The Official Newsletter of
Louisiana's Trucking Industry  

July 29, 2022
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
2022 Annual Sponsor
WINNER ANNOUNCED - DREAM VACATION RAFFLE

Congratulations to our winner, Kaitlyn McQuillin with Guillory Petroleum Transport!

The Family Vacation Raffle winner was selected on the last day of our 2022 Annual Convention during our dessert reception. A video of the drawing can be found on our the Association's Facebook page.

We thank everyone who participated in our raffle! Together we were able to raise $8,500 for the Truck PAC. Those funds will go to representing our members and industry in Baton Rouge & across the state.
THIS WEEK:
State Court Decision & The Growth of 'Reptile Theory' Use
Thursday, August 4 | 9:00 am

On June 29th, the Louisiana Supreme Court rendered a decision in Martin v. Greer Logging, LLC. In that case, for the first time, the Louisiana Supreme Court recognized a cause of action against Motor Carriers for “negligent hiring, training, retention, or supervision” of drivers. This decision opens up a wide range of liability and discovery problems and feeds into the plaintiffs’ bar’s use of the reptile theory.

Please join us Thursday, August 4 at 9:00 am for a webinar, presented by our general counsel, Doug Williams of Breazeale Sachse & Wilson law firm, that will discuss the impact of this decision and steps to be taken to defend against those types of claims.
Decision on Classifying Owner-Operators & Impact on Trucking
Wednesday, August 17 | 10:00am

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on June 30 it has declined to hear an appeal of a California state law aimed at reclassifying owner-operators as motor carrier employees.

In an order list, the high court without comment denied a petition for review by the California Trucking Association of California’s AB 5 law that CTA has said includes a legal test, known as the three-pronged “ABC test,” that will all but ensure that independent owner-operators will be reclassified as carrier employees.

The denial leaves in place the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that federal law does not pre-empt application of AB 5 law to owner-operators. Eventually, the case will have to go back to the district court to consider CTA’s “commerce clause” claim.

Join us on August 17, 2022 at 9 am via zoom as Drew Burnside with Ogletree Deakins breaks down this decision and how you can best protect your trucking business.
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) 
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 Welcomes 2022-2023 Officers and Leadership
President of the Board, Cully Frisard, Announces Committee Appointments

Members, 

We confirmed the appointment of its 2022-2023 Officers of the Board at the association's Annual Convention, held at the Hilton Pensacola Beach on July 23. Officers of the Board are elected by the association’s membership, the 2022-2023 Officers of the LMTA Board of Directors are as follows:
  • Chairman of the Board: Karl Mears of Razorback Rentals
  • President of the Board: Cully Frisard of Frisard Companies
  • First Vice President: Nataly Madden of Signature Transportation
  • Second Vice President: Brad Nelson of FreedomTruck of America
  • Vice President at Large: Mike Beck of McGriff Insurance
  • Secretary: Judy Smart of Roadrunner Recovery & Towing
  • Treasurer: Nicole Otillio of Bengal Transportation
  • American Trucking Associations (ATA) Vice President: Shaun Fontenot of A&B Transportation
  • American Trucking Associations (ATA) Vice President - Alternate: Mitch Guillot of Triple G Express
  • Chairman of Council of Past Presidents: Max Luna of Agway Systems

President of the Board, Cully Frisard also recognized his appointments to the association's standing committees.
Appointments are as follows:
  • Events Committee: Chairman Mitch Guillot (Triple G Express); Vice Chairwoman Danielle Guadamud (BXS Insurance)
  • Finance Committee: Chairwoman Nicole Otillio (Bengal Transportation); Appointees Justin Hatcher (Hatcher Dairy Farms), Jordan Hymel (Frisard Companies), Kristen Plaisance (Southeastern Motor Freight), Todd Ruple (Preferred Materials), and Cap White (Old River Truck Sales)
  • Legislative Committee: Chairman Ricky Reese (American Moving & Storage); Vice Chairman Randy Guillot (Triple G Express)
  • Membership Committee: Chairman Chevis Boone (Louisiana Companies), Vice Chairman Jim Casey (MHC Carrier Transicold), Vice Chairman Mike Beck (McGriff Insurance); Appointees Andrew Burnside (Ogletree Deakins), Cameron Fienberg (Ryder Truck Rental), Chris Higgins (H&P Leasing), and Spriggs TeRoller (Ryder Truck Leasing)

TruckPAC News & Updates - July 2022
Message from Chairman Tim Ordoyne

Members, 

Our Convention Theme: “TRUCKERS STRONGER TOGETHER” What a great theme and message to send out to OUR Association. Because its true! There is nothing we can’t do if we stick together. We move mountains every day and refuse to fail. 

