Ohio Drives Success in Transportation

Let’s take a trip down Ohio’s transportation history lane. The state is home to the first ambulance service, first traffic lights, first automobile and hosts the rubber capital of the world. Face it— truckers wouldn’t do so well without traffic lights or rubber tires!

That’s not all. The Wright Brothers, from Dayton, invented the first airplane, and Neil Armstrong, from Wapakoneta, became the first man to walk on the moon.

From the rubber tires on the road to space travel, it’s safe to say that Ohio likes to be on the map when it comes to transportation.

With such profound history in finding ways to move things from one place to another, Ohio drives success in transportation for truck drivers too!

Economy

Ohio has a rich supply of natural resources, productive soils, cheap energy, and transportation facilities.

Trucking moves 71% of all freight in the U.S., and Ohio truckers are responsible for a portion of those transports.

Some primary products moved by Ohio truck drivers are:

• Aircraft parts
• Soya beans
• Automobiles, and
• Cigarettes

Access

In September 2020, Ohio had about 3,046 interstate lane miles and 262,492 total public roadway miles.

Five states border Ohio, including Lake Erie and Michigan to the North.

Ohio’s location in the east-central U.S. makes it a prime location for manufacturing and transporting goods nationwide and internationally through its ten ports and across its eight interstates.

A truck can reach ports like New York and Philadelphia in less than 9 hours.

Some major interstates include:

• I-70 between West Virginia and Indiana
• I-90 between Indiana and Pennsylvania

Advocacy

The Ohio Trucking Association’s (OTA) mission is “Enhancing the public image and economic growth of our members by promoting safety, innovation, and professionalism.”

Some key benefits of the association include:

• Committees
• Events
• Safety Awards, and
• Member benefits
  • Industry Updates
  • Business Connections
  • Cost Savings

Work and Wages

There are more than 9 million American jobs in the trucking industry and about 15.5 million trucks operating on US roads and highways.

The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $47,130 in May 2020.

There are about 18,732 total local truck driver jobs in Ohio, and drivers in the state earn an average annual salary of $54,390.

Safety

OTA also comprises Ohio Trucking Safety Council (OTSC) and an Ohio Trucking Maintenance Council. The Safety Council gives an easy and accessible source of ideas, information, and professional development and serves as the "safety arm" of OTA.

Some OTSC focus areas include:

• Driver training
• Accident prevention, and
• Safety audits