The Official Newsletter of

Louisiana's Trucking Industry  

September 2, 2022

Join Us & Unleash the Mongoose!

Many companies in our industry are facing an existential threat from abusive lawsuits. Trial lawyers, such as the "Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys," have weaponized the courts with Reptile Theory.

The solution is straightforward: education, proactivity, and aggressiveness with the Mongoose Method. The second part of our Mongoose Method litigation training is open to new and returning students. 

LEARN MORE

THIS WEEK:

• Association Updates from the LMTA
• Share Your Support for Truck Driver Appreciation Week on Social Media
• Membership & Management Conference
• Part 2 of the Mongoose Method Litigation Training
• Register Now
• Event Website
• Book Rooms

• Courtesy Vehicle Inspections
• September 20 Inspections (Kentwood)
• Louisiana NATMI Certification Course
• LMTA Insurance Management - Exclusive no-cost employee benefits
• Industry Updates
• FMCSA COVID Declaration & CDL Waiver Extended
• National Weather Service Update (Medium - Weekend Lightening Risk)
• ATRI’s Newest Operational Costs Research Documents Costliest Year Ever in Trucking
• Save the Dates
• Sept. 12 -16: Louisiana NATMI Certification Course
• Sept. 20 Courtesy Inspections (Kentwood)
• Oct. 11 Courtesy Inspections (Greenwood/Shreveport)
• Nov. 8-9: Management & Membership Forum \ PT 2: Mongoose Method
• Book Rooms
• Nov. 11 Courtesy Inspections (Delta/Vicksburg)
• Jan. 17 & 18: LMTA's Transportation Conference
• Trucking News
• FMCSA Releases Draft Medical Examiners Handbook
• Big rigs rolling to rescue in Mississippi capital’s water crisis
• Coming Soon to a Road Near You: Brighter Lane Markings
• Open Road Magazine
• Open Road Magazine: 2022 Issue 1

The LMTA and LMTA Foundation are excited to launch our Louisiana Truck Driver Appreciation Toolkits online.

Media Toolkits include:

• Pictures to post on social media during TDAW (Sept. 11-17)
• Pre-made social media captions, customizable to your company
• Press Release templates
• Letter to the Editor templates
• Trucking Fact Sheets & more educational materials

These materials will be available for download and we encourage all those within Louisiana's trucking industry to share these with their local news outlets and on social media.

Our goal is to remind all Louisianians that when the world stopped, truckers kept it moving!

Materials can be downloaded below or by visiting www.lmta.la or www.lmta.foundation

Join Us & Unleash the Mongoose

Defend your business against excessive litigation from groups like the "Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys."

Many companies in our industry are facing an existential threat from abusive lawsuits. Trial lawyers, such as the "Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys" (seen above), have weaponized the courts with Reptile Theory.

Their target is business, and their tactic has a hypnotic effect on jurors. Trial attorneys have abandoned justice in favor of a guaranteed payday from insured businesses. Small accidents reap settlements far out of proportion to actual damages. Meanwhile, the specter of a truly catastrophic loss – loss of life or limb – haunts us. Will it be the next nuclear verdict?

THE SOLUTION

The solution is straightforward: education, proactivity, and aggressiveness with the Mongoose Method. But does it work? Let the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys tell you with their new webinar, "Caging the Mongoose: The "Newest" Method by Defendants to Avoid Accountability." 

UNLEASH THE MONGOOSE AGAINST THE REPTILE!

In this program, Dr. Bill Kanasky, shares the secrets behind the causes of nuclear verdicts and nuclear settlements and what trucking and transportation companies can do to protect themselves from these nuclear outcomes. Dr. Kanasky will teach attendees about The Reptile Theory, including what it is, how it works, why it has been so successful, and how to beat it. In the final part of the training, Dr. Kanasky will lead the group through intensive training on preparing for deposition testimony and facilitate a mock deposition with actual witnesses to demonstrate how he trains witnesses for a real deposition.

This is the second part of our Mongoose Method & the Reptile Theory litigation training. Returning and new students are welcome, there will be a remedial course to bring everyone up to speed for Part 2 and accompanying workshop!

2022 Membership & Management Forum

Featuring Part 2: Mongoose Method Litigation Training

LMTA's Management & Membership Forum will be held November 8 - 9, at the Southern Hotel in Covington, LA.

This forum is dedicated to association collaboration and management. This year, alongside our Board of Directors meeting, we will host part two of the educational workshop on Reptile Theory and the Mongoose Method. There will be time to network and catch up with one another.

The second part of our Mongoose Method litigation training is open to new and returning students. For those who attended our first training, this is the companion workshop with mock jury sessions. Dr. Kanasky will be presenting a review of part one for those who missed our spring workshop or just need a refresher!

SPONSORSHIPS:

Opportunities for the 2022 Management & Membership Forum are available online, or by calling the LMTA Office at (225) 928-5682.

Upcoming SMC Courtesy Vehicle Inspections

Don’t let your first interaction with the State Police happen on the side of the road! 

Louisiana NATMI Certification Course

September 12 -16, 2022 | Baton Rouge, LA

The LMTA Safety Management Council will host a five-day NATMI certification course on September 12 - 16, 2022 at the LMTA office. This course will offer certification for both the Certified Director of Safety (CDS) and the Certified Safety Supervisor (CSS) with the certification exam taking place Friday, September 16 following the course. 

DETAILS

WHEN: September. 12-16

WHERE: LMTA Office (4838 Bennington Avenue, Baton Rouge LA)

CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED: Certified Director of Safety (CDS); Certified Safety Supervisor (CSS) 

REGISTRATION: Complete online through NATMI

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. David Guess

The North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) is North America's leading certification and training organization for today's transportation professionals. 

Certifications through NATMI are recognized throughout the industry and are a professional way to measure your performance and growth. We invite all members to read more on the Benefits of NATMI Certification for both applicants and employers. We hope to see you in September!

LMTA Member Exclusive NO COST Employee Benefits

New benefit plans from LMTA Insurance Management!

We are excited to share our partnership with Mengel Financial Group to bring our members our new benefit plans under LMTA Insurance Management!

Since 2005, Mengel Financial Group has been offering Voluntary Employee Benefits to meet the needs of companies and their employees. Mengel Financial Group is committed to providing our members with the best and most affordable group benefits based on their specific needs. Offering Voluntary Employee Benefits strengthens relationships with your employees and improves retention and recruitment. 

All of the benefits are offered at NO COST TO THE EMPLOYER. Mengel Financial Group has partnered with over 20 insurance carriers, which allows us to provide the best and most affordable benefits to satisfy our member's employee’s needs. Many of their benefit offerings are Guaranteed Issue requiring no medical questions or medical exam.

Mengel Financial Group has been saving companies, employees & owner operators money on benefits since 1989, working with the Georgia Motor Transport Association in recent years, providing their members with affordable benefits.

LMTA Insurance Management also has a local benefits specialist in Tiffany VanHazebroeck, located in Mandeville, LA. Tiffany is ready to help our member companies provide their employees with exclusive voluntary benefits!

For more information or inquiries on benefits - please contact Tiffany VanHazebroeck or Ted Mengel whose information is listed in their profiles here.

FMCSA COVID Declaration & CDL Waiver Extended

Extension of Modified Emergency Decl.No. 2020-002 Under 49 CFR § 390.25

SUMMARY

FMCSA grants a three-month waiver from certain regulations applicable to commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), as defined in 49 CFR § 383.5, in interstate and intrastate commerce, and States administering commercial driver’s license skills tests. FMCSA has initiated this action in response to the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to address continued supply chain disruptions exacerbated by COVID-19. The Agency issued waivers on March 28, 2020, June 17, 2020, September 18, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 16, 2021, May 26, 2021, August 31, 2021, November 29, 2021, February 26, 2022, and May 27, 2022 providing similar relief.

DATES

This waiver is effective September 1, 2022, and expires on November 30, 2022, or upon early termination by FMCSA, whichever is sooner.

