Wreaths Across America's Trucking Tributes Presents Scott Dorman with Dorman's Transport LLC


Professional drivers and trucking companies give so much to the nation. Without them, the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach would be nearly impossible. Veterans’ wreaths move by planes, trains, ships, and livestock trailers, but trucks and their professional drivers transport the lion’s share of America's respect. In 2022, to be specific, 609 truckloads of wreaths were delivered, representing 439 different carriers.

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 2023, with over 3,700 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are 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 and what motivates them to serve and succeed in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Scott Dorman with Dorman’s Transport LLC in Vermont is passionate about trucking and honoring his son’s service and memory. “I always had a fascination about truck driving as a kid and in my younger years drove LP delivery trucks, and dump trucks, stuff like that,” Scott shared. “Then I got into trucking driving over the road about fifteen years ago.” Scott took the big plunge and for the past six years, he’s worked as an owner/operator. “It was overwhelming at first,” he admits. “Lots of paperwork, lots of permits, and a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff I never knew existed, but I went out and brought the truck, and step-by-step, I started the process. A good friend of mine was General Manager at the Central Vermont Railroad and he said, get a flatbed trailer and I’ll get you to work. So, I got the flatbed, he got me contacts, and I was off from there. It’s been a great adventure.”

Scott and his family endured a tragic loss in 2020 when they lost Matthew Dorman at the age of 27 to a drug overdose. “It’s a daily battle,” Scott shared. “You don’t get through it, it’s every day. You just wake up and try to put one foot in front of the other, and not a day goes by that you don’t miss your son. The hardest holiday for me in the first year was Father’s Day.” Matthew served in the Army National Guard stationed out of Westminster, Vermont. “He loved his country and he wanted to serve.”

Scott and his wife, Holly, wanted a way to give back to their community while honoring Matthew’s service and memory. They discovered Wreaths Across America through news coverage. In October of 2022, Scott was assigned his first load of veterans’ wreaths that he hauled from Columbia Falls, Maine, to a Wreaths Across America cross-dock operated by NFI in Greensboro, North Carolina. That just wasn’t enough for Scott, so at the same time, he decided to sign up as a volunteer Location Coordinator and he got Oakwood Cemetery in Townsend, Vermont, started as a participating location. Matthew is laid to rest at Oakwood along with over a hundred other veterans. “Last year, we started in October, so the time was short, and we didn’t get that many wreaths sponsored, but this year, I’ve started already. Amazingly a business sponsor has come forward to cover seventy wreaths, so half the cemetery is already covered.”

Scott says this year he’ll be building more time in when he comes to pick up his assigned load in Maine so he can visit the tip land and tag a tree for Matthew and visit the National Wreaths Across America Museum.

“I’ve learned so much about what the organization does and how it impacts so many people. I tell other owner/operators if they can, they should get involved. It’s fabulous. I plan to continue this as long as I run a trucking company.”

Thank you, Scott and Holly, with Dorman’s Transport LLC. You can hear more of Scott’s interview on Trucking Tributes, listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday on Wreaths Across America Radio at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM Eastern.