Why the 'Trucker Salute' is a tradition worth saving

Children signaling truck drivers to blow their horns is a tradition that’s dying, according to truckers. But the salute means more to them than you might think.

[@TexJester-no8th]

40 year trucker here. Thank you!! About 3 years ago, I was having a particularly bad day. I had recently come off leave from a shattered leg, and it was hurting. I was tired. I was hungry. And I was running late for my next load. I was traveling along a small 2-lane highway in southern Nebraska. I came into a very small town, and I saw this little girl (maybe 5 or 6) dragging what looked like her gramma out onto the lawn, pumping her arm. Damn right I'm blowing that horn!! I blew that thing all the way through town. As I left, a deputy sheriff contacted me on the cb radio, asking if that little girl was outside. I answered yes, and he said, "Well, that explains it. Thank you. Her daddy was a trucker that died in a wreck a year before." I cried the rest of the way to my next shipper - and I'm tearing up now as I think about it....

[@user-tm9qb2jk4o]

What a special memory.

[@feez357]

There is some old country song something like that.

[@stevehamman4465]

​@@feez357, Teddy Bear! ?

[@feez357]

@@stevehamman4465 Ah, yes! I remember now, It's a little different because the kid gets a ride in the trucks.

[@Oddballtech]

God loves you so much that he gave his perfect son to die for our sins and raised him from the grave to defeat death. Through faith in JESUS you can be saved and reconciled to GOD. please repent

[@SlipKnotRicky]

I've had grown men give a Trucker's Salute, and of course I complied!

[@Kitteh.B]

Hell yeah! I'm gonna start doing that on roadtrips now.

[@TexJester-no8th]

I had another trucker give me the salute the other day! Yeah, I blew my horn!! 🤣🤣

[@RBZ-1]

Especially if they were a kid born in the 70's like me. With Eastbound & Down and Smokey and the Bandit (optimus prime also lol)...truckers in those giant machines were seen as the biggest most badass road bosses out there...when they'd reach up and grab that chain, it was pure excitement acknowledging us little regular folks!

[@CHiTO316]

I dare my wife to do it on road trips to see who gets the most responses lol

[@MrTomjolly]

I do it all the time and I'm 69.

[@kristine6615]

10 year trucker here, about 4 years ago was having a bad day. I was late on my second run down to Columbus, Oh for a delivery and for whatever reason I had the whole section of highway to myself until a gang of Harley motorcycles came cruising by. Once they got by me , the lead guy in front asked for the big horn. It was my pleasure to respond. I had such a good laugh and realized there’s a little kid in all of us that likes the horn.

[@Truckingwithglenn]

I can have the worst day ever but when I see that arm pumping it turns my day around in a second

[@Redbikemaster]

It sure does

[@guygoins6237]

Yes I agree.

[@Oddballtech]

God loves us all so much that he gave his perfect son to die for our sins and raised him from the grave to defeat death. Through faith in JESUS we can be saved and reconciled to GOD. please repent

[@Truckerintheusa]

Took the words right out of my mouth

[@vickyschnorbus4166]

I'm 81 and still do it. It never fails to get mt blood pumping. THANKS, TRUCKERS‼️‼️

[@Bad_Wolf788]

As a truck driver i can tell you we really do enjoy doing it as much as you enjoy hearing it!

[@justsaying6870]

My brother was a trucker, died in an accident while driving his rig just before Christmas in '84, ans he loved blowing his horn whenever asked, it made his day. Thank you to all the truckers out there, be safe and God Bless!

[@BobDeGuerre]

Sorry for your loss. 40 years can seem like a moment ago. I'm sure he's in Heaven, keeping a loving eye on you and yours.

[@justsaying6870]

@@BobDeGuerre Thank you. Yes, it still hurts that he's no longer here, but I know he's in heaven still blowing that horn. Thank you again for your kind words. God Bless you and your family, kind sir. 💝

[@mallikabalu2032]

Sorry for your loss. Losing a sibling is unthinkable. He is in heaven and looking out for you. May the heavens above bring salvation🙏

[@justsaying6870]

@@mallikabalu2032 Thank you for your kind words. May God bless you and your family 🙏

[@dawn4999]

I’m a grown woman. I did this as a kid and I think I’ll start back doing it. Thank you, truckers, for your dedication, hard work and deliveries. Stay safe.✊🏻Toot Toot! 👍🏻✌🏻🙏🏻

[@jamesrevell6475]

I remember doing it as a kid. Now I'm a trucker and when I get the signal from a kid I let them have it. It's great watching the kids reaction in the car. I don't know how the driver feels but I remember my dad telling me to stop.

