Volume 17, Number 12, June 11, 2018

MLA Lumber Industry News Express

Here's the new issue of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association online newsletter. We'll send a new issue every two weeks to let you know what's happening in the industry, at your MLA, and in the world that affects your business. We welcome your opinions and ideas. If you have information you'd like to share with other members, we'd be happy to include it in our next issue. We welcome both personal and industry-related news - members would love to hear your news and views - so don't hesitate to email us with information.

Visit our New and Improved Website!

 Sunflower Shootout a Big Success The 30th annual Sunflower Shootout to benefit the Kansas Lumbermens scholarship program was held last week in Hesston, Kansas. MLA and the Kansas Lumbermens Committee extend thanks to these generous sponsors:

Pinnacle Sponsors Federated Insurance Blish-Mize Co. CCM Countertop & Cabinet Mfg. Mid-Am Building Supply, Inc. MiTek Builder Products PWD, Inc. Tamko Building Products, Inc.   Hole-in-One Sponsor Westfall GMC BBQ Sponsor Dealers Choice Distribution

Championship Sponsors BlueLinx Do it Best Corp. Forest Products Supply Co. Guardian Building Products Monarch Cement Co. Quaker Windows and Doors Quikrete Tando Building Products Tennison Brothers, Inc.   Club House Sponsors Great Southern Wood Preserving Rollex Corp. Tax Favored Benefits

What Determines LTL Freight Rates? Five Things You Should Know Shippers often ask “Why do freight rates fluctuate so much?” or “How are LTL rates calculated?” LTL freight rates can be a bit confusing because of their variability. While truckload freight rates are typically calculated on a per-mile rate plus a fuel charge, there are many factors that determine LTL rates, and they can significantly impact the cost of your shipment. Read more . Source: PartnerShip – MLA’s endorsed provider of shipping services!

Why a 24-Hour Credit Approval Isn't Fast Enough Success is no longer just the absence of problems. Sure, customers expect you to have the product they need, have it delivered promptly, have the order accurately fulfilled, and be billed without error. However, in the world where Amazon has set the standard for convenience and speed, saving customers’ time will earn you a competitive advantage – for both your online and offline customers. This new reality means that businesses must pay particular attention to one of their first points of contact with customers: credit applications. Read more . Source: BlueTarp

Time to Consider the MLA MEP MLA has offered a “group” MLA 401(k) plan for members for more than three years. It is saving participating dealers on their fees and offering a great benefit to reward their loyal employees. If you haven’t taken a serious look at this program, now would be a good time. Find out why smart dealers are making the move to the MLA program. Call the MLA Hotline at 800-747-6529, or click here to learn more .

Lumber News Doing Business in China: Etiquette Rules to Keep in Mind... Developing some insights into Chinese culture and business etiquette can help you when doing business in China. Check out two concepts that drive business protocol in China. Read more . Source: American Express Open Forum  Bill introduced to allow truck drivers younger than 21... The United States is suffering from a truck driver shortage and it is costing consumers, according to the American Trucking Associations. “Pretty much if you’ve got it, a truck's brought it. When people are buying more things, buying new houses, filling new houses with furniture, building new houses -- all of that is generating freight that needs to be moved,” said Sean McNally with the American Trucking Associations. Read more . Source: NLBMDA/WKRG, May 24, 2018 Tax Reform Toolkit: Understanding Changes to the Net Operating Loss Deduction... Before the  Tax Cuts and Jobs Act   (TCJA) went into effect, a business’s net operating losses (NOLs) could generally be carried back two years and carried forward 20 years to offset taxable income. Tax reform, however, repealed the two-year carryback allowance and other special carryback provisions for losses arising in tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017. Read more . Source: NAHB Eye on the Economy, June 7, 2018 Early Registration Now Open for ProDealer Industry Summit... The ProDealer Industry Summit is an exclusive three-day educational and networking forum designed to promote the growth of lumber & building product dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and the manufacturers who supply them. LBM dealers will benefit from sharing insights and best practices from leaders in the industry in a relaxed format that encourages networking and personal interaction. The event is set for October 17-19 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. Click here for early-bird registration .

Free Webinar: Hidden Dangers of Workplace Confrontation Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 1:00 p.m. CDT This webinar will focus on how to manage confrontation in the workplace. We’ll talk about real life examples, give you some simple ideas for navigating difficult conversations, and walk you through some do’s and don’ts. You’ll leave this webinar armed with a couple of all-purpose phrases to help you defuse tension, and tools to manage conflicts about performance. Many of these techniques are effective when dealing with employees, vendors, and customers alike. Register now ! This service provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association’s recommended insurer.

Have You Checked Out the MLA Online Campus? The MLA Online Campus provides you and your employees with high-impact, "real-world" training that develops your leaders, retains your best people and increases your customer loyalty. Each employee has a unique username to access the campus, which houses more than 700 courses on customer service, sales, leadership and more. Want to try a program for yourself? Click here to view an example. If you like what you see, contact us for a one-week trial subscription to see the hundreds of available courses. Learn more .

The Last Word " Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else ." - Will Rogers

Mid-America Lumbermens Association | 800-747-6529 | 816-561-1249 (fax)| ruhler@themla.com | Website