To respond to this unique event, to continue the ability of intrastate and interstate CDL and CLP holders to transport goods and people, and to provide flexibilities to SDLAs to accelerate CDL testing, this waiver:

• Waives the requirement under 49 CFR § 383.25(a)(1) that a CLP holder be accompanied by a CDL holder, with the proper CDL class and endorsements, seated in the front seat of the vehicle while the CLP holder operates a CMV on public roads or highways. Under the terms, conditions, and restrictions of this waiver, a CLP holder may operate a CMV on public roads or highways without an accompanying CDL holder present in the front seat of the vehicle, provided that the CDL holder is elsewhere in the cab. In addition, the CLP holder must be in possession of evidence from the testing jurisdiction, including an authorized third-party tester, that the CLP holder has passed the CDL driving skills test, and the CLP holder has a valid non-CDL driver’s license, CLP, and medical certificate.

• Waives the restriction under 49 CFR § 383.79(a) that limits a State to administering a driving skills test, in accordance with subparts F, G, and H of 49 CFR part 383, to an out of state CDL applicant who has taken driver training in that State. Under the terms, conditions, and restrictions of this waiver, a State may elect to administer a driving skills test to any out of state CDL applicant, regardless of where the applicant received driver training. 

• Waives the requirement under 49 CFR § 383.25(e) that CLP holders are not eligible to take the CDL skills test in the first 14 days after initial issuance of the CLP. Under the terms, conditions, and restrictions of this waiver, States may, at their discretion, allow CLP holders to take the CDL skills test without waiting 14 days after initial issuance of the CLP, provided the CLP holder has completed applicable entry-level driver training requirements under 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F

VIEW THE FULL EXTENSION HERE

MORE RESOURCES 

Extension of the Modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 Under 49 CFR § 390.25 (August 31, 2022)

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/extension-modified-emergency-declaration-no-2020-002-under-49-cfr-ss-39025-august-31-2022

Three-Month Waiver in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency – For States and CLP Holders Operating Commercial Motor Vehicles (August 31, 2022)

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/three-month-waiver-response-covid-19-emergency-states-and-clp-holders-operating-8

_____________ all other impacted pages.

Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations

FMCSA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information & Resources

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/COVID-19

Archive of Emergency Declarations 2022

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/archive-emergency-declarations-2022

COVID-19 Archives

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/covid-19-archives

National Weather Service Update - Lightning Risk Possible

Regional Weather Update, Rainfall Through Weekend

Here is an update from our partners at the New Orleans and Baton Rouge NWS.

Main Takeaways:

• The wet pattern will continue with threats of heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Several river flood warnings are also in effect, with prolonged flooding expected along the Pearl River.
• The flash flood watch is currently in effect through 7pm this evening. We don't currently expect to extend it as the threat does look more localized tomorrow through the weekend, but if that changes we will definitely send an update.
• Rain chances remain high Mon/Tues, but amounts look to be a little lower, hopefully providing a lull in the locally heavy rain threat

TRANSPORT TOPICS:

FMCSA Releases Draft Medical Examiners Handbook

"It’s been seven years in the making, but the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration has released a draft copy of the Medical Examiners Handbook that offers revised guidance to help examiners ensure that truck drivers are in good health ..." ((READ NOW))

THE TRUCKER:

Big rigs rolling to rescue in Mississippi capital’s water crisis

"Over the next few days, more than 108 semi-trucks of water are coming into Jackson and seven mega distribution sites will have 36 truckloads of water a day for the public to be able to retrieve, according to Lt. Col. Stephen McCraney, the Mississippi Emergency..." (READ MORE)

BLOOMBERG:

Coming Soon to a Road Near You: Brighter Lane Markings

"US motorists do only a quarter of their driving at night, but roughly half of all deaths on the road take place after dark. The traffic fatality rate spikes after the sun goes down, peaking in the hours after midnight. Most of those deadly crashes involve a roadway departure — vehicles leaving their lane, crossing the center line or driving off the edge..." (READ NOW)