The Official Newsletter of
Louisiana's Trucking Industry  

June 17, 2022
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
2022 Annual Sponsor
DREAM VACATION RAFFLE
Throughout the event we will be selling tickets for our Dream Vacation Raffle - presented TruckPAC, the political action committee of the LMTA. 

Each $100 raffle ticket gives you the chance to win an $8,000 booking voucher to use on the family vacation of your dreams! Possible travel destinations could include Hawaii, New York, Las Vegas, Europe, or anywhere else your family would like to visit! 
THIS WEEK:
The Louisiana Motor Transport Association would like to express our deepest condolences on the recent passing of LMTA Past President Rick Cleveland. Our prayers extend to the Cleveland family, RLC Trucking and friends that grieve him. 

Rick will truly be missed by the staff and membership of the LMTA. View his obituary, find service dates or sign the guestbook below.

2022 LMTA Annual Convention
July 21 - 23  | Pensacola Beach, FL

Truckers, Stronger Together!

Join us in beautiful Pensacola Beach, Fla. at the Hilton Pensacola Beach, July 21-23 for our 2022 Annual Convention. This year's convention will feature keynotes from industry professionals and Louisiana public officials. We will also have dedicated sessions on transportation updates, trucking research, federal and state legislative updates as well as key membership meetings.

In your wealth of free time outside of convention events, enjoy all that the Hilton and Pensacola Beach have to offer, with sugar-white sands and beautiful blue waters. Bring your families, we can’t wait to see you there!
Convention Schedule

THURSDAY, JULY 21
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  • 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Convention Registration
  • 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Family Welcome Reception

FRIDAY, JULY 22
  • 8:00 a.m. - Noon | Convention Registration
  • 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | ATRI: Research & Trends That Shape Trucking
  • 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. | Updates & Movements From Our State's OMV
  • 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Bloody Mary Break
  • 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. | Trucking, Trial Lawyers & Tort Reform
  • 11:15 - 12:30 p.m. | Panel: Women in Louisiana Trucking
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  • 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. (TBD) | Hospitality Suite

SATURDAY, JULY 23
  • 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | National Updates from the American Trucking Associations
  • 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Lawmakers Panel: Legislative Session Wrap-up
  • 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | The Trucking Industry & Louisiana State Police 
  • 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. | Break
  • 11:15 - 12:15 p.m. | LMTA Board & Annual Membership Meeting
  • 12:15 - 12:30 p.m. | TruckPAC Meeting
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  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Cocktail Reception
  • 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Officer Installation Banquet
  • 8:00 - Midnight | Dessert Reception with Live Music & Bar
Capitol Corner: Legislative Session Wrap-Up
With LMTA Executive Director Renee Amar

This year's legislative session produced a mixed bag of results!

The legislature wrapped up its session on Monday, June 6, with decent outcomes for the trucking industry. 

The two key issues that we faced during the legislative session were addressing the proposed tolling on the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge as well as killing the many bills aimed at expanding the time that truckers could be sued. (READ FULL REPORT)
Sign our tolling opposition letter!


By adding your name and information to the following form, an email will be sent on your account to both the Governor's and DOTD Secretary's offices. This takes less than a minute, and brings us one step closer to eliminating the proposed tolls on I-10!

To help in the fight, visit https://www.tollsaredoubletax.com/.
Facebook: Tolls Are a Double Tax
Twitter: @TollsDoubleTax
Instagram: @TollsAreDoubleTax_
Open Committee Positions and Leadership Opportunities
A message from President-Elect Cully Frisard

Members,

It is an honor to be elected to serve as your 2022-2023 LMTA President of the Board. As President, my goal for my term is to engage our membership as much as possible in our committees and by extension the direction of the organization. 
 
One of my duties as incoming President is to recruit members to our standing committees outlined in the association’s bylaws. As an association, we use these committee positions to develop leadership for the LMTA Board of Directors and elected Officers of the Board. If you are interested in joining LMTA’s leadership, these positions are an excellent starting point. 
 
As President, I am calling on any interested members to serve on the following open committee positions. If you are interested in filling a listed position, please contact me or Executive Director Renee Amar via email or phone.
 
Events Committee: 
Description: This committee is dedicated to making sure each event is a great business and social experience for all attendees. This group is responsible for helping select the venues, programming and networking opportunities for each of the association’s major events. With a variety of roles, from analyzing event feedback to venue scouting, there is an opportunity for all those interested to get involved.
  • Interests: Networking, travel, planning & fundraising
  • Meeting Frequency: Monthly/post large events via Zoom
  • Time Commitment: Moderate-High
  • Available positions: 3
 
Membership Committee: 
Description: This committee invites those with contacts in the trucking industry to help us grow the association’s membership. Dedicated to recruitment, engagement and helping the LMTA staff promote the association – this is one of the most important committees that impacts the longevity of the association.
  • Interests: Networking, recruitment, retention, promotion, fundraising & research
  • Meeting Frequency: Monthly via Zoom
  • Time Commitment: Moderate-High
  • Available positions: 3
 
Finance Committee:
Description: LMTA’s newest committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing the association’s financials against the Board’s approved budget. The committee also gives input into the association's financial practices and procedures. 
  • Interests: Accounting, finance, budgeting & fundraising 
  • Meeting Frequency: Monthly via Zoom
  • Time Commitment: High
  • Available positions: 2
 
As incoming President, I thank you for your commitment to our association. I look forward to hearing from our members and hope to see you each soon at our Annual Convention in July.

