Schneider National Partners with NFTDRF as Legacy Corporate Sponsor

The National Fallen Truck Driver Remembrance Foundation announced a Legacy Corporate Sponsorship agreement with Schneider National at the Truckload Carriers Association Safety & Security Division annual meeting in Nashville on January 22, 2025. Schneider's $25,000 annual commitment makes them the Foundation's first carrier to hold Legacy Sponsor status — the highest tier in the Foundation's corporate partnership program.

What the Commitment Funds

Schneider's first-year contribution directly funds two years of operation for the Foundation's family support case management program — the program that provides assigned case coordinators to families in the 90 days following a driver's death. The case management program has been one of the Foundation's most resource-constrained offerings: coordinator capacity has historically been the limiting factor in how many families can be served in any given quarter. Schneider's contribution allows the Foundation to hire one additional part-time case coordinator through the end of 2026.

The partnership also includes enrollment of Schneider's safety department in the Foundation's fleet-partner referral protocol, which enables HR and safety teams to directly notify the NFTDRF within 48 hours of a driver fatality so that families can be contacted proactively rather than waiting to self-identify. Schneider operates a fleet of approximately 9,500 drivers — one of the largest in North America — making the referral pipeline a meaningful contribution beyond the financial commitment.

Why Schneider Chose to Partner

Carriers of Schneider's size operate with a constant awareness of the statistical reality that some of their drivers will not come home. The question for large carriers is not whether fatalities will occur — it is how the organization responds when they do. Schneider's decision to partner with NFTDRF reflects a shift in how some carriers are beginning to think about that response: not as a compliance obligation handled through HR, but as an expression of the organization's relationship with the driver community it employs.

"We have nearly 10,000 drivers on the road every day. Every one of them has people who depend on them. When something happens, it cannot be the case that the family is left to figure it out alone. NFTDRF is the organization that actually closes that gap — and we want to be part of that." — Annette Rhodes, VP of Safety and Compliance, Schneider National

What This Means for the Foundation's Capacity

The NFTDRF enters 2025 with its largest operating budget since founding. Schneider's Legacy Sponsorship, combined with individual donor growth and two additional Honored Partner commitments from regional carriers announced in Q4 2024, gives the Foundation the financial stability to begin planning a 2026 program expansion that would not have been feasible under 2023 budget constraints.

"Schneider's commitment is significant on its own. But what matters more is what it signals to the rest of the industry. When a carrier of this size makes this choice, other carriers take notice." — NFTDRF Executive Director

How Other Carriers Can Get Involved

The NFTDRF's corporate partnership program includes three tiers: Legacy Sponsor ($25,000/year), Honored Partner ($10,000/year), and Community Supporter ($2,500/year). Each tier includes named recognition on the Memorial Wall, logo placement on nftdf.org, and participation in the fleet-partner referral protocol. Carriers interested in Legacy Sponsor status are encouraged to contact info@nftdrf.org directly — the Foundation's executive director handles all sponsor conversations personally. A full description of partnership benefits is available at nftdf.org/sponsors.