SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 488

	WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Motor Transportation 
Association are visiting Austin on March 30, 2005, as they 
celebrate Trucking Day at the State Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, The trucking industry employs one out of every
11 workers in Texas, or more than 620,000 people; there are 
approximately 43,000 motor carriers registered with the Motor 
Carrier Division of the Texas Department of Transportation and
in excess of 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 40 percent, despite 
a 37.5 percent increase in trucking miles traveled; in addition 
to complying with the nation's environmental regulations, 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; and

	WHEREAS, The Texas Motor Transportation Association, the 
state association of the trucking industry, has continued to team 
with the Texas Department of Transportation to produce the 
first-ever mobile highway safety classroom featuring a 
state-of-the-art, full-motion commercial truck driver simulator,
which 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, and it is indeed appropriate to take 
this opportunity to recognize the members of the Texas Motor 
Transportation Association and to commend their contributions to 
the state's economic well-being and their efforts to make Texas 
roads safer; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, hereby recognize March 30, 2005, as Trucking 
Day at the State Capitol and welcome all those associated with 
this event; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in 
honor of this special day.
                                                               Williams, Shapiro




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 30, 2005.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate