ATA Image and Outreach Programs Bring Attention to America's Truck Drivers

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Sep 13, 2016, 12:15 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations, with help from America's Road Team and the Share the Road highway safety program, highlighted National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by appearing on morning shows throughout the country.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

"We wanted to put some of the leading voices in the truck driver community in the spotlight to talk about the important work that their colleagues in the industry do each day to deliver America's goods," said ATA COO and Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs Elisabeth Barna. "America's Road Team Captains and Share the Road professional truck drivers are great advocates for the safe, professional role that truck drivers play on our nation's highways."

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 11-17, is an opportunity for the trucking industry to officially recognize the efforts of professional truck drivers. Today's media events and similar appreciation events being held nationwide seek to honor the men and women who safely deliver 70.1% of the country's total freight tonnage and draw attention to their essential work in moving the economy.

One of out every 16 jobs in America is tied to the trucking industry and there are 3.5 million professional truck drivers dedicated to safely transporting food, medicine and other critical goods. More than 80% of U.S. communities depend exclusively on trucking for the delivery of their goods, making it the most heavily relied on mode of transportation.

Today, television and radio shows from coast to coast broadcasted live via satellite from ATA First Vice Chairman Kevin Burch's Jet Express facility in Dayton, Ohio. America's Road Team Captains and Share the Road professional truck drivers came together for a joint media event to discuss the trucking industry and their careers as professional truck drivers. Viewers were made aware of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and urged to show support to friends and neighbors in the trucking industry.

"Jet Express was proud to host ATA's premier image and outreach programs and take time to honor professional truck drivers around the country," said ATA Incoming Chairman Kevin Burch. "At the end of the day, we want to generate more respect and appreciation for these drivers because it makes their jobs more enjoyable and has major safety benefits for our roads."

ATA is asking the trucking industry to engage their communities in this week's celebration of truck drivers. The ATA official NTDAW site offers a collection of resources to enhance driver appreciation events. These resources improve the image of the professional truck driver and demonstrate public support for the challenging work that drivers do each day.

ACT 1 is a premier sponsor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Sponsors for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week also include Help, Inc., Provider of PrePass, Velociti, U.S. Legal Services, Smart Drive and Trucker Path.

America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway.www.americasroadteam.com.

Share the Road is a highway safety outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about sharing the roads safely with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of motorists annually. The safety program is sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc., and supported by TA-Petro, Pre-Pass, Hyundai Translead, OmniTracs, SmartDrive, Mack Leasing, Bendix and Spireon. www.atastr.org. Follow the Share the Road on Twitter and Facebook.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations