National Truck Driver Appreciation Week runs through September 21

(KNOX) – Vision Zero along with the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association (NDMCA), proudly join the nation in celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week from September 15-21, 2024. This annual event is a time to recognize and thank the 3.5 million professional truck drivers who tirelessly work to keep America moving.

“The contributions of professional truck drivers cannot be overstated,” said NDMCA President Jeremy Oistad. “They are true unsung heroes who deserve our deepest appreciation for the essential role they play in our daily lives and the economy.”

Truck drivers perform one of the most demanding and essential jobs. Every day, they deliver the goods that keep our country running—safely, securely, and on time, contributing significantly to our quality of life.

North Dakota Truck Driver Gary Schmidt agrees, “The best part of my job is having a satisfied customer who has been waiting on a product and they are depending on me to keep their plant running with a product I am bringing to them on time.”

During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Vision Zero encourages all North Dakotans to express their gratitude and support for these dedicated men and women. Their unwavering commitment to safety ensures the timely delivery of goods and plays a vital role in maintaining the safety of our highways.

“I see a lot of people driving distracted when I’m driving. Please, everybody put everything down. Nothing is more important than what you are driving right now,” said driver Josh Watts. “Everyone deserves to get home to their families and driving distracted reduces the chance of arriving safely.”

Motorists can follow these additional tips to share the road with semi-trucks and other large vehicles:

Drive defensively – Pay attention to vehicle locations, traffic flow, vehicle signals and weather so you can anticipate problems and have plenty of time to react.

Avoid blind spots – Large vehicles have extensive blind spots on both sides. If you can’t see the driver’s face in their side-view mirror, they can’t see you.

Pass safely, or not at all – Semi-truck and other large vehicles need twice the time and space to stop as smaller passenger vehicles. When changing lanes in front of large vehicles, allow one vehicle length for every 10 mph you are traveling (70 mph = 7 car lengths).

Pay close attention – Never cross behind a truck that’s backing up. Truck drivers don’t have a rearview mirror and therefore may not see you behind them.

Avoid the “squeeze play” – Truck and bus drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the left to safely make a right turn. They can’t see vehicles squeezing in between them and the curb. Watch for their turn signals and give them room to turn.