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.

During the Vietnam War era, men were drafted into military service through a lottery of numbers. Bob Vanderbrink was old enough to be in the military, but as luck would have it, he never donned the uniform. “I was in the lottery,” he explained. “I had very high lottery numbers, though, and I was never called.” The draft ended with President Nixon in 1973.

Bob focused on starting his professional career driving and went to work for a local bus company. He had the good fortune once again to meet his wife, who ran a tour company, and as he said, the rest was history. “I had a love of the open road and people,” Bob shared. “You develop relationships and there’s nothing more beautiful than watching a sunrise or sunset when you’re out on the road driving.”

Despite his love of people, Bob just had an “itch” to drive the open road in a truck instead of a charter bus. “I got my class A license with tank and hazmat endorsements.” That led to Bob getting a job in the oilfields of Alaska. He’d drive on the North Slope during the winter and would then transition to the lower 48 for spring, summer, and fall. Then the shift to the dairy industry, driving a milk tanker.

Today, Bob transports pharmaceuticals and has worked for the past five years for

Quality Life Science Logistics and Transportation is a smaller carrier. Still, one of the nation’s leaders in cold chain logistics, handling high-dollar loads of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals hauling across the country, handling imports and exports.

Already accustomed to transporting precious cargo, hearing about Wreaths Across America on Radio Nemo several years ago really piqued his interest. “My father-in-law was a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and I had many uncles who served in World War II, as well as cousins who served in Vietnam. I think Wreaths is such a wonderful way to remember, teach and honor those who have served our country.”

Company CEO for QLS, Terry Fewless, was very supportive and enthusiastic about the idea of becoming a member of the honor fleet. “We got our trailer wrapped last year with the Wreaths Across America wrap and the number of people when you’re traveling to your destination, that will honk and wave and give you the thumbs up, they know what you’re doing. That makes me feel good. I know I’m just a small part doing my job to honor our veterans.”

Last year, Bob was able to tag along behind the formal Escort to Arlington. “That was one of the highlights for me. To see all the people along the route from Columbia Falls to Ellsworth that were out there. It’s just amazing to see, and until you see it and experience it, you don’t know what it’s about. The first little village we went through there was a lady there and the story goes that she’s been out there since the first convoy. The congregational church that stopped the service and the whole congregation came out of the church to wave. The boy scout and cub scout troops going into Ellsworth. They go to attention and stand at attention until the last truck has passed. It’s just something that you are never, ever going to forget. I will treasure that and I’m looking forward again to that this year.”

The first year Bob participated as a member of the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, he had multiple stops in Illinois, where another scouting troop was on hand to help unload his truck. He was sidelined for a year as the result of a serious illness, but once Bob recovered he knew he wanted to haul veterans’ wreaths again before he retired. “This cargo that I carry for Wreaths Across America is the most important cargo I’ve carried. To describe it in one word is just impossible. It’s a multitude of feelings; the feeling of pride you have for your country. The feeling of sacrifice for those who gave all, and for those who served and came back. Just the honor because we can’t do what we do without what they did, because we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today. It’s an overwhelming experience that’s hard to put it all together to describe what it means.”

Even though Bob was preparing to retire soon, he thought 2024 would be his last year, but he just had to come back in 2025 for one more load of America’s respect. “It’s my hope that our company continues so that other drivers for Quality Life Science can have the experience of following the convoy to Ellsworth and delivering the wreaths to wherever they need them. Never forget.”

Thank you, Bob, and QLS, 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 Bob on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 10:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM CT as part of RadioNemo’s Road Gang Radio, streaming at RadioNemo.com , iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Facebook. You can also catch all of RadioNemo's content on-demand on your favorite podcasting platform.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com