[@mattcurry7488]

As a driver, EVERY time I see that arm pumping I give that cord a good rip! I take my son to the yard on my time off every now and then to help me wash er, the job ain’t done till he gives it a pull.

[@Navy_Snipe]

I'm over 60 years old....I'm not a trucker, butI taught my kids to do this. Keep it alive. It teaches kids a respectful interaction with the bloodstream of American transport.... 😊😊😊😊

[@mikecoffee7548]

Been trucking for 36 years and it always makes me smile 😃

[@puremichigan5817]

I have been driving since 1989 and it's still my favorite thing about driving a truck😃

[@alexs.9405]

Do people still do it as much now?

[@hwyz_n_brkn_heartz]

I'm a Trucker and still a kid at heart..so I'll always look to see if a salute is fulfilled.KEEP THE SALUTE ALIVE KIDS!!and this trucker is right,it does make our day brighter.I know it does mine.I get tears of joy doing it,and right now just thinking of it.

[@robertmoir5695]

Well times have changed I don’t do that anymore With me just the memories

[@jimRupp]

I'm 38 years old and I still do it I get a smile every time I hear the horns

[@BouncingTribbles]

An important gesture of connection for a lonely and isolated career.

[@warriormaiden9829]

I've never done the Trucker Salute, and I feel a bit bad for it, but I have hearing sensitivity. My little bit of connection is simply to drop back as soon as I see one flip on their blinker and double flash my brights. They need the room, and I'm happy to give it to them and tell them it's safe to come over. It's just a pity that so few of them nowadays give the 'thank you' afterwards. Part of me wonders if that 'language' isn't being passed on to the newer hires.

[@lowkey1969]

@@warriormaiden9829 It isn't, it's being discouraged along with signaling each other in as you did...the justification is "liability" for directing traffic or somesuch garbage. Thank YOU for knowing how to flash them in and doing so. So much easier and safer when we can communicate.

[@jacquirimown3886]

My nephew used to get so excited going by a truck when he gave them ‘the pull’ and they pulled their horn always made his day. He is all grown up now and he is a truck driver!

[@FeguerFineArt]

59 and I'll still do it once in a while.

[@walterbriggs272]

When kids, or even adults ask you to blow the horn, that absolutely makes my day! I’ve been trucking since 1976, and it’s a thrill to put a smile on every kids face!

[@g.pearson4726]

As a kid we took a lot of road trips That salute meant everything to me While on the road now Truckers we’ve ran across just looks at you like I’m not doing that The. Kids are sad bcuz they’ve heard all of our stories about road trips I hope this tradition never goes away I’m studying my cdl and I will keep it going Stay safe

[@l.a.raustadt518]

Awesome attitude , it should live on!

[@l.a.raustadt518]

As a kid loved the "salute" made you feel special. As a grown up and 42 years as a truck driver loved giving a kid the "salute" 🚛

[@PamelaBeirne]

I love this. I taught my kids to do this. I told them it puts a smile on the truckers face and makes their day. That's what life is all about.

[@MegTelevised]

I just taught the kids at the bus stop today about the Trucker Salute. It made their day and I think it made the Truckers day

[@enikata7349]

Back in 1999 when I was 18 I took my first trip to the US. While my friend was on the driving on the large road we come up to some lights and this huge 18 wheeler pulled up along side. I looked up and caught the eye of the driver who gave me a small salute in greeting. I waved back then though "why not" and did the trucker salute since I'd seen it done on TV and he laughed and blared the horn. I may not have been a kid but it was still an awesome experience :D

[@josephlewis4628]

Brother and Sister truckers I SALUTE YOU! I pray for the days and miles ahead of you and I honor and thank you for the MILLIONS OF MILES YOU HAVE TRACKED BEHIND YOU. Things you have done and lives you have and will save, I THANK YOU! TRUCKERS BUILDERS NATIONS! I WAS ONE A TRUCKERS AND TO I STILL LOVE THE ROAD. I AM RETIRE AND ALL I DRIVE IS A LAWNMOWER AND A TV REMOTE. FATHER OPEN THE ROADS FOR OUR TRUCKERS AND MAKE THEM SAFE. AMEN! I SALUTE YOU AND KEEP ON TRUCKIN! 😅 GOD SPED!

[@Redbikemaster]

I'm a trucker and I love when kids or adults do this. Keep it up

[@eerohughes]

I grew up in the 80's and 90's, I miss this!