So, I will vent on a subject that I can’t figure out about OUR Association-TruckPac Dues! Last year we wrote off $44,000.00 dollars of unpaid TruckPac dues that were not paid. This year we need to write off 50,000.00 dollars of unpaid TruckPac Dues. The dues are $200.00 dollars per member each year. Please help me understand why we are not standing together on this issue in these times. 

The issues we deal with annually that affect transportation need to be fought in Baton Rouge and in Washington D.C. This fight takes money plain and simple. We need funds to be relevant and have a stronger seat and voice at the table. 

“200 Dollars” Let’s break it down:
1 Purse
1 Pair of dress shoes
2 rounds of golf
1 Dinner out with family of 4 or 6
2 Tanks of gas (LOL)

Why would we, in these times and in this industry, not be willing to sacrifice $200 dollars a year to help advocate for OUR INDUSTRY! I just can’t accept the fact of writing off $50,000 dollars without trying to shake some trees and wake people up. At this time, I would like for everyone to do some soul searching and “GET ON THE BUS”-Help us help you. Please Pay Your Dues!!

There are now two ways to contribute with corporate or personal funds to TruckPAC: Email Burton or call Burton at (225) 928-5682 for your invoice and you can then pay online. 

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.
TIFFANY VANHAZEBROECK
Benefits Specialist
(678) 977-5175
TED MENGEL
CEO
(404) 314-6799
FMCSA Apprenticeship Pilot Program Applications & Information Webinar
FMCSA Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program (SDAP) Portal Opened Tuesday, July 26

FMCSA's Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program (SDAP) will open its application portal for participation on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program acknowledges that safety is the highest priority for truck drivers.

SDAP will help individuals between 18 – 20 explore interstate trucking careers and assist trucking companies in hiring and training new drivers through rigorous training standards – pairing each young driver with an experienced mentor. For more information, please view the SDAP Public Information Webinar that covers training qualifications, participation requirements, and instructions about the application process.

Please contact safedriver@dot.gov with any additional questions.
National Weather Service Update - No Advisories
Regional Weather Update - 7.29.22

Here is an update from our partners at the New Orleans and Baton Rouge NWS.
 
Overview:
WHAT: Continued hot and humid conditions with scattered showers/storms.
 
WHEN: Weekend through early parts of next week, with possible lightning advisory Monday night.
 
WHERE: All areas today then mainly the southern half of the area Friday through Tuesday morning.
 
The image below gives the expected rainfall totals today through Saturday.
Additional Information and Resources:
NWS New Orleans Website: www.weather.gov/neworleans
NWS New Orleans DSS Website: http://www.weather.gov/lix/embrief
NWS New Orleans Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSNewOrleans
NWS New Orleans Twitter: https://twitter.com/NWSNewOrleans
Save the Dates:
Legal Webinar
State Court Decision & The Growth of 'Reptile Theory' Use
Aug. 4, 2022 | 9:00 AM
Legal Webinar
Decision on Classifying Owner-Operators & Impact on Trucking
Aug. 17, 2022 | 10:00 am
NATMI Certification Course
Join North America's leading certification and training organization for today's transportation professionals
September 12 - 16, 2022
LMTA Office - Baton Rouge, LA
LMTA's Fall Management Conference
Featuring: Mongoose Method Litigation Defense Training Pt. 2
DATE MOVED: Nov. 7-8, 2022
LMTA's Transportation Conference
Hear from industry experts on trucking issues
Jan. 17 & 18, 2022
Trucking News:
FLEET OWNER:
"Up to 1,000 fleets can participate in the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot, allowing up to 3,000 younger CDL-holders to operate interstate while FMCSA studies the ramifications of expanding ..." (READ MORE)
TRANSPORT TOPICS:
"The Federal Reserve on July 27 raised its benchmark interest rate by a hefty three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its most aggressive drive in three decades to tame high inflation..." (READ NOW)
DC VELOCITY:
"The Senate voted 64-33 in favor of passing the $280 billion bill, which includes more than $50 billion in subsidies for chipmakers building new foundries in the United States, $170 billion in incentives for research and development, as well as tax incentives...."