NEWS & STORIES
The road continues to tell its stories.
Updates from the families we serve, the programs we run, and the people who make this work possible.
Program Update
The NFTDRF Awards $1.4M in Emergency Assistance Grants in 2024
Last year marked the Foundation's largest single-year disbursement since founding. Here's where the money went — and the families it reached.
Family Story
Marcus Hill's Daughter Graduates College on NFTDRF Scholarship
Aaliyah Hill walks across the stage at Georgia State University this spring. Her father Marcus has been on the Memorial Wall since 2023.
Vanessa Collins · April 28, 2025
Industry
FMCSA Report: 2024 Fatality Data and What It Means for Driver Families
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's latest data shows 5,936 commercial motor vehicle fatalities in 2024. We break down the numbers and what NFTDRF is doing in response.
NFTDRF Research Team · February 11, 2025
Family Story
Darnell Jefferson's Son Finishes the House His Father Started
Marcus Jefferson was 16 when his father died. He was 18 when he drove the final nail. This is the story of what NFTDRF's emergency assistance program actually does in the long run.
David Okafor · March 7, 2025
Scholarship
2025 Scholarship Cycle Now Open — Applications Close June 30
The NFTDRF's annual scholarship program is accepting applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. Eligible children and spouses of fallen professional truck drivers can apply for awards of up to $5,000.
NFTDRF Staff · April 1, 2025
Program Update
Schneider National Partners with NFTDRF as Legacy Corporate Sponsor
The announcement came at the TCA Safety & Security Division annual meeting in Nashville. Schneider's $25,000 annual commitment funds two years of family support programs.
NFTDRF Staff · January 28, 2025
Family Story
What 31 Years on the Road Looked Like: Remembering Linda Kowalski
She drove every major freight corridor in America at least once. She mentored six women into the profession. She had a CB radio signed by six retired truckers on her wall at home.
Patricia Reyes · December 4, 2024
Program Update
The NFTDRF 24/7 Helpline Logged 4,200 Calls in 2024
The average caller waited less than two minutes to speak with a trained volunteer. Of those callers, 34% were contacting a support organization for the first time.
NFTDRF Operations · February 3, 2025
SHARE YOUR STORY
Every driver's story deserves to be told.
If you lost a driver, drive yourself, or belong to the community built by the road — your story belongs here. We publish every account with care and credit.
Share your story →Family stories
Life after loss — what really happens when the road takes someone home.
Driver tributes
Honor a specific driver's life, legacy, and character.
Safety accounts
Why it matters — from drivers and families who know firsthand.
Road stories
The culture, community, and reality of life behind the wheel.
JOIN THE FOUNDATION
Behind every story is a family that needed help.
Your donation makes the support real — emergency assistance, scholarships, counseling, and the helpline.
Support the MissionNFTDRF is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. All donations are tax-deductible.