West Virginia Motor Truck Association

About

Who is the WV Motor Truck Association?

WVMTA The West Virginia Motor Truck Association is a statewide, non-profit, association of trucking companies, private fleet operators, industry suppliers, and other firms and individuals interested in the well-being of motor transportation at the local, state and national level. We represent businesses engaged in the transport of goods and services throughout the state. We represent both family owned and corporate trucking businesses with interstate operations. We are an association owned and operated by its members for their mutual benefit, governed by a board of directors elected from the general membership. We provide programs and activities specifically designed to assist members in finding solutions to day-to-day and long range problems and needs. Overall, an association whose members belong to an Association that belongs to its members.

The mission of the WVMTA is to serve and represent the interests of the trucking industry with One United Voice by:

Promoting safety and security on our highways and among our drivers;
Advancing the trucking industry’s image;
Providing educational programs;
Influencing in a positive manner state governmental actions; and

Promoting a healthy business environment in our state.
The association was formed to bring about an organized and uniform effort within the trucking industry for increased highway safety as well as public education on the importance and value of commercial vehicle transportation. This includes but is not limited to:

To increase awareness within the industry of federal, state and local laws and regulations involving the industry and to lobby for the passage of laws and regulations favorable to the industries.
To sponsor and promote conventions and truck driving championship events.
To create and maintain higher standards for business dealings within the industry and to combat trade abuses within the industry.
To increase highway safety by educating the public about our industry and how to safely share the road.
To make the public better aware of the issues involving the industry and to improve relations between the public and the industry.

WVMTA Trucks transport the "tangible" goods portion of the economy, which is nearly everything consumed by households and businesses. In West Virginia, nearly everything we use is transported by truck including building materials, machines, food, logs and lumber, mining equipment and other industrial products.

Nearly every good consumed in West Virginia is put on a truck at some point. As a result, the West Virginia trucking industry hauls nearly 70% of all freight transported. Nationally, the trucking industry is an astounding $610 billion industry (in 2003), representing 86.9% of the nation's freight bill. In addition, trucks transported 81.36% of total manufactured tonnage in sthe state in 2003.

History

The West Virginia Motor Truck Association was formed in 1932 to bring about an organized and uniform effort within the trucking industry for increased highway safety as well as public education on the importance and value of commercial vehicle transportation. To that end, the Association has some 260 member companies and is involved in legislative representation, government relations and many highway safety programs. The WVMTA is an integral part of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) headquartered in Washington, DC.

Trucking Industry Employment & Wages

The trucking industry provides excellent salaries.

The average annual wage for the industry is greater than construction, service and retail industries.
In 2005, the trucking industry in West Virginia provided 44,634 jobs, or one out of every 17 jobs in the state. This figure represents 6% of all state employment.
Total Trucking industry wages paid in 2005 exceeded $1.5 billion.
Average annual trucking industry salary of $33,013.

The Taxes We Pay

West Virginia Motor Truck Association members pay millions of dollars each year to use state roadways in order to bring products to citizens, and to ship goods out of state.

In 2005, the trucking industry in West Virginia paid approximately $270 million in federal and state roadway taxes and fees, or 39.6 percent of all taxes and fees paid by all motorists.
Although the industry pays 39.6 percent of all federal and state highway user fees and taxes, trucking represents just 14 percent of vehicle miles traveled in the state.
In 2005, a typical five-axle tractor-semi trailer combination paid $8,926 in state highway user fees and taxes. This ranks West Virginia 14th in the nation in terms of state fees and taxes.

Safety First

The West Virginia Motor Truck Association works closely with state and federal agencies to promote safety.

The Association supports increases in roadside inspections and promotes state and federal highway regulations.
In 2007 more than 20,665 safety inspections are conducted on West Virginia roads and highways.
The association actively supports a safety management program which includes conducting seminars on motor carrier and driver safety.
Promoting the safety of our members and the public is very important to us. Each year we conduct an annual fleet safety contest, a truck driving championship, a West Virginia Driver of the Year Contest, among other promotions and events. The 2008 Truck Driving Championship will be held May 10 that the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston. We also assist the U. S. Department of Transportation in selecting the West Virginia Professional Driver of the Year. We sponsor the West Virginia Safety Management Council and plan and conduct an annual safety awards banquet.
We hold an annual convention for members where they can gain information at our business sessions, play golf and network at social functions. The 2007 Annual Convention will be held August 3 - 5 at Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.