[@vampirina-vp7op]

Kids were down the street from our school giving the pull the horn signal to passing motorists. I beeped my horn and they were delighted. I will tell my young child about saluting truck drivers, as it will give him one more thing to do while riding down the road without a device. I told him our devices do not work in the car, so he can draw, write, read or build with legos. 😊

[@Bafalken85]

My sons still do this they are 8 and 10 and I've seen those drivers smile and laugh and sometimes they really lay on it to we love it!

[@licksnkicks1166]

This needs to be preserved.

[@actionman9451]

The legends on wheels.

[@robertesposito9871]

I know exactly what that first guy is saying about getting teared up when a kid gives you the sign and you give them the salute with a blast from the airhorn. It use to put a smile on my face and the child’s face

[@hamhouke]

I travel full time in my RV to get to my work sites all over the country. I don’t drive “for work”, I drive “to work”. But, I am on the road more often than I am not. I just wanted to say I really appreciate professional drivers, the best drivers on the roads. Bless you all and stay safe out there. Keep on truckin’.

[@lindabattles9094]

Thanks for the reminder! My brother and I always did it as kids on vacation. It’s time to teach my grandkids💕

[@cliffords.8341]

Growing up in the 60's & 70's my two older brother's, younger sister and I would see a trucker behind us and we would motion blowing a horn with our arms to get the trucker to blow his horn. It always excited us and even then we knew it put a smile on the truckers face too.

[@juliewhitton7267]

I travelled across Australia every year for a long time and my kids enjoyed that interaction with the truck drivers. They nearly always responded. I just had to be aware of the horn while driving. One of my boys even got a response from a freight train driver. It sure added to the feeling of goodwill for us from fellow travellers.

[@HamiltonFamily2023]

I remember doing that as a kid, and loved it! Now, I'm the one behind the wheel of a truck getting to pull the lanyard to honk the air horn. I have taught my kids and grandkids the arm pump as well. I have also taken them on a few local runs with me. My 2 year old grandson absolutely loves when a truck honks for him 🚛 Keep the rubber on the road drivers, and stay safe!

[@KnowbuddiezBusiness]

I’m an Army Brat and we drove from Duty station to duty station, except Germany (of course), and my two younger brothers and I would do the “Trucker Salute” to EVERY trucker we came across. I’m 54 now, and I still do it. There was only one time a trucker didn’t respond, I know he saw me do the gesture, there weren’t any cops around, so I’m not sure why he didn’t respond. When I finally moved home in August of 2007, driving from Washington State back to Texas, I shared the “Trucker Salute” with my kids, 17yo daughter & 14yo son, they were reluctant at first, but when I showed them how it’s done, and the response, they happily joined in and every Trucker we saw got the salute. They were laughing and smiling every time. I don’t travel the country like I did when we were traveling to Daddy’s duty stations, but I’ll still do the Salute when I see a Trucker. Today, my best friend is an ex-Trucker, and he smiles when I do the salute. It still makes me smile like a child when I hear their horns. A HUGE hug and thank you to every Trucker out there. Your hard work is greatly appreciated, you keep our shelves stocked and our country moving. We wouldn’t be such a great country without y’all. GOD BLESS Y’ALL.

[@nofuxpapi9417]

Shit I do it everywhere. Downtown, small towns, town square, in front of policemen, etc. When a kid makes the gesture you pull that line.

[@loripolston6695]

I'm 53, and I still do the arm pump! I have truckers in my family, and we all grew up doing the fun arm pump to salute the truckers. ❤️🇺🇸🚛

[@percygrantjr3020]

Keep'em movin truckers and thanks. Stay safe and be blessed. 10-4!!!!!

[@usafcombatvet218]

10-4..will do. Be safe out there sir

[@obtainhumanity3434]

It's really does put a good feeling in us drivers heart when we see things like this. It happened to me twice and the rest of the trip was pretty good.

[@RedNineTeen]

I’m 27 years old.. I just started trucking last year and had two occasions of children giving me the horn sign.. it makes me very happy because I remember not to long ago I was that child doing the sign :)

[@brettmorton7365]

One day I drove past a tram stop with about 40 kids, 3 of em saw me coming, did the arm pump... of course I gave that cord a tug or 5 and the whole lot of them let out a massive cheer!! Good times 💪🏽👍🏻

[@wizsharif1357]

I LOVED doing this as a kid. I would go crazy when they honk their horn

[@domwinning9075]

Being a tow truck driver. I love it when kids or well anyone does it. I’ll honk anytime!

[@michaellake5269]

I grew up one mile from a rock quarry. In my mind at age 5, my job was to get the drivers to honk. I did. I'm 67 and became an over the road trucker.

