country running.
That is what makes drivers so special. The pride, the responsibility, and the willingness to keep pushing forward even when the world around them is taking a break.
The Blessing Inside the Sacrifice
Every driver knows the job comes with tradeoffs. Holidays. Birthdays. Anniversaries. We cherish the moments spent at home. Trucking asks for a lot. But there is also a sense of purpose that comes with the work.
Drivers know this country depends on them. Every store is open on Black Friday. Every meal. Every shipment. Every warm home with food on the table.
There is a blessing in knowing you contribute to something bigger. There is pride in knowing you carried the freight that makes Thanksgiving happen for millions of families. There is meaning in knowing that a load delivered on time helped a family have everything they needed for their holiday.
It does not make the sacrifice easier, but it gives it purpose.
What Drivers Tell Me Every Thanksgiving
As a recruiter, I have talked to drivers during holiday weeks more times than I can count. Some are frustrated. Some are tired. Some just need someone to listen. A few are honestly okay with being out because they already planned their holiday a few days early.
But almost every driver tells me the same thing at some point.
They just want to feel respected.
Not praised once a year. Not the day before Thanksgiving. They want the people they work with to treat them well year-round.
I hear things like:
“I don’t mind running. I just want straight answers.”
“I can miss a holiday, but don’t leave me hanging on updates.”
“It would be nice if someone checked in just to see if I’m good.”
Drivers are not asking for the world. They are asking for communication, honesty, and consistency.
And that is why this message matters so much. Thanksgiving should not be the only time a driver feels seen.
Why Appreciation Should Be Every Week, Not Just Holiday Week
One of the biggest lessons I have learned from recruiting is that appreciation and retention go together. When a driver feels respected, they stay longer. When they feel ignored or talked down to, they leave.
Thanksgiving is a good moment to pause and acknowledge everything drivers pour into this industry. But if companies only do that once a year, it does more harm than good.
Drivers can tell when a company is genuine.
If a driver only hears from you on Thanksgiving, they notice. If the tone changes suddenly right before a holiday, they notice. Drivers read between the lines better than anyone.
Real appreciation shows up in everyday things.
• How dispatchers speak to drivers
• How often do check-ins happen
• Whether safety calls feel supportive or stressful
• Whether drivers get honest options instead of pressure
• Whether a driver can reach someone when things go wrong
Appreciation is not a holiday. It is a culture.
What Carriers Can Do to Support Drivers Year-Round
Even small changes make a real difference. Here are a few ways companies can show drivers they matter every week.
1. Communicate early and clearly
Drivers want to know what to expect, especially during holiday routes. Clear dispatch notes, accurate ETAs, and honest conversations go a long way.
2. Check in without an agenda
A simple message like “Just making sure you’re good out there” builds trust.
3. Partner with dispatch on tone
Drivers remember the tone long after they forget the load number.
4. Give drivers real options when possible
A little flexibility can save a driver’s whole week.
5. Recognize the work they put in
Not just miles. Not just loads. The human effort behind it.
These are the things that shape retention far more than a one-time holiday message.
A Natural Moment to Share Helpful Resources
When companies want to communicate better, stand out in recruiting, or tighten up their messaging, there are tools that make it easier.
If a carrier wants to fix the way they write their job ads, talk to drivers, or build a stronger brand, The Driver Magnet Kit is a good place to start. It walks through messaging, scripts, and real-world strategies that help companies attract the right drivers.
For company owners or leaders who want a deeper look at growing with less stress and more strategy, my book Competing With Giants outlines practical steps to help small fleets build a real presence.
Both resources fit naturally into the work that carriers are already doing. They help you communicate better, support your team, and show appreciation through action, not just words.
Thanksgiving Is a Reminder, Not the Moment
The trucking industry cannot stop for holidays. Drivers know that. Dispatch knows that. Safety knows that. Everyone in transportation understands this week feels different and yet familiar at the same time.
Thanksgiving is not the week to suddenly act appreciative. It is the week to reflect on whether appreciation shows up in your company every other week of the year.
If it does, the holiday message feels real. If it does not, this is the time to fix it.
A Salute to Every Part of This Industry
This week, I want to lift up every person who keeps freight moving.
Drivers running long miles.
Owner-operators betting on themselves.
Dispatchers juggling busy load boards.
Planners coordinating schedules.
Safety teams are watching the weather hour by hour.
Mechanics keep the equipment road-ready.
Families waiting at home and holding everything together.
Trucking is a team effort. Thanksgiving reminds us how powerful that team really is.
A Personal Message to Every Driver Reading This
If you are on the road this week, I want you to know something. You matter. Your work matters. Your sacrifice is seen, even if it does not always feel that way. You keep this country moving when the rest of the world slows down.
You are the backbone of everything we enjoy during Thanksgiving. The food. The stores. The warmth. The comfort. None of it happens without you.
Rig on Wheels appreciates you today and every day.
And if you are sitting at a truck stop with a plate of turkey on a tray or catching a call from family between stops, I hope you take a moment to recognize just how important you are.
Thank you for everything you do.
Happy Thanksgiving.
If you are looking for any CDL Class A truck driving jobs, contact us today at 281-968-3100
To learn more about Rig on Wheels Broker and Recruitment Services or to send questions, email recruiting@rigonwheels.com
If you want tools that help you attract better drivers and communicate your value clearly, you can take a look at the Driver Magnet Kit here: https://shop.rigonwheels.com/products/the-driver-magnet-kit
My book Competing With Giants is also available here:
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If you are interested in any CDL Class A Truck Driving Jobs
Contact us today! 281-968-3100.
To learn more about Rig on Wheels Broker and Recruitment Services.
Email questions to recruiting@rigonwheels.com
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