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 they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Many professional drivers on the road today represent themselves as owner-operators, independent of large company brands. As a result, they generally have less time and fewer employees to handle administrative duties, let alone advocacy for the industry, and that’s where the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers’ Association, or OOIDA, comes in handy. “We are a trade association that started in the early 70s, and the history there had to do with the oil embargo,” explained Norita Taylor, OOIDA’s communications specialist. “Some of the challenges during that time that everyone in the industry had to deal with, like fuel prices and shortages, really hit the independent truckers hard. There were some strikes, protests and visits to D.C., and at the end of it all the organization stayed together and has grown throughout the years to continue to represent issues that challenge small business truckers. Most of our members are individuals who own their long-haul trucks. Some may have a small fleet, but mostly they’re out there on their own.”

One thing that the industry can agree upon is that trucking has changed dramatically. “We’ve streamlined the process in D.C. and in addition to advocacy, we try to offer as many services as possible to our member and we still encourage them to reach out to their representatives in Washington D.C. because it’s important that they hear from them directly to understand the impact their regulatory decisions have.”

There are numerous issues that impact the livelihood of independent owner-operators today, and while one can’t be controlled, and that’s the weather, others can be managed, according to Norita. “From a regulatory standpoint, hours of service is a big one that goes back quite a long time. Anyone who holds a CDL is required to comply with those hours-of-service regulations. It’s in the name of safety that drivers can only work a certain number of hours before they’re required by law to stop and rest. That may seem simple, but the equation is complicated by the weather, traffic congestion and available parking, for example, and there’s a shortage of truck parking in our nation. Other impacts on hours of service can include the time it takes to load and unload with the shippers and receivers. Some of these conditions are out of the professional driver’s control, and it impacts their clock, and ability to keep moving, which affects their bottom line.”

Hours of service is a huge factor when it comes to the logistics for Wreaths Across America in the delivery of millions of veterans’ wreaths across the country in December.

Norita first learned about Wreaths Across America from some of their members who are members of the Honor Fleet. “We knew our members wanted to support the military, and back in 2009, we started a program called Truckers for Troops. We got registered with Wreaths Across America as a five-dollar-back sponsorship group to support that program,” Norita shared. “For every veteran’s wreath we get sponsored, they give us five dollars back, which we use to support Truckers for Troops.” http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ooida

OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops provides care packages to those who are serving abroad. “Our care packages are not just shoe boxes filled with a few pairs of socks and snacks. Our care package weighs about seventy pounds and is filled with so much stuff. We also do veteran care packages. We encourage visitors to our website to support Wreaths Across America; in the process, our program is supported too. It was an obvious partnership to make. If anyone knows of a military member serving in a combat zone, we want to know about them, and we can be reached through our website.”

Thank you, Norita and OOIDA, for your tireless commitment to the trucking industry and 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 Norita 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 on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM CT as part of RadioNemo’s Road Gang Radio, streaming exclusively at RadioNemo.com — or stream on-demand anytime on your favorite podcast and streaming platforms. Just search “RadioNemo.”

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com