There are approximately 3.6 million professional truck drivers in the United States, according to American Trucking Associations (ATA). ATA describes professional driving as one of the economy’s most demanding and important jobs, emphasizing drivers’ responsibility for delivering freight safely, securely and on-time.
The overall trucking industry, along with food manufacturers, retailers and distributors nationwide, recognized them last week during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), Sept. 13-19, 2026.
As we reflect on NTDAW, consider the scale of the industry's largest private fleets. Walmart, PepsiCo, Sysco, Performance Food Group, US Foods, Reyes Holdings, McLane, Tyson Foods and Nutrien collectively operate nearly 64,000 highway tractors and make up nine of the 10 largest U.S. private fleets, according to the 2026 Transport Topics Top 100 Private Carriers. Walmart alone says it employs approximately 16,000 Class A drivers.
These numbers provide some perspective on just how dependent the food industry is on professional truck drivers.
Every day, drivers connect farms with processing plants, manufacturers with distribution centers, and warehouses with grocery stores, restaurants and other customers. They transport everything from fresh produce and meat to frozen foods, beverages, ingredients and finished consumer products.
And unlike many other types of freight, food frequently comes with an unforgiving clock. Fresh products have limited shelf life. Refrigerated and frozen shipments need to maintain precise temperatures. Manufacturing plants need ingredients to arrive according to production schedules. Grocery stores and restaurants need timely replenishment to avoid empty shelves and unavailable menu items.
In other words, professional drivers don't simply move freight. They help keep America fed.
The importance of trucking to the food industry becomes particularly apparent when looking at the largest private fleets in North America.
According to the 2026 Transport Topics rankings, companies listed in its foodservice, grocery, beverage, and agriculture and food processing categories collectively operate more than 104,000 highway tractors.
These tractors require a massive workforce behind the wheel.
Walmart provides one of the clearest examples. The retailer says approximately 16,000 Class A drivers are part of its private fleet, collectively traveling about 1 billion miles annually.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records also illustrate the scale of driver workforces at individual food companies. US Foods reports more than 5,400 drivers, while Tyson Foods reports more than 3,100. Other large food companies operate through multiple transportation subsidiaries and DOT registrations, making direct comparisons of total driver headcount more difficult.
Regardless of how they're counted, the message is clear: Professional drivers represent an enormous — and indispensable — part of the food industry's supply chain infrastructure.
Food companies are investing heavily in technology to make their supply chains faster and more efficient.
Artificial intelligence is improving demand forecasting. Transportation management systems optimize routes. Real-time visibility platforms track shipments. Automated warehouses move products with increasing precision. Sophisticated inventory systems help determine what products should be positioned where and when.
But those technologies ultimately create a plan. Professional drivers actually execute it. They are the people who take a shipment from the plant, warehouse or distribution center and contend with traffic, weather, construction, equipment issues, tight appointment windows and changing conditions to safely get it to its destination.
Effective execution is what makes or breaks a food supply chain. A late shipment can mean a production line waiting for ingredients, a restaurant missing critical products, a retailer facing an empty shelf or perishable food losing valuable shelf life.
Food companies themselves have been emphasizing just how closely their success is tied to the drivers who move their products.
Kroger Family of Companies operates a highly integrated food supply chain that stretches from farmers, food manufacturers and other suppliers through Kroger-owned manufacturing plants, distribution facilities and ultimately its stores and customers. The retailer sources fresh foods, ingredients and finished products from a global supplier network and also produces about 31% of the units sold under its “Our Brands” portfolio at 33 Kroger-owned food production plants. From there, Kroger’s private fleet and third-party carriers move products through its network of warehouses to more than 2,700 stores, while dedicated fulfillment operations support home delivery and e-commerce. The result is a massive, interconnected network in which transportation—and particularly professional truck drivers—provides the critical link between food production, distribution and the consumer.
Driver Sentiment during NTDAW: “Our drivers deliver more than products. They deliver reliability, dedication and service to our stores, customers and communities across the country. Thank you, drivers, for helping us keep America fed and our company moving.”
Rich Products manages an extensive farm-to-customer supply chain that begins with sourcing agricultural ingredients and other raw materials, moves through a global manufacturing and distribution network, and ultimately supplies restaurants, retailers, in-store bakeries, delis and other foodservice customers. Its supply chain encompasses sourcing, manufacturing, customer service and logistics across five global regions. Transportation is particularly important because much of Rich’s portfolio—including bakery items, pizza products, desserts, appetizers and seafood—requires dependable movement through refrigerated or frozen supply chains. The company also owns ROAR Logistics, giving the Rich family of companies its own logistics capabilities in addition to its food operations.
Driver Sentiment during NTDAW: “Rich Products is a family-owned food manufacturer which promoted this sentiment: “Behind every delivery is a driver who made it happen. We’re giving a big thank you to the people behind the wheel who help connect our business and delivery for our customers every day. The miles add up and so does the gratitude.”
West Liberty Foods, headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa, is one of Northa America’s top protein processors. The company has a vertically connected protein supply chain that starts with its roots in the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative and its grower-owners, then extends through sourcing, processing, packaging, cold storage, distribution and delivery to customers. The company processes turkey, chicken, beef and pork into products ranging from sliced deli meats and fully cooked proteins to sandwiches and meal components, serving foodservice, retail, convenience and distribution customers. Its manufacturing network includes facilities in West Liberty, IA; Tremonton, UT; and Bolingbrook, IL, with capabilities including automated processing, slicing, IQF production, high-pressure processing and refrigerated and frozen products.
Driver Sentiment during NTDAW: “Rain or shine, our drivers are on the road ensuring our products arrive safely and on time. You are the vital link between our facilities, our partners, and dinner tables across the country. We appreciate your hard work, dedication, and commitment to safety every single mile!”
There's another reason professional drivers matter to food shippers, whether they are a company driver of a private fleet or a driver of a for-hire motor carrier or asset-based logistics company: They usually are the human face of the supply chain.
That's especially true in foodservice distribution, where drivers frequently interact directly with restaurants and other customers. Performance Food Group highlighted that role during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, noting that orders can be assembled, trucks loaded and routes carefully planned—but ultimately “it's our drivers who make the final connection.”
Drivers aren't simply delivering products; they're interacting with customers and representing the companies whose products they carry. That makes professionalism, safety and service just as important as getting the shipment there on time.
NTDAW provides an important opportunity to recognize professional drivers. However, for food shippers, appreciation should extend to how drivers are treated throughout the year. This means examining the aspects of transportation operations that directly affect a driver's working day: realistic appointment schedules, excessive detention, access to safe parking and restrooms, clear facility instructions, efficient check-in processes, and timely loading and unloading.
It’s important to remember professional drivers experience the supply chain from a perspective few others have, so listening to their feedback is valuable. Drivers know which facilities create unnecessary delays and where processes work or may not. In addition, their observations also know where they encounter congestion, parking challenges, and appointment pressures that may never appear on a dashboard.
Technology will continue transforming food logistics. Trucks will become smarter. Warehouses will become increasingly automated. Artificial intelligence will improve forecasting, routing and transportation planning. However, since food must ultimately move from where it’s grown and produced to where it’s ultimately purchased, the industry greatly depends on and appreciates the professional truck drivers who make it happen.
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