In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, these professionals make it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest at home and overseas. In 2024, with over 4,909 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics were immense.

Many of these drivers are military veterans and say the truckload of fresh balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Emily Plummer grew up in a small town in Arkansas. When she graduated from high school, she was only 17, so she was too young to sign up for the military. So, as many did, she went to work in a factory. “My mother had done factory work for forty-eight years, and I said this is not the life I want,” Emily said. “One day, while I was on break, a semi-truck pulled into the factory, and I thought that was what I wanted to do right there. I asked the driver if I could see the inside of his truck and he said yes. At that point, I just fell in love with it.”

At that time, Emily filled out an application, which was forwarded to multiple companies. After many disappointing rejections, Prime, Inc. said yes. She was put on a Greyhound bus and left Arkansas. “I got to Prime in 1999, went through their truck driving school, and I’ve been here ever since. I love that Prime is family-oriented, and they don’t look at me as a woman; they look at me as a driver. I’m not treated any differently than any other driver here at Prime. That’s what I love so much about being here. Being able to talk to the owner, or anyone in operations, or to sit down and have a conversation with my fleet manager is important to me, and that’s what’s kept me here so long.”

Prime hauls mainly refrigerated food products over the road. “I’ve often thought maybe a dedicated run after twenty-five years, Emily admitted. “But then I’ve thought, you know what, no, because then I wouldn’t be able to go to places like New York City, which is my favorite. I want to be able to go to these different areas and not restrict myself.”

There have been no restrictions for Emily at Prime. She has flourished in her professional driving career. “Prime has the Highway Diamond program that focuses on women. Prime is at fourteen percent for women drivers, and that’s a lot. Once a year, we have a Highway Diamond gala, and we can dress up like we’re headed for the prom. Each year, they hand out three awards, and they name a Highway Diamond of the Year. Emily earned that title in 2022. It’s an honor because they look at your service, longevity, and how you communicate with other drivers. It looks at how you represent yourself on the road or even at any of our terminals. It’s such an honor to achieve this award. It gives you a voice for the women who don’t feel like they have a voice, and you can represent them.”

Emily earned her way into another prominent honor by being selected as an ATA Road Team Captain. Emily said she had second thoughts when her name appeared on the list of semi-finalists. “I just didn’t think I was there yet,” she shared. “I’ve seen some of the other Road Team Captains, and they’re amazing. You go through a whole process, and they’re looking at the person you are. They’re judging you on everything, and this is one of the biggest things you can do in trucking. I remember that at the banquet, they were reading the names, and my name was the fifteenth. My emotions were all over the place. Now, you’re representing not only your company but all other drivers on the road. It’s an honor that I cherish.”

Prime took those character achievements into consideration when a spot on the Wreaths Across America’s Honor Fleet became available. The previous Prime driver, a Marine veteran who had the Arlington run, became disabled last year as the result of a cancer diagnosis. He has been recovering, but it meant the opportunity was handed off to Emily. “Now, mind you, I’m not a veteran, and I have no veterans in my family, so this was all new to me. I’m an emotional person though and I’ve got to tell you we weren’t even ten minutes into the annual escort to Arlington, and I was bawling my eyes out. There was a place in Maine where an old man in a wheelchair stood and saluted us as we drove by. My husband wasn’t born in this country. He was born in Jamacia but got his citizenship here, and at one point during the convoy, he looked at me and said, ‘Is this what patriotism is all about?’ It made my heart so happy, but at the same time, I was heartbroken and thought to myself, why don’t we have wreaths on every headstone in this country?”  

Wreaths Across America would like to see that too, Emily, and with the help of dedicated volunteers and other patriotic citizens sponsoring veterans’ wreaths we know the transportation industry will be by our side ready to transport those fresh, balsam fir symbols of honor and remembrance to participating locations throughout the country.

Thank you, Emily, for your commitment to our veterans through the mission to remember, honor and teach.

If you’d like to join the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, you can get started with a click right here!

You can hear more with Emily on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST as part of RadioNemo on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.”

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com