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.

2025 is finally the year for Jason Taylor to join the ranks of Honor Fleet drivers for Wreaths Across America. It’s been a goal of his for a very long time. “Coming out of Maine it’s been a local news story since the beginning,” he shared. “I’ve followed it for over twenty years and always wanted to do it but never had the right truck or equipment.”

While most people equate the “right equipment” to be a standard tractor-trailer rig with a 53-foot trailer, that’s not always the case, as we’ve showcased recently in Trucking Tributes. The smaller members of the transportation network are helping get the job done when the bigger trucks just can’t maneuver. Some participating locations simply cannot accommodate the larger units. That’s where Jason’s expertise comes in very handy. Jason is the owner-operator for Jason Taylor and Daughter Trucking out of Norridgewock, Maine. “I grew up in trucking,” Jason shared. “My father owned a small construction company in town, and I got started working with him, and then I got into the logging aspect through another local company. I ran logging equipment and then got into a log truck. We’re used to getting into tight spots. I finally bought my own truck about twenty years ago. My daughter is twenty-two now and is going to school to become a nurse. She wanted to join the military but got injured her senior year in high school playing field hockey and had three surgeries on her ankle and they couldn’t get it right.”

Jason’s log truck is also not the “right equipment” for hauling veterans’ wreaths, but he acquired a 24-foot car trailer, and he reached out to Wreaths Across America last year. The timing of loads just didn't work out right for Jason in 2024, but he got a promise from Director of Transportation, Courtney George, that they’d find a load for him in 2025. It was his “can-do” attitude that sealed the deal for him. “I told her I’d go anywhere in the country they needed me to go. That’s the kind of person I am really; I do what needs to be done for people. If they need me to do multiple short loads, I’ll do that too. My family is excited that I’m doing this, and my brother already reached out and offered to donate some money for gas for the trip.”

Thank you, Jason, 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 Jason, 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