By Alexander                                           H.R. No. 282
         76R7143 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
 1-2     welcome  members of the Texas Motor Transportation Association to
 1-3     Austin on February 24, 1999, as they celebrate Trucking Day at the
 1-4     State Capitol; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, One out of every 11 workers in Texas, or more than
 1-6     620,000 people, is employed by the trucking industry; there are
 1-7     approximately 30,000 motor carriers registered with the Motor
 1-8     Carrier Division of the Texas Department of Transportation and in
 1-9     excess of 500,000 commercial vehicles operating daily in the Lone
1-10     Star State; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Trucks transport nearly 60 percent of all the
1-12     state's manufactured commodities, delivering necessary products to
1-13     every Texas community, 72 percent of which rely exclusively on
1-14     these motor carriers for their goods; the trucking industry further
1-15     benefits the economy by generating over $17.5 billion in annual
1-16     salaries and paying almost $1.7 billion in state and federal
1-17     highway taxes and fees; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Safety has long been a priority of the motor carrier
1-19     industry, as evidenced by the fact that since 1980 the number of
1-20     heavy trucks involved in accidents in Texas has decreased 40
1-21     percent, despite a 37.5 percent increase in trucking miles
1-22     traveled; in addition to complying with the nation's environmental
1-23     regulations, the Texas Motor Transportation Association also has a
1-24     Safety Certification Program for safety professionals, as well as a
 2-1     variety of educational programs aimed at both the industry and the
 2-2     motoring public; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The trucking industry is a vital part of the Lone
 2-4     Star State's economy, providing a truly invaluable service as well
 2-5     as employing many proud Texans, and it is indeed a privilege to
 2-6     honor it at this time; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-8     Legislature hereby recognize February 24, 1999, as Trucking Day at
 2-9     the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to all those associated
2-10     with this worthy event.