SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 448

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
welcome members of the Texas Motor Transportation Association to 
Austin on March 26, 2003, as they celebrate Trucking Day at the 
State Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, One out of every 11 workers in Texas, or more than 
620,000 people, is employed by the trucking industry; there are 
approximately 43,000 motor carriers registered with the Motor 
Carrier Division of the Texas Department of Transportation and 
more than 500,000 commercial vehicles operating daily in the
Lone Star State; and

	WHEREAS, Trucks transport nearly 60 percent of all the  
state's manufactured commodities, delivering necessary products  
to every Texas community, 72 percent of which rely exclusively  
on these motor carriers for their goods; the trucking industry  
further benefits the economy by generating over $17.5 billion
in annual salaries and paying almost $1.7 billion in state and  
federal highway taxes and fees; and

	WHEREAS, Safety has long been a priority of the motor 
carrier industry, and since 1980, the number of heavy trucks 
involved in accidents in Texas has decreased by 40 percent, 
despite a 37.5 percent increase in trucking miles traveled; and

	WHEREAS, The Texas Motor Transportation Association has
a Safety Certification Program for safety  professionals, an 
industry-funded commercial motor vehicle safety initiative 
designed to promote safety on Texas highways, and a variety of 
educational programs aimed at both the industry and the motoring 
public; in addition, the association complies with the nation's 
environmental regulations; and

	WHEREAS, The Texas Motor Transportation Association, the 
state association of the trucking industry, has teamed with the 
Texas Department of Transportation to produce the first ever 
mobile highway safety classroom, featuring a state-of-the-art, 
full-motion truck driver simulator; the safety classroom is 
designed to enhance the driving skills of commercial truck 
drivers and to aid passenger vehicles in operating more safely
as they share the road with commercial vehicles; and

	WHEREAS, The trucking industry is a vital part of the
Lone Star State's economy, providing a truly invaluable service, 
as well as employing many proud Texans, and it is indeed a 
privilege to honor the trucking industry at this time; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby recognize March 26, 2003, as Trucking 
Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to all those 
associated with this worthy event; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an 
expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                         Jackson




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 26, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate