In the lead-up to the holidays, it’s important to remember that Santa can’t do it alone – truck drivers deliver a big part of Christmas. We often forget how much we rely on the transportation and logistics industry to get all the goods we need, but the holiday season is a good time to reflect on everything professional truck drivers do for us. During December and the months leading up to it, truck drivers are working extra hard to ensure that all of the goods we need for Christmas are on the shelves of our local stores. They play a crucial role in making the holidays a special time – and it’s about more than just gifts.
3 ways truck drivers deliver Christmas
Professional truck drivers are Santa’s busiest helpers
The classic story of jolly old Santa Claus driving his sleigh through the snowy night to deliver gifts all over world is wonderful, but it’s professional truck drivers who are working fervently all across North America to bring Christmas goods to families. Whether it’s the goods we purchase as gifts, the food that brings families together for holiday meals or the Christmas trees and decorations that enchant our homes. The motto of Ontario Trucking Association rings true: if you’ve got it, a truck brought it.
While professional truck drivers are always on the road, the lead-up to the holidays can be more challenging. There’s more traffic due to the holidays, the real risk of impaired drivers coming back from holiday celebrations and the beginning of winter weather that can bring about hazardous road conditions.
More than just gifts
The electronics, toys, clothes, food and every other type of gift we can imagine is usually what we give professional truck drivers credit for, but they also play a role in other important holiday traditions. One of the best known traditions is honouring a nearly 100-year-old friendship between the cities of Halifax and Boston.
The Halifax Explosion of 1917 was an unprecedented disaster that claimed thousands of lives and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Boston and other cities in New England played a critical role in providing disaster relief that Canada has not forgotten. That began the tradition of sending a giant Christmas tree from the forests of Nova Scotia to Boston as a token of appreciation and friendship. While the tradition stopped for a few decades, it was revived in 1970 and every year since a professional trucker driver has made the 1,100 kilometre trip from Halifax to Boston. And of course, Christmas trees from Canadian tree farms are delivered by truck drivers to locations all across the country.
The spirit of charity and giving
Of course, the holidays are about more than gifts, food and decorations. Truck drivers, their regional associations and trucking companies all play a role in the spirit of charity and giving that the holidays are all about. Here are just a few examples of the different ways that truck drivers are showing their charitable spirit.
- In Surrey, British Columbia, truck drivers take part in the tradition of decorating their trucks for the Big Rigs for Kids event that follows the local Santa Claus parade. The impressive display of lights is followed by a community event that benefits the local food bank and fundraising for local charities.
- In Alberta, members of the Fort McMurray community – who have been dealing with the aftermath of the devastating wildfires earlier this year – are receiving truck loads of Christmas decorations from all across the globe. These Christmas gifts will be distributed to 400 families across the region. This initiative was put together by community members with the help of trucking companies.
- In Baden, Ontario, Erb Transport has partnered with NASCAR champion Scott Steckly to organize a holiday food drive. They will be accepting non-perishable food items at their 3 locations and deliver them to the Wilmot Family Resource Centre’s Food Bank. Erb has also sent a truckload of food items to the Alberta Food Banks in the aftermath of the Fort Mac wildfires.
These are just a few examples of how professional truck drivers and trucking companies are working hard to bring extra cheer over the holidays. In next week’s blog article, we’ll suggest some ways we can show our appreciation for truckers this holiday season.
