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.

Norita Taylor is the Director of Public Relations for the Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Association or OOIDA and she’s witnessed many changes and challenges during her seventeen years with the organization, but one thing that has remained constant is the desire to accurately reflect the messaging of its membership as it relates to issues that impact their industry. “It’s like saying the more things change, the more they stay the same,” Norita expressed. ”Sure, there’s change and new things come along, but when it comes right down to it, the issues remain the same. They still have to run their businesses as things evolve and we’re helping them advocate for themselves.”

OOIDA was founded in the 1970’s as a direct result of the impact of the Arab oil embargo on the transportation and trucking industry. “Even without Facebook and social media they managed to get together and talk about things they wanted to see changed,” Norita explained. “They went to Washington D.C. and they kind of thought they had explained all of the negative impacts and what they needed and their job was done, but they learned the hard way it’s a constant battle. A constant communication with legislators and policy makers and it’s a constant push that you can’t let up and you have to be organized.” Throughout the years OOIDA has found ways to stay relevant as an organization with over 150,000 members nationwide.

Professional drivers are busy doing just that! Driving the nation’s supplies to keep the country fed, clothed, housed, and healthy. As the saying goes, if you’re using it, it was moved by a truck! OOIDA supports its membership by navigating the politics and tough stuff. “Things that we’ve always talked about. Hours of service regulation, taxes and fees and other things that affect their businesses and we also encourage our members to make sure Washington hears from them directly too. We streamline and are the face in Washington, but we often tell our members, lawmakers need to hear from them too.“

Many professional drivers who hold OOIDA memberships have hauled America’s respect as members of the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, but now OOIDA is getting more involved in the mission to remember, honor and teach! Norita is excited to share OOIDA is signed up as a $5.00 payback sponsorship group to support OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops program. “It’s like you said, our members are out there doing their jobs and it’s kind of like a needle in a haystack finding them unless they tell us they’re hauling veterans’ wreaths. This is a way for OOIDA to get more involved because we’ve always been supportive of the mission. It was explained to us that we could do that while also supporting our own program. Attaching what we already do to Wreaths Across America made total sense to us.” Truckers for Troops is a “care package” program originally started as an effort to provide care packages from home to deployed troops has now transitioned to serve more veterans’ programs with care packages. By signing up as a Wreaths Across America sponsorship group, Truckers for Troop will earn five dollars back for every 17.00 veteran’s wreath they get sponsored for a U.S. veteran laid to rest.

Thank you, Norita, and all the folks at OOIDA, for helping support 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 Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking Radio.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com