Roscoe Bartlett: “I hope Americans will take time during the week of August 9 to note the accomplishments and contributions that truck…”

“I hope Americans will take time during the week of August 9 to note the accomplishments and contributions that truck drivers and the trucking industry have made to our lives and the prosperity of the American economy. Consider: From 1986 to 1996, the fatality rate for large trucks fell by 35 percent, while large truck mileage increased by 40 percent. The trucking industry employs nearly 9.5 million Americans. More than 423,000 companies in the United States are involved in trucking. In 1996 the trucking industry generated $346 billion in gross revenues, hauling 6.5 billion tons of freight. Incidentally, that represents 82 percent of the Nation's freight bill. I encourage everyone to celebrate the great safety record and the contribution to our well-being of America's truckers by making August 9 to August 15 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.”