As of October 2026, there is no single official national Driver Appreciation Day for truck drivers in the United States. The national observance is a week: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), run by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), next held September 12–18, 2027. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) marked one "CMV Driver Appreciation Day" inside the week in 2022 and 2023.
So when someone says "Driver Appreciation Day," they usually mean one of three things: the ATA week, FMCSA's one-day observance inside it, or a company's own appreciation day. If you're planning for September 2027, our Driver Appreciation Week guide covers the full week.
Driver Appreciation Week vs. a driver appreciation day
| National Truck Driver Appreciation Week | CMV Driver Appreciation Day | A company's own driver appreciation day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets it | ATA, since 1988 | FMCSA | The fleet, shipper or broker |
| Dates | Sept 13–19, 2026; Sept 12–18, 2027 | Thu Sept 15, 2022; Thu Sept 14, 2023; no later date published as of October 2026 | Any date you choose |
| Length | Seven days, Sunday to Saturday | One day, inside NTDAW | Usually one day |
| Who it covers | Professional truck drivers | Commercial motor vehicle drivers, truck and bus | Your own drivers |
| Source | ATA event schedule | FMCSA, 2023 page | Your calendar |
ATA describes NTDAW as "an annual, nationwide celebration and cornerstone program launched by the American Trucking Associations in 1988" on its NTDAW page. Our article on the history of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week sets out the year-by-year record.
What was FMCSA's one-day CMV Driver Appreciation Day?
CMV Driver Appreciation Day was a one-day observance by FMCSA, the federal agency that regulates trucks and buses. In 2022, FMCSA wrote that on Thursday, September 15, 2022 it took time to "publicly recognize and celebrate all the CMV drivers," and called the day "an extension of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (September 11-17, 2022)" (FMCSA 2022 page). In 2023, FMCSA said it was "designating September 14 as CMV Driver Appreciation Day," again during the week (FMCSA 2023 page).
As of October 2026, FMCSA's CMV Driver Appreciation Day page still showed the 2023 observance, and FMCSA's 2026 NTDAW page celebrated the week without naming a separate day. We found no FMCSA date for 2024, 2025 or 2026. If you plan around a federal day in 2027, check FMCSA's site first. The ATA week is the reliable anchor.
Is Driver Appreciation Day a holiday?
No. Neither NTDAW nor CMV Driver Appreciation Day is a federal holiday, and neither requires employers to do anything. They are recognition observances. Even the Senate resolution that designated the 2025 week (S.Res. 225, agreed to September 19, 2025) was a simple Senate resolution, which does not have the force of law. Businesses decide for themselves how to take part.
Can a company hold its own driver appreciation day?
Yes, and many do. A company driver appreciation day works best when it does something the week can't:
- Reach drivers who were on the road during the week. A second day later in the year catches drivers who missed the terminal events in September.
- Mark your own milestones. Your company anniversary, the end of a safe quarter or the day a new terminal opens can each carry a driver appreciation day.
- Borrow ATA's best idea. For 2026, ATA suggested members host a meal at their terminals on the Tuesday of the week (ATA, Sept. 11, 2026). A terminal meal on your own day, plus something delivered to drivers who can't attend, covers both groups.
For the week itself, our fleet operator's guide to Appreciation Week covers budget, logistics and timing.
Which should a fleet plan for?
Plan for the week first, because it is the date drivers, shippers and the public all recognize. Treat any one-day observance as a highlight inside it, such as the day leadership visits terminals or the day gifts arrive. Then add your own driver appreciation day if you want a second moment in the year.
Driver Appreciation Solutions (DAS) curates driver appreciation and handles fulfillment for U.S. fleets, with delivery to the terminal, one hub or individual drivers, so a fleet can thank every driver on the same day wherever they are. The minimum order is 10 units on all items. Pricing is quoted per program. Request current pricing. Explore products on our website or request a quote for September 12–18, 2027.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against the current regulation text and with your compliance counsel.
Driver Appreciation Solutions
Recognition your drivers actually feel.
We curate driver appreciation and handle fulfillment for U.S. fleets. The minimum order is 10 units on all items. Pricing is quoted per program. Request current pricing.