Sask. locals showing appreciation for truckers

While many Saskatchewan workers are facing lay-offs and shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work for the province’s truck drivers isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

But that doesn’t mean they haven’t seen some changes in their everyday routines.

Susan Ewart, executive director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association says because of this pandemic people have been gaining a greater appreciation for the essential service that is truck driving.

“Provincially and federally the governments have looked at trucking as an essential service and have recognized the men and women that are out there bringing goods and services that are vital to our economic survival. So obviously what we’ve known for all this time, the public is actually starting to see,” said Ewart.

“We have a national hashtag going that says #thankatrucker. And people are coming up with very inventive and creative ways to actually show appreciation to those people out there on the roads.”

This new development in the lives of truckers really hit home for Ward Hildebrandt when a woman offered to pay for his food last week just to show appreciation for what he does.

“Out of my 15 years doing this I’ve never had anybody do that just out of the blue. It kind of hit home for me because those people in those small towns don’t have much they have maybe their Co-op, the odd grocery store but they certainly appreciate it when the truckers are doing their job,” he said.

“I was shocked. And in more ways than one I was moved by it. We do a thankless job. Some people think that things just walk onto the shelf by itself but no it doesn’t, it has to be delivered by somebody. So I think some people are starting to understand that.”

Local businesses and restaurant chains have even stepped up to help truckers overcome certain challenges they face like the fact most restaurants have either closed or shifted to drive-through only.

Ewart says after the Canadian Trucking Alliance reached out to the Canadian Restaurant Association last week, companies like KFC, A&W and McDonald’s have come up with creative ideas for truck drivers to be able to get access to meals, water and washrooms.

“I know McDonald’s sent the app information that they can all download and they can order online and get that curbside pickup or whatever it is. Also, some Saskatchewan people are like ‘ok we are going to feed truck drivers here, you can stop by and pick up a hot meal.’ So there are all sorts of good things going on which is nice to see,” she said.

“It actually makes me feel really good. It’s a very interesting sense of community that people during difficult times do really come together to help one another. We shouldn’t lose sight of that. There should be more kindness in the world like that.”