By the Alberta Motor Transport Association

From September 10-16, 2021, industry stakeholders, volunteers, sponsors and AMTA staff gathered at Vehicle Inspection Stations across Alberta to celebrate Driver Appreciation Days 2021.

The event runs in conjunction with Canada’s National Trucking Week to celebrate the work that commercial drivers accomplish day in and day out. Drivers’ efforts have been in the spotlight over last 18 months, since their essential work keeps goods on the move and provides Albertans the necessities needed to live their daily lives.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Albertans have had a firsthand glimpse at the importance of the commercial transportation industry as an essential service,” said AMTA President Chris Nash. “Carriers stepped up during the pandemic to support the industry and its needs despite how busy they were keeping goods on the move.”

Alberta Sheriffs, AMTA staff, sponsors and dozens of volunteers gathered at the Leduc, Jumping Pound, Hinton, Coutts, Dunmore, Demmitt and Strathmore Vehicle Inspection Stations to hand out gift bags and give drivers thank you messages in person.

“AMTA celebrates drivers and what they do all year, but that culminates with these events where we can gather together at Vehicle Inspection Sites,” said Driver Appreciation Committee Lead and AMTA Operations Supervisor Michelle Spacil. “Our sponsorships and volunteer sign-ups always fill up quickly with these events. People really look forward to interacting with the drivers and giving a personal thank you.”

One of those volunteers is Jeremy Woolward, a Chariot Express Fleet Safety Officer who has participated in the event for the past two years.

“I volunteer at this particular event because it’s a great opportunity for carriers, industry advocates, enforcement and drivers to come together to celebrate the commercial trucking industry,” Woolward explained. “I work at a small carrier; we are not a long-haul carrier, or an aggregate carrier. I work for a hotshot carrier, and it’s important that even the small guys are present and become engaged in the community at large. It may not seem like much, and stuffing swag bags may not seem important to many, but to these drivers, it can mean everything. They don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.”

Recipients of the gift bags reached out to the AMTA to extend their gratitude. One driver from Québec emailed a photo of his gift stating how “awesome” the volunteers were; another driver “thought about [the] kind gesture all the way home” before calling the AMTA to express their gratitude; and a driver from Saskatchewan posted his haul on Tik Tok and shared his thanks with inspectors and volunteers.