By Alexander H.R. No. 386 77R7921 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 27, 2001, 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 43,000 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, an 2-1 industry-funded commercial motor vehicle safety initiative designed 2-2 to promote safety on Texas highways, and a variety of educational 2-3 programs aimed at both the industry and the motoring public; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The trucking industry is a vital part of the Lone 2-5 Star State's economy, providing a truly invaluable service as well 2-6 as employing many proud Texans, and it is indeed a privilege to 2-7 honor it at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-9 Legislature hereby recognize February 27, 2001, as Trucking Day at 2-10 the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to all those associated 2-11 with this worthy event.