In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, these professionals make it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest at home and overseas. In 2024, with over 4,909 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics were immense.

Many of these drivers are military veterans and say the truckload of fresh balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Lloyd Howell has a lot of friends. He credits them for getting him involved in the trucking industry. The company he represents as a professional driver, TCW out of Nashville, Tennessee.  “Back when I started driving there were no real trainee programs like there are today,” Lloyd explained. “A friend of mine got me started in it, and I basically started teaching myself how to drive in a parking lot in the afternoons after we got done with merchandising runs. In about three weeks, I had my learner's permit; in about six weeks, I had my CDL, and they put me on the road by myself the next day. I'll tell you the first mile I drove was white knuckled and beady-eyed, but I got the hang of it. I had a lot of help from other drivers along the way. The trucking industry is like a big family, and when you need help, there's always a trucker to help you out.”

It was another friend Lloyd encountered when interviewing with TCW, and he put in a favorable word for Lloyd. “ TCW is really a great company, and they have a family atmosphere. Each of our terminals is independently operated, but we all run together. They gave me a job that fit my family's lifestyle.”

Lloyd speaks of another family with great pride, his military family. “You’ve heard the term ‘military brat’, well that’s me. The Navy practically raised me. My father served in the Navy, and I spent a lot of time moving around when I was younger. Wherever I went, I always had a friend because there were other military families as support.”

Given Lloyd’s fondness for the Navy family, you might think that was the military branch he chose when he decided to serve our nation. “Out of high school I chose the Marine Corps,” Lloyd chuckled. “I had to one-up my father.” Lloyd’s father served twenty-one years before retiring. Lloyd served from 1984 to 1988 but decided to come home when his mother became ill. “ She was the priority, so I came home to take care of my family,” he explained. “I think my favorite part of my service was the camaraderie of the Marine Corps. You spent a lot of time together and got to know one another. Even in my travels overseas, Germany, Japan, and the like, you had each other's backs, and there was always someone there to guide you to make sure you didn't go astray. No matter how long you serve, the military structure is always going to be a part of you forever. It took me awhile to learn I didn’t have to sit up straight an eat my meals in about three minutes, Lloyd admitted. “ My mother would say you can slow down a little. When I got into trucking management, it took me a little while to adjust to the civilian ways of doing things. The military is very disciplined, and everything is black and white, but that doesn't always work as well with civilians. It's not to say others that I worked with weren't disciplined, but they didn't always have that sense of focus that the military drilled into you, so that was a challenging transition.”

It's that discipline and focus that make military veterans great employees, and the trucking industry recognizes those qualities and hires them for that very reason. Many of the carrier companies supporting the Wreaths Across America mission make sure their drivers who have served in the military get first dibs on becoming members of the Honor Fleet.

Lloyd is also one of ATA’s Road Team Captains, and that’s how he got involved with Wreaths Across America. “One of my friends, Jason Damron, told me about his involvement with the event. My first time getting involved was picking up the wreaths at a cross-dock. Then, when I was talking with Courtney, I was told they were a driver short in Mississippi, and I said give me just a second. I made some calls, and we got that run covered too. I can't say enough about my company, TCW and what they do for the communities, and on America's Road Team, they just say hey you do what you need to do, and we'll take care of it, whether it's for kids or veterans.”

Lloyd says his involvement with Wreaths Across America has been life-changing. “ You know, sometimes you think the military is forgotten about. I've met volunteer after volunteer, whether it's to unload the trucks or place the wreaths and do the ceremonies. They literally come out of the woodwork to participate. When you attend a funeral, that's all about the one person who died, but this is about the families. When you see Wreaths Across America events, you realize it's about the country, and they want to see you and take care of you, and I think that's what got me hooked.”

Lloyd was able to teach through his involvement as a member of the Honor Fleet. “I was able to take our marketing manager with me to one of my cemetery stops,” he shared. “She’s younger than I am and has had no military experience, so we walked the whole cemetery and did some stone etchings. I was able to explain to her what the roles were for some of the names and ranks seen on the headstones. It was a really great experience for both of us.”

Thank you, Lloyd, and TCW, for your commitment to our veterans through the mission to remember, honor and teach.

If you’d like to join the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, you can get started with a click right here!

You can hear more with Lloyd on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST as part of RadioNemo on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.”

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com