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.

Wreaths Across America shares these stories through its Trucking Tributes series, featuring driver leaders like David Pike of NFI Industries in Camden, New Jersey. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Pike reflected, “Being a Marine was something I was very proud of… I wanted to prove to myself that I could be something above and beyond what I thought I was capable of, and I’m proud of that discipline and integrity.”

Pike served nearly ten years in the Marines—seven in explosives and ammunition before being medically retired after an injury. “I literally busted my butt for the Marine Corps,” he said. His final three years were spent recruiting, where he found purpose helping others. “It touched me when a young recruit came back and said, ‘Thank you.’ I realized I had the ability to help a person change the direction of their life.”

That passion for helping others carried into his work with NFI Industries, where he now recruits and supports drivers. “NFI is predominantly a dedicated carrier. It’s the biggest company no one knows a lot about,” Pike said. “It’s 93 years old, with about four thousand trucks in North America and around 250 distribution sites. Logistics and brokerage—we do it all.”

With over three decades in transportation, Pike says the reward comes from making a difference: “We touch people’s lives—we don’t hire people, we change lives. We put people in good careers that deserve it, and that feels great at the end of the day.”

Pike explained that NFI’s involvement with Wreaths Across America spans multiple divisions. “When I got here a little over four years ago, I realized just how much we were doing. We were covering lanes, providing warehouse space, handling logistics validation for independent contractors—and collectively, nobody knew that until my team started connecting the dots,” he said.

NFI begins planning each year toward the end of the first quarter. Pike praised the collaboration: “Wreaths Across America has one of the broadest support networks we’ve ever seen. It makes it easy for us to say, ‘How do we help?’ The resources are there to guide us.” He added that volunteering time to place wreaths each December is deeply meaningful for NFI’s veterans and employees alike. “It’s just time, more often than not. Dollars matter, but time—being there Saturday morning to lay a wreath—means so much.”

Looking ahead to 2025, NFI will haul nine loads of veterans’ wreaths, and one of its trucks—driven by a military veteran—will participate in the annual Wreath Escort to Arlington National Cemetery. “This will be the seventh year of participation for this driver, who’s a proud veteran,” Pike said. “He fell in love with NFI, as I have.”

NFI also supports its veterans internally through a dedicated Veterans Employee Resource Group, which helps bridge understanding between veteran and non-veteran employees. “It helps others understand our struggles because they’re unique,” Pike said. “We’ve seen things, done things, and been places few people will ever experience.”

As the wreaths roll across the country once again, NFI Industries and its team proudly carry forward the mission to remember, honor, and teach—ensuring that every veteran is remembered and every community has a chance to give thanks.

Thank you, David, for your service and the entire team at NFI, 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 David 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