Thanks,
 
Cully Frisard 
2022-2023 President of the Board | Louisiana Motor Transport Association
CEO | Frisard Companies 
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
National Weather Service Advisories
Extreme Heat Advisory - 6.16 - 6.23

WHAT: Potentially dangerous heat conditions with heat index values of 108-112 degrees.   
WHEN: Each day from mid-morning through early evening through just about the entire 7-day forecast. 
WHERE: All of coastal and southwest Mississippi and most of southeast Louisiana except along the coast.
 
CONFIDENCE: We are confident hot temperatures and high humidity will occur today through Saturday and could quickly lead to heat illness if precautions aren’t taken. Slightly drier air may keep peak heat index values in the 100-105 degree range Sunday through Tuesday. Nonetheless, it will still be very hot with high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. 
 
Impacts: 
  • Heat index readings will climb above 108 degrees for multiple hours this afternoon.
  • Heat index readings above 112 degrees are possible in a few spots Friday and Saturday afternoons.
  • Prolonged Heat Wave: The combination of triple-digit afternoon heat index readings and morning lows remaining well above normal for an extended period will provide little if any relief for the body to cool for those without access to air conditioning or cooling centers. 

The graphic highlights the area covered by the Heat Advisory, timing of the Heat Advisory, and impacts expected. 
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
OMV Alerts CDL and CLP Customers to Verify Medical Certificates
Cancellation notices started Monday, June 13.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is advising commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) customers to verify their medical certificate status.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles will begin sending cancellation notices to CDL and CLP drivers who have an expired medical certificate on Monday, June 13, 2022. The notice will inform the driver they have 30 days from the date of notification to submit an unexpired medical certificate to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or their commercial driving privileges will be canceled. 
 
Customers can submit their medical examiner certificate to the Office of Motor Vehicles in the following ways: 
 
2. Fax: 225-925-3901 
3. Mail: Office of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896 
 
CDL and CLP holders can confirm their medical status at www.expresslane.org. Commercial drivers must have a current medical certification or variance in their possession at all times while operating a commercial motor vehicle. 
Survey: TWIC and HME Delays
Member input is requested from our national partners at ATA.

Below is a message from our partners at the American Trucking Associations regarding challenges with the enrollment and renewal processes for Hazardous Materials Endorsements (HMEs) and Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWICs). 

We ask all affected members to fill out the survey to help ATA staff gather data and better understand the scope of these problems and identify relevant patterns. This information will help ATA advocate for solutions that directly address underlying problems. 
 
Please answer the questions on this online survey with as much detail as possible. Please have only ONE representative from your company fill out the survey to avoid duplicate answers. There is no deadline at the moment to fill this out, but we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact LMTA Executive Director Renee Amar (renee@lmta.la).
National Truck Driving Championships Volunteer Forms

ATA is excited to host the 2022 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) and National Step Van Driving Championships (NSVDC) in Indianapolis, scheduled for August 16-19. The Championships are the culmination of local, state and regional truck driving championships from across the country. The national competition shines the spotlight on the industry's best and safest professional drivers and gives them the opportunity to compete to be named the best of the best. 

If you would like to volunteer for nationals, please complete the volunteer sign-up form and return it to the information listed.
Industry Input - EV Charging Plan Survey
Requesting feedback on incorporating the needs and interests of the freight/trucking industry around the state.

On behalf of the state EV Planning Committee, we are requesting feedback from the Louisiana Motor Transport Association and its members on how our Louisiana EV Charging Plan should incorporate the needs and interests of freight / trucking industry around the state.

Please have your members participating in the following high level survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LA_NEVI



Northshore Job Fair: Construction, Logistics & Manufacturing
Transportation Industry Welcomed - Employer Registration Required

  • June 14: 1PM-4PM
  • Slidell Auditorium ( 2056 2nd St, Slidell, LA 70458)
  • Event Website
Save the Dates:
Bill Clark Memorial Golf Tournament
July 21, 2022
2022 LMTA Annual Convention
July 21 - July 23, 2022
Family Vacation Raffle Drawing
July 25, 2022
LMTA Annual Convention
Trucking News:
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HDT
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HDT:
"A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would repeal the Federal Excise Tax on heavy trucks and trailers.Rep. Chris Pappas from New Hampshire (D-N.H.) and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) on June 16 introduced the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation would repeal ..." (READ NOW)