One hundred and seventy people took part in Saturday’s event, up from 150 in 2023.
Hug a Rig Day is for people of all ages with special needs or lifelong medical conditions — physical or intellectual — to take a ride in a big rig.
Organiser Dianne Elstob said this year’s event —its 15th — went smoothly.
"It just keeps getting better and better. The feedback has been amazing.
"All in all [it was] a really good day."
There were a lot of new attendees at the Waimumu Field Days site, she said.
"They were blown away by the setup [and] by how fantastically run it was."
There were 32 trucks and 41 drivers this year, Mrs Elstob said.
"That’s an increase and we are going to need more for next year."
Many volunteers made the free event possible, including drivers from Southland trucking companies, classic car owners and the committee.
"For me it’s huge. It’s a lot of work to pull it off year to year.
"People always come together and make it run really smoothly.
"I always worry every year whether we’ll get enough trucks to turn up but when they all start rolling in it’s a nice feeling."
Ideas for next year’s event include a bus ride from Invercargill.
