DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — To Thomas Wood, the roar of an engine is the best company.
“We’re mostly alone workers, we like it that way,” he said, standing next to the growling motor of his 18-wheeler.
Wood has driven goods up and down the East Coast for 20 years, and while he enjoys the solitude, sometimes a pit stop is necessary.
But for truck drivers this week, those stops just got sweeter.
“Coors had a little lunch and this rest area over here had a free coffee,” said Wood.
The free food is part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. The event runs from Sept. 15 to Sept. 21 and honors those who run the roads to deliver everyday goods and stock shelves, like Dennis Herman.
After 12 years of driving trucks, Herman says breaking up the routine of being alone is a good change.
“We're stuck in a truck for 8 to 12 hours a day, so it's nice to break it up. We’re alone in the truck all day so it’s nice to…see people that are nice.”
The Pennsylvania Motor Trucks Association (PMTA) is partnering with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other local businesses to say thank you to truck drivers with free food, drinks, hats, and gift cards to the places where they make pit stops.
According to Megan Magensky, the director of communications for PMTA, Sheetz is donating made-to-order coupons for truck drivers and handing out trucker hats during the celebration.
“We’re just really thankful to all the businesses and the turnpike who’ve stepped up and say thank you to the drivers because they do realize how important the drivers are,” Magensky said.
An importance that can be felt in your shopping cart.
PMTA reports that 87.9% of Pennsylvania communities rely solely on truck drivers to deliver their goods, including in stores and online.
“We have to keep that in mind when we’re thinking about how quickly we want things to be delivered and the way our economy works. it only works because we have truck drivers.”
And while drivers enjoy the food and thanks they receive, some say the best gift would be better driver awareness.
“If somebody pulls out in front of you, we just can’t stop on a dime like cars do,” Herman said.
Wood explained that while the trucks he drives may have 18 wheels, they don’t have 18 sets of brakes, making slowing down a longer process.
Another lesson many drivers don’t learn in drivers' education, is the difference in freight truck's blind spots.
“We don’t want to pass trucks on the right-hand side we want to be sure we’re passing them on the left because it is almost entirely a blind spot on the right,” Magensky warns.
With events like Truck Driver Appreciation Week helping to spread that awareness, Herman says, “We’re just trying to keep the roads safe.”
PMTA released a list of all the locations where drivers can make pit stops to take part in Truck Driver Appreciation Week.