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 4,300 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are 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 and Sirius XM, Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.

When it comes to two women who know the trucking industry inside out and the transportation logistics associated with Wreaths Across America, Debbie Sparks and Marli Hall immediately come to mind and this year is certainly no exception. Debbie is the Executive Director and Marli the Director of Public Relations for the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, or NMFTA. Debbie also serves on the Board of Directors with Wreaths Across America. “NMFTA is one of the oldest established associations,” she shared. “We’ve been around since 1956 and set the standards for the trucking industry. A lot of people know us for the Standard Carrier Alpha Code, or SCAC, and we also do the commodity classification on the less-than-truckload (LTL) side of the business. We’re completely overhauling the systems and bringing it up to modern-day standards and tying technology to that. With the help of our members and trucking partners we are digitizing the paperwork process. We’re educating on the use of the digitized system and leading the way to advocate for its security.”

                                                                  Debbie Sparks, Executive Director NMFTA

Debbie and Marli have been involved in the mission since 2012. “I was at Truckload Carriers Association, and so was Debbie,” Marli explained. “Basically, we dispatched the loads with some broker friends on the side and it was our lifeblood from October through December up until the last wreath was delivered. It’s been engrained in us since then.” As they reminisced, “It all started with Barry Pottle and his spreadsheet,” Debbie chuckled. “Then, years later we were given a dispatch software to work with and we knew it was growing. Unbelievable growth and that’s what’s unique about Wreaths Across America. There’s no nonprofit that has year-over-year growth and it’s the mission that does it.”

                                             Marli Hall, Dir. Public Relations NMFTA                                                 

Marli reconnected with Wreaths Across America for the annual summer event Stem to Stone back in July and was thrilled to hear how much the organization continues to impact Americans and that impact speaks to the need for even more support from the transportation sector. “It’s a feel-good initiative; something that everyone can get behind. It’s grown immensely and that trucker’s lounge is the place to be!”

Both women are excited to offer NMFTA membership a meaningful way to participate in this year’s Wreaths Across America’s wreath sponsorship efforts. “We’re offering a tiered approach to get our staff, membership and supporters involved,” Marli explained

NMFTA aims to virtually fill a tractor-trailer with 5,000 sponsored veterans’ wreaths, which will be transported and placed by volunteers on gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA as part of National Wreaths Across America Day this December.

Each $17 sponsorship honors an American hero with a wreath. Through this effort specifically, for every two wreaths sponsored through NMFTA at $34, a third wreath will be provided by WAA for placement. To support NMFTA in reaching its goal, sponsor two wreaths or more today at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/NMFTA.

Many of NMFTA’s National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)^® participants, comprised primarily of less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, have volunteered in the past, whether hauling wreaths to cemeteries or participating in National Wreaths Across America Day in December.

NMFTA would like to recognize the following participants who have donated their professional truck drivers’ time, fuel, and equipment for this cause: Duie Pyle, AAA Cooper Transportation, Bennett Motor Express LLC, Central Transport, CEVA Freight LLC, Contract Freighters Inc. (CFI), Estes Express Lines, Forward Air, Landstar, Magnum LTD, Matson Navigation Company Inc., Merchants Distributors Inc (MDI), Prime Inc., RXO, Saia, Schneider, Smokey Point Distributing, Swift Transportation, TForce Freight, Tri-State Motor Transit Co., Ward Trucking LLC, and Werner Enterprises.  

Thank you, Debbie and Marli and the members of NMFTA, for your genuine passion for the mission to remember, honor, and teach and your continued efforts to ensure no one is forgotten.

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 Debbie and Marli on Trucking Tributes, listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesdays at 8 AM EST, on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking Radio.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com