Norman Mineta, secretary of transportation, is applauding America's truck drivers for their continuing efforts to improve safety on the nation's highways. He made the comments for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week scheduled August 24-30.
"Trucking is an essential component of our American economy, and we greatly appreciate the attention to safety and professionalism of the 10 million drivers working in the industry," Mineta said.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, trucks haul 60 percent of the nation's domestic freight as measured by weight and 62 percent as measured by value. The industry's contribution to the gross domestic product is more than $240 billion, including both for-hire and private trucking numbers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced last month that for the fifth consecutive year, fatalities in truck-related crashes decreased in 2002. The total number of people killed in truck-related crashes in 2002 was 4,897, compared with 5,111 people in 2001, a 4.2 percent decline.
Annette Sandberg, FMCSA administrator, will celebrate the achievements of truck drivers nationwide at the 2003 American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Inspectors' Championship Banquet in Columbus OH August 23.