Thanksgiving and the Trucking Industry

  • Thanksgiving and the Trucking Industry

    Thanksgiving and the Trucking Industry

    According to the American Trucking Associations, more than 70% of all cargo and freight in the country are moved by trucks. Millions of trucks and truck drivers are needed to move the billion tons of freight each year.

     

    Trucking | Pixabay

     

    Every Thanksgiving, millions of turkey and food products are transported across the country by truckers who cannot even come home to celebrate with their own family. In this article, we will take a glimpse at Thanksgiving and how it connects with the trucking industry.

     

    Turkey | Pixabay

     

    The Beginning of Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Roast turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce… Everyone must be excited, right? It is about time we take a short review of the origin and history of Thanksgiving.

    Thanksgiving is a national holiday that is observed in several countries. It is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Liberia, Japan, Germany, Saint Lucia, Puerto Rico, Leiden (Netherlands), Norfolk Island (Australia), and some parts of the Caribbean Islands. It is basically a thanksgiving celebration for the harvest and blessings of the preceding year.

     

    Thanksgiving Food | Pixabay

     

    Thanksgiving is celebrated on different dates in every country. In the U.S., it is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. While in Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the 2nd Monday of October. In other countries, it is celebrated sometime around the last quarter of the year.

    Thanksgiving is considered a cultural, religious and secular holiday. Thanksgiving traditions in the U.S. have started way back from the Protestant Reformation. It involves special thanksgiving ceremonies and prayers for the blessing of the good harvest.

     

    Harvest | Pixabay

     

    The very first recorded thanksgiving celebration was in 1619 and 1621. It occurred in Virginia, and Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was celebrated by immigrants from England who carried their tradition into the U.S.

    However, there has been a debate as to when the very first Thanksgiving really happened. As a form of compromise, late President John F. Kennedy issued Proclamation 3560 on November 5, 1963, stating, “Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving…”

    Thanksgiving has been celebrated on different dates through the years until 1942. On December 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution to fix the date of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.

    Different countries have different forms of Thanksgiving celebrations. In the U.S., Thanksgiving is considered the start of the holiday season. It is also the time of the year when families come together to give thanks for the blessings of the year.

    Where You Spend Thanksgiving

    There are some of us who will spend Thanksgiving Day at home. But some others will travel across the country to meet their long-lost family. They could have sent their vehicle cross-country through a car shipper.

    On the other hand, there are some who will endure the long traffic just to drive their way to their relatives’ homes. They do not mind the traffic, you know. It will be a fun road trip.

     

    Thanksgiving Road Trip | Pixabay

    But wherever you decide to spend Thanksgiving Day, one way or another, you will still be eating turkey. All of the fruits, meat, and grocery supplies that you and your family will need are going to be hauled by trucks.

    All of those Thanksgiving commodities are not sent through helicopters. They are being transported from farms by trucks to merchants. That is one thing you must know.

    Trucking on Thanksgiving

    Now, let us move into another topic related to this most-awaited celebration (aside from Christmas and New Year, of course!). Many people know that Thanksgiving is the time of year when people travel far to get together and meet their long-lost relatives. But only a few of us know that this time of the year is most precious to our fellow truckers.

     

    Trucking | Pixabay

     

    Our fellow truckers usually spend most of their time away from home and their families. Most of the time, they spend their days and nights on the road, in warehouses, parking areas and drop-off points. Imagine how lonely you could become after months of being away from your loved ones.

    Some of them may finally be reunited with their families on Thanksgiving Day. However, there are a few truckers who would still be working, stuck on the road on turkey day. During Thanksgiving Day, some truckers would still be out there to deliver goods and endure heavy traffic brought about by the rush of people heading home for the celebration.

     

    Trucking on Thanksgiving | Pixabay

     

    Do you know that truckers haul millions of pounds of turkey, cranberries, and Thanksgiving commodities during this season? They are the ones who keep Thanksgiving supplies and commodities available for all. But in the end, they are the ones who may not spend a special day with their families.

    In addition, their sacrifice does not end in not sleeping in comfortable beds at night. It is also in eating on-the-go and fast food for most days of the year. They surely miss eating home-cooked meals prepared by their wives or moms. Not to mention the laughter and bonding with their kids over dinner.

     

    Eating Out | Pixabay

     

    These simple things which most of us may neglect, are things that our brothers in the transport industry are sacrificing for the job. Imagine how it would be without trucks that deliver goods from one State to another. That would create a huge dent in the national economy.

    We are not saying these just to create drama. We would like to promote empathy towards our brothers/uncles/fathers in the transport industry. We would like to raise awareness that trucking is a job that involves a lot of risks and sacrifices. We would like to recognize their efforts in serving the people, the industry and the economy.

     

    Trucker | Pixabay

     

    These things are indeed part of their job. Others may also say that it is just a matter of getting used to it. But in reality, truck drivers are also humans (obviously!). And it is only humane to empathize with them.

    This is why we like to commend them for their hard work. And to know that they are included in what we are being grateful for this Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving! Easy on the turkey!

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