FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                               Contact: Eric Reller      

Aug. 24, 2008                                                                                                                           (703) 838-1896                      

 

ATA Recognizes Professional Truck Drivers During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

 

ARLINGTON, Va. - The American Trucking Associations is taking this week to extend a national “pat on the back” to the 3.5 million professional truck drivers that deliver America’s freight safely and securely everyday. 

“Professional truck drivers move America’s freight,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “The men and women of the truck industry are working hard everyday to make sure grocery shelves are stocked, medical supplies are available and all of life’s essentials are delivered safely, securely and on time. We take this week to say a collective ‘thank you’ for all their hard work.”  

During this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Aug. 24-30, ATA and its state affiliates will mark the celebration by handing out logbook rulers with the 2008 NTDAW logo to truck drivers across the country. 

President George W. Bush joined ATA in congratulating the nation’s professional truck drivers, along with motor carriers, state trucking associations, and trucking industry manufacturers and suppliers. President Bush said the National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize and honor individuals who help keep our Nation moving.

A few examples of celebrations include million-mile and safety awards, cash bonuses or gifts, an extra paid day off, a cup of coffee or windshield cleaning at truck stops, and numerous company picnics – some lasting all week until every driver cycles through company headquarters. Office personnel at some companies are also encouraged to spend a few days out on the road to see the driver’s side of their business.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

 

THE U.S. TRUCKING INDUSTRY: KEEPING SAFETY FIRST

  • Over the past 20 years (1986 to 2006) there has been a 41 percent increase in registered large trucks and an 84 percent increase in miles traveled by large trucks.
  • Over the same time period, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes has declined by 5 percent, and the vehicle involvement rate for large trucks in fatal crashes has declined by 41 percent.
  • In 2006, the fatal crash rate was a record low 1.93 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, compared with 4.58 in 1975, the first year the USDOT began keeping records.
  • Over the past decade alone, the large truck fatal crash rate dropped by 14 percent.
  • The trucking industry has a zero tolerance standard in place for drug and alcohol use.  The latest violation rate for alcohol use on the job, based on random alcohol testing of truck drivers, is just one-tenth of one percent (0.1%).

 

PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY:

  • Professional truck drivers drove almost 400 billion miles in 2005, a 146 percent increase in 25 years.
  • Most individual long haul drivers average from 100,000 to 110,000 miles driving per year; regional and city drivers will put in an average 48,000 miles behind the wheel; the average daily run for an over the road driver is nearly 500 miles.
  • The trucking industry averages $7,000 to $8,000 in taxes and fees per truck.
  • The trucking industry uses 53.9 billion gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline annually.
  • There are over 3 million tractor-trailers on the road in the U.S.
  • There are 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S.
  • There are over 600,000 trucking companies in the U.S.; 97 percent of them have fewer than 20 trucks.
  • In 2005, the trucking industry hauled 10.7 billion tons of freight, or 69 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage. Rail was the next busiest mode, moving 13.3 percent.
  • Over 80 percent of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking for delivery of their goods and commodities.
  • New trucks emit only one-tenth the fine particulate emissions and roughly half the smog-forming NOx emissions as a similar truck manufactured just two years ago.