From Birthing a Nation to Supporting it Through Trucking – Virginia Continues to Drive the U.S.

Known as "the birthplace of a nation," Virginia was the first of the U.S.’s original 13 colonies. From 1788 until now, Virginia continues to make its mark on history.

Well past its horse and buggy days hauling goods, modern-day Virginia has progressively joined the transportation industry in welcoming truckers. Now, drivers in the “Old Dominion” trucking industry can make history of their own.

Although most of the land is covered in forest, there are still over 164,132 total lane miles for truckers to haul goods across the state.

Advocacy

Virginia Trucking Association (VTA) comprises trucking companies, private fleet operators, industry suppliers, and others supporting motor freight motor transportation.

The association:

• Represents the interests of Virginia’s trucking industry
• Advocates at all levels of government
• Provides safety and compliance education and training programs; and
• Promotes highway and driver safety and security

Some member services include:

• Information Service
• Regulatory Relations
• Compliance Assistance & Information
• Public Relations & Image Programs

Employment and Wages

Over 3.5 million professional OTR truck drivers in the U.S. are either Independent Contractors or employed by the nearly 1.2 million trucking companies in the country.

According to BLS, 2020 national pay estimates for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers was $47,130 per year.

The Career Explorer website lists the average salary in Virginia at about $40,620 annually.

Economic Influence

Virginia is a 508-billion-dollar economy.8 A portion of its GDP can be attributed to the economic impact of trucking.

Virginia is bordered by five states and Washington, D.C. The state touches the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. These water connections host several ports that attribute to Virginia’s economic influence. Access from the ports facilitates the trucking industry’s substantial impact on national freight moving policy.

Virginia exports include products such as:

• Coal
• Soya beans
• Kraft paper, and
• Unmanufactured tobacco

Drivers use various routes across the state, including:

• I-64 from WV to Chesapeake
• I-66 from Middletown to D.C.
• I-77 between NC and WV
• I-81 between TN and WV
• I-85 from NC to Petersburg
• I-95 from NC state line to D.C.

Safety

The VTA’s Safety Management Council works with all governmental and safety agencies to reduce highway and traffic losses and to improve the public’s perception and acceptance of the trucking industry. The committee hosts meetings, an annual conference, safety award programs, competitions, and other programs.