The Official Newsletter of Louisiana's Trucking Industry   December 17, 2021

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2021 Fall Transportation Conference Sponsors

Wednesday Breakfast Presenter

LMTA to be on Road Dog Trucking Radio - SiriusXM Channel 146 LMTA's Renee Amar will be joining Dave Nemo of The Dave Nemo Show with Road Dog Trucking Radio next Wednesday, December 22 at 8:30 am. Amar will be joining Nemo for his "The State of Trucking" segment discussing the current issues facing Louisiana's industry.

LMTA on FOX 8 News -WVUE New Orleans LMTA's Renee Amar will also be joining the WVUE FOX 8 Morning Edition Thursday, December 30 at 7:15 am. Amar will be discussing the pilot drive safe act and how it could help relieve the workforce shortage we face.

THIS WEEK: LMTA in the News Business Report: Supply chain snags, aging workforce fuel demand for truckers, training Fox News: Impact of government policy on supply chain and inflation Association Updates from the LMTA MEMO: Winter Management Summit & Training LMTA 2022 Sponsorships Coming in January WATCH: Testing & Vaccinations Mandate and Your Business Webinar LMTA Member Resources Webpage - Now Live MEMO: All 2022 have been emailed, contact us if you have NOT received an email LMTA Foundation Scholarships through LCTCS Application Link Share on Social Media Online Permit Prep Courses Industry Updates Louisiana Ranked #6 in Latest "Judicial Hellholes" Report COVID-19 FMCSA Updates: Emergency Declaration, Medical Exams, Third Party CDLs MEMO: ATA Update: Biden Administration Vaccine Mandate Save the Dates March 4-5, 2022: LA Truck Driving Championships April 23, 2022: LMTA Seafood Gala Book Rooms July 21 - 23, 2022: LMTA Annual Convention Book Rooms Trucking News White House looks to boost U.S. trucking industry Record-setting used truck prices no deterrent to spot rate-chasing buyers White House Unveils Plan to Recruit Truck Drivers

LMTA in the News

BUSINESS REPORT: Supply chain snags, aging workforce fuel demand for truckers, training “Truckers have faced a critical shortage of workers over the last decade and the pandemic has only exacerbated that problem, especially for tank truck drivers ..."  (READ NOW)

FOX NEWS: Impact of government policy on supply chain and inflation "Randy Guillot, Triple G Express & Southeastern Motor Freight, talking on Fox News about government policies that impact his trucking business and worsen supply chain issues..." (WATCH NOW)

Reptile Theory - Tactical Training for Litigation Defence LMTA Exclusive Training Seminar - March 23 & 24 Join us next year for our Winter Management Summit, at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, LA to help us plan for 2022. We will be joined by special guest to learn about the Reptile Theory and how you can defend your trucking business from snakes and their snake oil. You won’t want to miss this seminar, with limited space available. Details will be shared in the new year as they become available.

2022 Annual Sponsorship Opportunities Our revised Annual Partnership program will be available this January for the new year! LMTA’s Annual Sponsorship Program is back for 2022 with added benefits you won't want to miss! This year we will only be offering six exclusive sponsorship opportunities, with unique advertising and access for our sponsors.   The LMTA is the voice of Louisiana's trucking industry, advocating for and championing our membership. If your business or organization is interested in building or strengthening your brand to the hardest working membership base in Louisiana, this is the opportunity for you!   Annual sponsorship opportunities will be available in January. If you are interested in these partnerships and would like to receive updates as they become available, please email the LMTA staff.

Renee Amar Executive Director renee@lmta.la 225-287-0117

Hailey Austin Events & Executive Assistant hailey@lmta.la 225-773-8698

Find out about the Covid-19 Mandate and the IMPACT on Your Company and Employees! Testing & Vaccinations Mandate Webinar

WATCH NOW

As written the current federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate has the potential to impact the trucking industry by requiring businesses with over 100 employees to be vaccinated or be tested. If the courts do not continue the stay for the mandate, truckers will have to comply by February 2022. Watch as we breakdown what these mandates will mean for our industry.  Fred Preis, senior partner of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson will join us to educate truckers as to how best to prepare their business and their employees for the Covid-19 mandate. He will walk us through the language as it is written and what your organization will be required to do to stay compliant. He will also discuss the excessive non-compliance penalties associated with the mandate and the pending court case, of which ATA & LMTA have joined in as petitioners.

