State Population: 20,851,820

 
Area:   68,601 sq.mi

 
Leading Economic Sectors/Products Produced:
 
Agriculture: Cattle, cotton, dairy products, nursery stock, poultry, sorghum, corn, wheat.
Industry: Chemical products, petroleum and natural gas, food processing, electric equipment, machinery, mining, tourism.
 
Roadway Extent and Use:
 
In 2000, Texas had 301,035 miles of public roads.  On these roads all motorists traveled 220 billion miles.
Trucking use of Texas public roads was 27.8 billion miles in 2000, representing only 13 percent of all roadway traffic in the state.

 
Trucking Industry Employment and Wages
 
In 2000, the trucking industry in Texas provided 606,150 jobs, or one out of 16 of all jobs in the state.  Total trucking industry wages paid in Texas in 2000 exceeded $19.0 billion, with an average trucking industry salary of $31,573.

 
User Fees and Taxes Paid By Trucking Industry
 
In 2000, the trucking industry in Texas paid approximately $2.4 billion in Federal and state roadway taxes and fees, or 37 percent of all taxes and fees paid by all motorists.

The trucking industry paid 37 percent of all federal and state roadway user fees and taxes in Texas, while only traveling 13 percent of all vehicle miles.

In 2001, a typical five-axle tractor-semitrailer combination paid $3,662 in state highway user fees and taxes.  This ranks Texas 40th in the nation in terms of state fees and taxes.*
 

Trucking Industry Contribution to Gross State Product
 
It is estimated that trucking industry activity in Texas contributed 4.5 percent to State Gross Product in 2000. 
 
  
* Source: Robert C. Pitcher, Esq.; Publisher of the State Laws Newsletter; Annandale, VA.