As businesses across the nation are shutting down to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, many truckers are having a tough time getting basic necessities. It’s bad enough if truck drivers can’t get paper towels, but what about basic meals?

Considering truckers are preventing the economy from collapsing right now, truck drivers need to be taken care of. Fortunately, many companies realize this.

Many businesses across America are offering truckers free meals. These single-serving symbols of appreciation vary from sandwiches to hot meals, in events such as “Sandwiches for Semis” that thank truck drivers for the essential work they are doing.

Here are some of the places you should check out on your route. Call ahead to see if they’re still offering free food!

Billy Bob’s Fireworks Super Store – Alabama

In Good Hope, Alabama, off of I-65 there is a fireworks store that offered pasta salad, baked beans, as well as barbeque pork and chicken at the end of April. Although fireworks and food do not really go together, the store owner, Bob Holgan, wanted to aid the trucking industry.

According to Holgan,“I’ve been hearing from them that it was tough for them to eat right now”. To do so, he collaborated with Stockyards of Birmingham, who donated the meat, to put the event together. Holgan also noted the event would likely be repeated in the future, so be sure to check the company’s Facebook page if you are in the area.

Quail Creek Fire Department – Arkansas

If you are traveling through Little Rock, Arkansas, there is a fire department giving away food to truckers. The department has been holding this event the past two weekends, but this may change in the future.

To know for sure if an event is going on, check out Cody Church’s Facebook page before stopping by 145th Street and park in the big lot next to the fire department.

Meals For Truckers – New York

This program relies on restaurants to donate meals every Tuesday and Thursday. After pick up, these meals are distributed via Meals For Truckers at truck and rest stops in the Western New York area. These food drives are contributions from various local restaurants.

Generations Diner – Canada

Truckers driving through Ontario, Canada, may want to pop into Windsor for a bit if they are struggling to find a decent meal. In this location, Generations Diner, utilizes food donations to prepare home cooked dishes, such as soup, chili, and burgers.

The generous Generations Diner sets up shop everyday they can on County Road #46 to make it easier for truckers to score a meal out on the road.

Texas Roadhouse – Texas

A Texas Roadhouse location opted to give full course meals to those on the front-line. Items include either steak, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, with two sides, rolls and cinnamon butter. Sounds delicious.

According to Tawnya Leichliter, Marketing and Fundraising Specialist at Texas Roadhouse, there “wasn’t a doubt in my mind when businesses started to close and people had to step up – like healthcare workers, railroad workers, truck drivers, police – Jay was there to say ‘Hey, I’m here again and we’re going to continue to support our community’”.

Jay, also known as Jason “Jay” Fye, is the Managing Partner at the Pennsylvania Texas Roadhouse location. Although this helpful event may only be occurring in Center Township to a few drivers, it is worth mentioning for two reasons.

First, the donation is greatly appreciated by recipients. Second, even if all Texas Roadhouses are not giving away free meals across the nation, the restaurant chain appears to offer curbside meals with as little interaction as humanly possible.

Fyestated they had “figured out a system that’s pretty much hands-free”.

If you know of any additional areas offering truckers much needed meals or are a restaurant wanting to get the word out, be sure to let us know!