WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. manufacturers produced more than 741,000 heavy-duty diesel engines last year, playing a role in the economies of 14 states, the Diesel Technology Forum says.

The observation was released on October 6, recognizing U.S. Manufacturing Day. The engines are used in trucks, buses, construction machines, agricultural equipment, locomotives, ships, and industrial applications. And they have a role in one of every two recognized sectors in the U.S. economy.

North Carolina is home to the largest diesel engine production in the United States, with nearly 300,000 engines produced in the state. Other key states for diesel engine manufacturing include Michigan, New York, Ohio and Maryland.

The average wage in the diesel manufacturing industry was US $78,000 per year.

“Manufacturing clean diesel technology generates more than $455 billion in U.S. economic activity. Diesel technology also plays a vital role in the U.S. export business, contributing more than $23.8 billion in U.S. exports. In 2009, $6.9 billion in diesel engines, $9.1 billion in diesel trucks, and $7.8 billion in diesel construction equipment were exported from U.S. facilities,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.