Just so you know how essential and important Truck Drivers are, here’s a timeline to show you just how quickly things would go south without your heroic efforts behind the wheel.

If trucks stopped

The first 24 hours

• Delivery of medical supplies to the affected area will cease.
• Hospitals will run out of basic supplies such as syringes and catheters within hours.
• Service stations will begin to run out of fuel.
• Manufacturers using just-in-time manufacturing will develop component shortages.
• U.S. mail and other package delivery will cease.

Within one day  

• Food shortages will begin to develop.
• Automobile fuel availability and delivery will dwindle, leading to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the gas pumps.
• Without manufacturing components and trucks for product delivery, assembly lines will shut down, putting thousands out of work.

Within two to three days:

• Food shortages will escalate, especially in the face of hoarding and consumer panic.
• Supplies of essentials, such as bottled water, powdered milk, and canned meat at major retailers will disappear.
• ATMs will run out of cash and banks will be unable to process transactions.
• Service stations will completely run out of fuel for autos and trucks.
• Garbage will start piling up in urban and suburban areas.
• Container ships will sit idle in ports and rail transport will be disrupted.

Within a week:

• Automobile travel will cease due to the lack of fuel.
• Hospitals will begin to exhaust oxygen supplies.

Within two weeks:

• The nation’s clean water supply will begin to run dry.

Within four weeks

• The nation will exhaust its clean water supply and water will be safe for drinking only after boiling.