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