WVTA celebrating accomplishments, educating members at Stonewall Resort
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Trucking Association will hold its annual convention and trade show on Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 22-23) at Stonewall Resort near Weston, West Virginia to celebrate industry accomplishments and to engage members in networking, education and policy issues. 
Pat Thomas, the incoming chairman of the American Trucking Associations, will address the group at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in a session that is open to the media. Thomas will provide an update on federal policy issues facing the industry and the challenges and opportunities, like highway construction and infrastructure investment that lay ahead.
“Our annual convention brings together the various components of the state’s trucking industry – drivers, operators and vendors – to learn how to navigate the various issues confronting our businesses,” WVTA president Janet Vineyard said.
The conference continues throughout the day on Wednesday with a variety of industry-related presentations covering topics such as the state of the industry, workers compensation and professional development.
Facts on West Virginia’s Trucking industry:
— The trucking industry provides 35,200 jobs or one out of every 16 jobs in the State.
— Trucking industry wages exceed $1.3 billion, with an average annual trucking industry salary of $38,043.
— Trucks transport 67 percent of total manufactured tonnage in the State or 162,521 tons per day.
— Over 84 percent of communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.
— The trucking industry paid $246 million in federal and state roadway taxes and fees in 2013.
— The industry paid 37 percent of all taxes and fees owed by West Virginia motorists in 2013.
To learn more about the trucking industry, visit www.wvtrucking.com or contact Ryan Thorn at the West Virginia Trucking Association, at (304) 904-2767.