[@ChazToz]

I had a 1969 VW Bug horn on my rig. When kids would pump their arm wanting an air horn blast, I would mimic blowing the air horn but give them a dinky VW Beep, Beep, Beep-Beep… They would gesture, “Oh Darn”. Then I would give them the BIG BLAST from my Triple Trumpet air horn. I always smiled at their Jumps of Joy after that.

[@violajohnson3726]

Love this trip down memory lane

[@robertvondeusche6245]

Agreed Something so simple but yet so explosive . It’s cheered me up when someone just comes along , not even just kids and gives the salute. I’ve even had a middle aged woman lean out the window and salute . It sure makes our day .

[@cjoneandonly123]

I have taught this to my granddaughter. I just didn't know it was called a trucker salute. When we get honked it brings both of us great joy. . 🌞😊

[@katyc.8663]

I will check to make sure my brother's kids know this time-honored tradition. It also works with train engineers, too. :D I have good memories of being on school bus field trips and you got a whole bus load of kids pumpin' their arms. Good times.

[@HelovesU-we4qh]

🤣😂🤣 I never really thought about it, but few things warm my heart like a child giving the trucker salute! For just that brief moment in time I am a hero in somebody's eyes!

[@BrucePretorius-cf8rs]

Since my childhood till this day that's a salute that will stay with me I will always salute truckers passing by chasing that horizon. To all truckers out there I salute ya'll. Keep the rubber on the road and the flame in the pipe

[@Just_that_dancer]

My dad used to be a truck driver, I grew up riding in his and I loved it it was so much fun! This always made my dads day when he got to do it to the kids ❤️

[@ShaunPringle-g1o]

I'm in my 50's,,,l'm Totally gonna start bringing it Back 😀👍✊✊✊

[@Rogueaviation]

I love having my kids do this. We need more stories like this one. Thank you.

[@theOlLineRebel]

Oh wow, we used to do this all the time in the ‘70s! My cousins and I frequently had trips together and we were always doing this from the seats, the cargo back end in the station wagon and the bed of the pick-up!

[@meredithbenjamin6694]

I love to wave. To show my gratitude and send thanks and blessings. I'mm teaching my g'kids to salute you. Adults too love you♥️

[@penknight8532]

In the 80s I loved doing this as a little kid!

[@sharonmarks]

I remember doing this when i was growing up. It brought joy to my sister and i when a trucker would respond. I never knew what it was called until now. Thank you, truckers, for bringing joy to children's lives.

[@fulldimensionalstation]

I did that when i was on a field trip, it worked!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I got my Chauffeurs Lisence in 73 right out of the Army and kept honking till I had to give my CBL's up. PURE JOY to watch the kids!

[@smokeinapeterbilt]

As a truck driver myself, I did the arm pump growing up. I do it for everyone that gives me the arm pump, it's makes my day to see the smiles.

[@hianara3126]

i remember doing this every year as a kid on our family vacation. it's the greatest feeling to know that the trucker saw you and blared his horn for you.

[@smackaroo4159]

Delighted to see this again! Parents often shut their kids down doing this, I had been myself. “It’s scares other drivers!” Truthfully, if a truck horn scares you, you better be paying attention to the road more!

[@kaiserman6667]

A good news story, so rare in these days. Thank you for that. Godspeed to all driving the highways out there.

[@asdasdasdasd-si2gw]

I'm 36 and get about 50% toot ratio from truckers on my daily rides. You cant remember a bad day after it happens.

[@jeremywilliams1835]

I've been driving sense 1999. I still get giddy when kids do this. One year I made another driver's day. I was driving for US XPRESS and as I was getting passed by another truck I did them to him. He sa8d he's never had another trucker do that to him before and said he enjoyed it

[@baruchben-david4196]

My friend and I would sit on the edge of the highway, pumping our arms as the 18-wheelers went by. They usually responded. It was fun...

[@jonathanjones3968]

As a fellow trucker we love seeing the arm pump❤😊

[@GrammaNay]

I grew up doing this... and daddy was a trucker! Also did it to freight trains😊

[@alexs.9405]

Me and my siblings always did this growing up. I always wondered if kids still did it.

[@pugmalley]

Always give them two pulls on the air horn.

[@justinmurray3854]

when i was driving my box truck by a school a lot of toddlers were being led by their teacher and one of them did the arm pump. i blared the horn and almost gave the teacher a heartattack 😅

[@gloriafisher4908]

My 3 grandsons love to pump up their arms when passing a big truck, they get so much happiness when trucker response with that loud horn! But not all trucker response, (mostly younger driver) they get disappointed, I just told them probably didn’t see your arms pumping lol.

