By Douglas Cain
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – In 2012, activity from the development of the Eagle Ford Shale resulted in a $61 billion total economic output and the creation of more than 116,000 jobs within the 20 surrounding counties in South Texas. The economic implications represent unprecedented opportunities for Texas, and especially for South Texas.
The Economic Impact study recently released by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development states that the shale now ranks as the largest single oil and natural gas development in the world based on capital expenditures by companies in the industry.
Furthermore, the study projects that by the year 2022 the Eagle Ford Shale (right) could produce close to $89.4 billion in output and up to $41 billion in gross regional products. Texas is in a favorable growth position as evidenced by positive economic growth trends in the Eagle Ford Shale region, including, the resurgence of the Permian Basin.
While the Eagle Ford Shale has certainly produced a positive economic impact in the community, that positive impact is being threatened with the conversion of paved streets and highways to gravel roads. In the interest of those who live and work within the 14-county Eagle Ford Shale region, we must work collaboratively to find alternative solutions to addressing the deteriorating roadways.
As the president of Lake Truck Lines/Lake Oil Field Services, a 64-year-old corporation that now has more than 100 trucks on the road, supporting the oil/gas industry-only statewide, with the majority traveling the Eagle Ford Shale 
region, there are many ways that gravel roads would negatively impact our livelihood and business. There will certainly be more maintenance required on our vehicles, from replacing tires to replacing windshields, and ultimately these costs would be passed along to those companies using our services.
We simply cannot allow the highly traveled, paved roads to be converted to gravel.
Converting the current roads to gravel will not only be detrimental to air quality in the area due to dust particles, it would also threaten the safety of those driving in and around the Eagle Ford Shale counties.
The safety of those living and working in the Eagle Ford Shale region should be a priority. The safety hazards you might encounter while driving on gravel roads are significant.
The Eagle Ford Shale region producing this volume of economic output deserves attention, especially when it concerns the safety of its workforce and residents. I am committed to not only the safety of my employees, but to the safety of the 
communities in which we work.
We need to find a solution for the benefit of those living and working within the Eagle Ford Shale now, not later. Gravel roads are not the answer.
Douglas Cain is CEO and president of Lake Truck Lines/Lake Oil Field Services.
