Truck Driver Appreciation Week: Be Pro Be Proud GA

This year, Be Pro Be Proud Georgia is celebrating Truck Driver Appreciation Week from September 11th to September 15th!

Be Pro Be Proud Georgia is a workforce initiative which aims to close the skills gap and bring a new generation of pride, progress, and professionals to Georgia's skilled workforce. The Be Pro Be Proud Georgia program focuses on 15 different skilled trades, commercial truck driving being one of them.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated truck drivers across the beautiful state of Georgia. Your hard work and tireless dedication keep our communities moving and our economy thriving. Thank you for the essential role you play in connecting people and goods, ensuring that our shelves are stocked, our industries are fueled, and our lives continue to run smoothly.

During this Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and every day, we recognize and celebrate your invaluable contributions to our great state. You truly are the backbone of Georgia, and we are proud to stand by your side in support of the skilled trades industry.

Aboard the Mobile Workshop, there is a commercial truck driving simulator that allows students to see what it’s like to get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, along with other interactive stations.

Be Pro Be Proud Georgia partner Georgia Motor Trucking Association (GMTA) recognizes the program's significant benefits.  

Emily Crane, the Vice President of Safety and Education at GMTA, pointed out, 'What I see Be Pro Be Proud doing is taking students out of the classroom, out of their comfort zone, and talking with them and engaging with them.' She continued, 'With this program, they’re able to go through exercises and participate in real-world scenarios for each profession. It’s hands-on, and it’s tangible. To engage and create interest among students today, you must give them something tangible. They want an experience. Since its introduction in 2020, Be Pro Be Proud Georgia has already made a substantial impact, reaching an impressive 43,000 students.

Recognizing the high demand and the enthusiasm of over 50 schools on the waiting list, we are adding another Mobile Workshop.  The new 18-wheeler will include an L3 Harris truck driving simulator and gamified stations to introduce students to even more professions within the trucking and skilled trades industry.

“Making students aware of opportunities in the skilled professions early in their education is critical to helping them make informed decisions about their career pathway, should they choose not to pursue a traditional college degree,” said Misti Martin, President & CEO of Cherokee Office of Economic Development – the organization that initiated the program in Georgia. “After touring the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop, perceptions change when students learn that they have tons of options to make more money than they expected.”

At each of our tour visits with middle and high school students, we share details on how much money can be made as well as all the various careers that people don’t think of that fall under the category of commercial truck driving. We invite as many trucking companies as possible to add their careers page to our website so that we can make their job opening available to students who ‘Join the Movement’ and indicate that they are interested in commercial truck driving as a career. We also invite interested companies to consider sponsoring the commercial truck driving station.

Join us in this exciting endeavor by visiting www.beprobeproudga.org to learn more about Be Pro Be Proud Georgia and discover how you can make a meaningful impact on the future of Georgia's workforce.