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.

It’s been said that good things come in small packages, and Jerry Hayes bears witness to the fact that it doesn’t need to be a big rig to get the job done. “If you see that big blue Dodge hauling that little white box trailer, you’ll know it’s me!” The only thing bigger than Jerry’s seven-by-fourteen-foot trailer filled with veterans’ wreaths is his pride and honor of being a member of the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet. “I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” he shared. “This is such an honor, and I’m looking forward to getting back up there to Maine.”

Jerry was a professional truck driver in the 80s supporting oil production, hauling pipes, and driving the rigs. “My grandad was an old truck driver, and some of my uncles were too. I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school, and when I got out, I went to the oil fields. I got my Chauffer’s license, which was what it was called back then. Then in ‘85 when the oil fields crashed, I had to do something, and I knew how to drive a truck, so off I went.”

Jerry hauled cargo for a few years before he found his niche in recruiting. “I drove for a company called Crete Carriers for a couple of years. Then they found out I was blessed with a big fat mouth, and I liked to run it, so they made me their driver recruiter. I’d haul freight from point A to point B, and then I’d set up with a little-bity card table, and I’d hire truck drivers right there, Johnny-on-the-spot. I worked for them for six and a half years. They brought me in-house, and I was a terminal manager. Then I was in charge of all the owner operators, then I was the director of recruiting for the old Builders Transport out of South Carolina. In 1998, I was going to go to work for another company, but my wife said no, we’re going to go sell advertising. We went to work for Pollard Publishing back in the day, selling advertising.”

In 2013, they went out independently and created National Trucking Magazine. His wife, son, and daughter-in-law operated one of the largest distributed magazines in the industry. “Eventually, we closed it down and started Hayes Recruiting Solutions, which is a total digital platform, and we deal with all the other platforms like Indeed, Zip Recruiter, Facebook, Craigslist, you know, we can do it all.”

Jerry attributes that “can-do” attitude to his military training. He spent thirteen years of his life in military service. He joined the United States Marine Corps right out of high school. “If you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it right! You shouldn’t be able to talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk. Not only could Jerry walk the walk, but he also loved to cook. “There’s one guy in the service that everybody loves, and that’s the cook! I’m a pretty big guy and don’t fit well in a tank,” he explained with a chuckle. “In 1979, I got married and had to go into the reserves, so I joined the Texas Army National Guard. I came out as a battalion mess Sergeant.”

Jerry heard about Wreaths Across America many years ago after meeting some folks involved at an event. Jerry spent thirteen years of his life in military service. The mission to remember, honor and teach struck him immediately, and he started to promote it in their magazine. “These young men and women who sign the dotted line today are signing up for the ultimate sacrifice. They’re willing to stand up and put their lives on the line to make sure everybody can do what they need to do. I can’t say enough about our young men and women in the service today.”

Jerry understands the phrase, ‘if there’s a will, there’s a way.’ It’s the mantra of the Wreaths Across America transportation division. He explained how easy it was to get involved as a member of the Honor Fleet even though he didn’t own a big rig or represent a specific carrier. “Last year, my wife and I were up in Bar Harbor, and Courtney got us set up with a tour at Wreaths Across America in Columbia Falls. The young man who drove for Walmart (Dave Mott) gave us the tour, and we got to meet the owner on the land at the container, you know, the one for the little airplane (The Lindbergh Crate). That’s when I said, ‘You know I love Wreaths Across America, and if there was ever a way I could help, I’d love to do it if you can use a fourteen-foot box trailer seven feet tall.’  That man said, ‘You have no idea how much we need you.’ So, I reconnected with Courtnery, and she said, ‘Jerry, we can make it happen.”

They made it happen, alright, and Jerry said he had the time of his life last year. “I had so much fun visiting with all the truck drivers up there and to see what you are all doing up there, it was just so great. I got to haul two thousand wreaths in my little box trailer. I got there on a Friday morning before everything got kicked off.  Saturday afternoon, they said they had it figured out. I’d have three stops in New York, Western Pennsylvania, and then Fredericksburg, Maryland. Then I went to Newport, Virginia, to reload, came back up into Scranton, PA, to drop there, and then I went down to Ringgold, Georgia. I had five stops with two wreath pickups, and I was tickled to death.”

Jerry can’t wait to return to Maine, which he’ll be doing soon to pick up a special load of large ceremonial wreaths destined for the Military Women’s Memorial in D.C. where they will be used in a HART ceremony. HART stands for Honoring and Remembering Together which is conducted with allied nations to remember the fallen.

Thank you, Jerry, for your service and 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 Jerry on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 10:00 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 at RadioNemo.com , iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Facebook. You can also catch all of RadioNemo's content on-demand on your favorite podcasting platform.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com