Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, and while we should be grateful to them every day of the year for transporting goods across the country, we're happy they have their own special week-and the perks to go along with it.
This year's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week runs Sunday, September 13, 2026, through Saturday, September 19, 2026. Keep in mind that many truck stop chains and travel companies will often celebrate truckers for the entire month of September, not just the official week.
Below, we're highlighting companies to keep an eye on throughout the month, as well as ideas fleet managers can use to honor their truck drivers.
Founded in 1964, Love's has a large network with over 650 travel stops in 42 states. This family-owned operation's mission is straightforward: provide truckers (and all motorists) with a safe and clean place to stop, rest, fuel up, and get some grub.
Love's has a loyalty program with rewards and exclusive deals. Truckers should download the Love's Rewards app to get started and look for offers like:
If you receive emails from Love's, you can often activate the promotional offers via a link in the email. Or you can activate them in the app.
The Pilot Corporation opened its first full-service travel center in 1981, and in 2009, it bought the Flying J travel centers. Today, it has over 900 locations across North America, including 43 states and five Canadian provinces. On its website, it notes that the "P" in "Pilot" is for people-its employees as well as the drivers who use the company's travel centers day in and day out.
The Pilot App is your key to the latest deals and promotions. On the website, you can also browse the monthly catalog that features in-store deals.
Even better? Since 2015, Pilot has been celebrating the most dedicated professional drivers through its Road Warrior contest. Last year, truckers had a chance to compete for $50,000 and a refurbished semi-truck. Read about the grand prize winner and runners-up, and keep your eyes peeled for information about the 2026 Road Warrior contest, which typically runs throughout September, with a winner announced in October.
Sheetz started out as a family-owned convenience store founded in 1952. It's since evolved into made-to-order fast food, gas, and several full-service truck stops that include laundromats and showers.
Today, Sheetz is still family-owned (a few generations in!), and it's become well-known for supporting truckers during Trucker Appreciation Week and beyond. Look for discounts on food (remember, everything is fresh and made to order) and yummy drinks.
And, of course, download the Sheetz app for monthly offers, points that you can put toward qualifying in-store and online purchases, fuel discounts, and more.
Bonus: We recommend checking out the Sheetz website. It's a fun brand, and we love its history page called "What's a Sheetz?"
We discussed some of these ideas in our article about the 2025 Truck Driver Appreciation Week, but they're worth mentioning again.
You'd be surprised how powerful a handwritten thank-you note can be. If your fleet is too large to write notes by hand, just make sure the message inside is personalized and heartfelt.
Generic swag is just that: generic. Instead, give your truckers custom gear with their name or truck number. You could even do a spotlight feature in your newsletter or social media. For example, each day in September, do a shout-out to a different driver on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch? Whether it's a catered meal at your terminal or a virtual event with gift card giveaways, free food is always a crowd-pleaser.
OK, let's get real: When it comes to employers showing appreciation for their employees, most employees would say the best way is with more green stuff. Yep, we're talking about money. Offer bonuses for safe driving records (which can be a powerful incentive for the rest of the year), on-time deliveries, and clean roadside inspections. Don't underestimate the power of extra PTO hours and fuel cards, either.
On behalf of all of us at Foley, we thank truck drivers everywhere for their unwavering commitment to highway safety and for delivering the essential goods that keep our national economy moving forward every single day.