To borrow from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Truck yeah! In Tallahassee this week, it was Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ turn to
To borrow from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Truck yeah!
In Tallahassee this week, it was Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ turn to pay homage to those who keep the Sunshine State and the rest of America moving: truck drivers.
On Monday, Patronis issued a press release and a proclamation spotlighting National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which runs from Sept. 11-17.
The CFO noted that almost 400,000 Floridians work as truckers, or one of every 19 jobs in Florida.
In a statement, Patronis said, “Florida’s truckers are the heart of our state’s economy. We are blessed to have men and women working hard every day to keep the wheels of commerce moving.”
“Today’s national economy, however, has hurt America’s truckers and placed their livelihoods at risk. Between record inflation and rising gas prices, truckers have had their margins impacted by insane diesel prices.”
“While Washington continues to spend hard-earned tax money on 87,000 new IRS agents that are ready to pounce on middle-class America, we are working hard to keep Florida’s economy strong by supporting our truckers and keeping our state open and free. I have a deep appreciation for Florida’s trucking industry and all of the dedicated truckers who work so hard to ensure Floridians have what they need to succeed,” Patronis added.
In his proclamation, the CFO noted a few facts about the state’s truckers:
Florida is home to more than 100,000 trucking companies, most of which are small locally owned businesses.
Trucks transport more than 95 percent of manufactured tonnage in Florida, the equivalent to more than 470,000 tons per day.
Florida’s trucking industry paid roughly $1.7 billion in federal and state roadways taxes.
The total wages of the trucking industry paid in Florida in 2020 topped $18 billion, providing an average salary of more than $48,000.
In response to Patronis’ proclamation, Alix Miller, president and CEO of the Florida Trucking Association said in a statement, “Thank you to Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis for recognizing Florida’s professional truck drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.”
“These men and women dedicate their lives to keeping Florida’s economy going and ensuring that businesses across the state receive the resources and materials they need to continue to thrive in today’s economic climate. This week, I encourage Floridians to thank a professional truck driver and take a moment to appreciate them for all they do for our state.”
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