[@terrillcampbell673]

I'm 65 and I still enjoy doing the Truckers Salute/ Arm Pump. 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@laural5177]

I remember back in the day before cell phones commuting to work with a CB radio. I made a lot of friends and would occasionally stop for coffee at the rest stop with the local truckers. It was fun.

[@MillerMeteor74]

As kids in the 70s, riding in the back seat of the family station wagon, we always did that when we got near a tractor trailer. We always enjoyed hearing the horn.

[@rextronics0078]

As someone who goes on a lot of road trips, me and my bro will have competitions to see how many we can get. So if there are any truckers reading this, thanks for making that time on the road fun!

[@richardpetroni9690]

My Dad was a truck driver and I remember riding with him and tooting the horn ❤ I'm a USPS Lettercarrier now and toot the horn for the youngsters that ask for the horn beep ❤

[@kimberlycorliss9616]

I remember this from the 70's and 80`s. The trucker`s gave us so much joy when they blew their horns and acknowledged us. Now a days, you know someone will complain about it.

[@usafcombatvet218]

Definitely a dying breed.. 31 yrs OTR and I see very little of it now although I did have a young women 2 wks ago in the car passenger seat “ask” for the salute at a stop light intersections while traveling through Warner Robins, Ga on Hwy 92.. was more than happy to oblige her.

[@LAK_770]

Man this was unexpectedly heartwarming. What a bunch of good dudes, all the best to you.

[@robertmoir5695]

I remember when I did the same thing with some passing trains slipknotricky Horn truck salutes of long ago are still fresh in my memories Those too were the days I’ll be 63 this fall

[@johnlozauskas778]

Going to summer camp in the beyond boonies in NJ, we would do that in the early 70's. So thrilling for us and the truckers.

[@CheMechanical]

Glad to hear that truckers like this. We used to do it all the time as kids were traveling, but we weren’t sure if we were annoying them or not.

[@logalogalog]

Makes my day when I see the "arm pump."

[@violetmurphy5177]

I grew up doing it (70s and 80s) and taught my kids to do it (90s and 00s). We all still do it when we get the chance!

[@static_Tricolor_camry]

I do it at every chance I get, it's funny cause traffic goes silent for a few seconds. The Truck I'm driving, the Air horn is on the steering wheel with the push of a button. Not build into the roofliner, easy reach I guess.

[@keithjones8889]

When we were kids back in the 60s we did that all the time and the truckers always obliged❗😌

[@tullochmacdonald4245]

I remember doing this when my family was on route to our vacation destination. When our class was riding to a field day on the highway, we did this. Some of the truckers were awesome and hit the horn more than once. We would do it for a train's engineer too. IF they saw us, they blew their horn.

[@navelriver]

Truckers are courageous and hard working and can teach us a great deal about Freedom.

[@zeruiahwild1]

I do my best to salute every trucker! Love y'all🤙🤙🤙

[@byronharano2391]

Thank you for a news worthy report. ❤

[@mikemesser4326]

The truck I drive doesn't even have the traditional airhorn. Nothing worse than seeing a bunch of kids excitedly pumping their arms ... and not being able to respond.

[@l.a.raustadt518]

Yah I had an older Volvo with what sounded like a car horn, Still hit it though!

[@cevothy]

I was working near a highway for a while and often walked to a bridge to overlook the highway with a coworker during breaks. We then tried to wave to every truck and see who honks back. Made us feel like kids again

[@JMCodd1]

I only have a Class B, and yesterday I was arriving on-site to set up a firework show. I had a family walking down the path I needed. As they moved to the side, a couple of the kids did the salute. Unfortunately I was only in a 16’ box truck. No air horn. So I tapped the regular horn several times, and shouted an “AaaOoooooGaaahh” out the window. Got some laughs out of the group.

[@TheMW2informer]

I remember being on a school bus and every kid on the one side of the truck was asking for the horn it was awesome the trucker laid on the horn, the bus driver was pissed. 😂

[@user-tm9qb2jk4o]

We would do it on the school bus, too, over 50 years ago. I think our bus driver liked it!

[@mordechai-]

I was in my late teens, I believe (about 40 years ago), when I first heard of this from one of my campers when I was a camp counselor. I've never heard of it since. But I used to do it, and I guess I'll start doing it again.

[@melissasmith8151]

I do this on road trips and I still enjoy when truckers respond :)