It is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Sept. 16-22.  Lawrence Companies CEO Chip Lawrence said, ” I am pretty sure we have a driver today in every state in the continental US.” He made the statement at a cook out held in appreciation of the drivers at Lawrence  Companies including the Lawrence Transportation Systems in the Hollins/Cloverdale area.

VP of Human Resources J.D. Robinson provided figures on the economic impact the trucking industry makes on Botetourt County.  “Lawrence employs 375 employees and 160 independent contract drivers. There are 3.1 million professional truck drivers in America.”

Chip Lawrence also said that  just about every item in a house hold has been handled by a truck.

Altec, Metalsa, Dynex, TSA, Newbern Transport, Howell’s Motor Freight, Inc, Loomis Fargo and Co, P.A. Short Distributing Co, Cummins Atlantic, Southern States  Distribution and Virginia Truck Center are  all  Botetourt located companies having to do with trucking, transportation or the automotive industry.

Buck Hoback was there  eating at the picnic and he has been employed by Lawrence Transportation since 1952. He is the longest standing employee at 59 years of service.

David Snyder another VP for the company manned the grill and fixed over 40 hamburgers and 60 hotdogs around the noon hour for the truck drivers.

As a United Van Line mover, Lawrence Transfer Systems is the oldest mover in the US operating for the United system since 1942. LTS began in 1932 and was first operated by Chip Lawrence’s  grandfather  Weldon T. Lawrence, Sr. and succeeded by his father, Weldon T. Lawrence, Jr. He is the third generation of Lawrence men to be at the helm. “Safety,” he said, “is a primary focus for LC.”

But on Sept. 19 the focus was on “Thank you” to the many drivers at Lawrence companies.