New Member Resources Webpage Read past Truck Talk newsletters, watch webinars & more VISIT NOW

All 2022 Membership Dues Have Been Sent Please reach out to the LMTA Office if you have not received your invoices 2022 Membership Dues (including Safety Management Council, HHG, TruckPAC contributions, etc.) have been processed. This year we will only be sending electronic invoices using the representative emails we have on file. If you have had any changes in your organization, or had issues in the past receiving emails from the LMTA, please contact our office so we can ensure we have your updated information on file. As always, we thank you for your time and dedication to our association and industry. We exist to serve our members and the trucking industry, please reach out to us with any concerns! Thanks, LMTA Staff

Renee Amar Executive Director renee@lmta.la 225-287-0117

Burton Comeaux Accounting Director burton@lmta.la 225-928-5682

Allison Strahan Communications Director allison@lmta.la 225-287-5684

Trucking & CDL Scholarships - LMTA Foundation Through all Louisiana Community & Technical College System schools. This scholarship program is dedicated to students and prospective students interested in a career in Transportation and Logistics. This scholarship is intended to assist students in their pursuit of a high value credential while learning necessary skills to earn employment in the transportation and logistics industry. Requirements: Applicant must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a Transportation and Logistics program with emphasis on CDL programs. Applicant must be at least 18 years old. Applicant must plan to participated in a minimum eight (8) hour ride along with a trucking company. A ride along is defined as: Eight hours in one day spent as a passenger (observer) with a motor carrier, which is defined as a vehicle used to transport passengers or property for compensation. Applicant must be a prospective student making an application to a LCTCS college.  Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2022 The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Foundation has been working to provide workforce solutions for the LMTA's membership and the trucking industry as a whole. We want anyone in the trucking industry to share this opportunity through your business and even with your local high schools to help us engage the next generation of truckers! APPLICATION LINK  SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

New Online Permit Prep Course - Sponsored by the LMTA Foundation SOWELA is now offering day and night courses start December 2, 2021 and are free through February 2022. Classes will be held monthly on every second and third Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Learn about CDL rules and regulations from the experts! Experienced, live instructors are ready to guide you through the CDL Manual. Realistic Practice Tests Firsthand Information on Louisiana Trucking Jobs First 10 Seats Guaranteed for Louisiana Motor Carrier Companies This program has been sponsored by the Louisiana Trucking Research and Education Council and the LMTA Foundation. For more information, contact Jonnika Boutte at jonnika.boutte@sowela.edu or (337) 421-6987 DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

Louisiana Ranked #6 in Latest "Judicial Hellholes" Report Louisiana has landed at the No. 6 spot on the 2021-2022 Judicial Hellholes list, released by the American Tort Reform Foundation, moving only one spot down from last year. This marks the twelfth year jurisdictions in Louisiana have been named among the most unjust local courts and state civil justice systems in the country.  From vetoes of legal reform bills to ongoing coastal lawsuits and misconduct in the judiciary, Louisiana is no stranger to being named a Judicial Hellhole. Marking the 20th anniversary of the report, Louisiana was named among seven “Everlasting Judicial Hellholes” earlier this summer.   Louisiana continues to lose jobs and revenue to the tune of billions of dollars annually due to excessive civil courts costs. Every Louisianan pays a $451 “tort tax” each year due to the costs of excessive lawsuits. The current total impact of these costs results in $3.87 billion in lost economic activity, 22,550 job losses and $1.12 billion in lost wages for hardworking Louisianans.   If Louisiana enacted additional reforms, residents and businesses could save an estimated $2.1 billion.   Lawsuit abuse harms average, hardworking Americans by clogging our court system with meritless and frivolous cases, taking dollars away from research and development of new consumer products, driving up insurance costs, and driving away jobs. The 2021-22 report ranks eight Judicial Hellholes while shining a light on lawsuit abuse and its effects. To read more please see the Louisiana section of the report. READ MORE

COVID-19 Updates Emergency Declaration, Medical Exam Extensions & Third Party CDL Testing November 29, 2021 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the extension of several of the COVID-19 Emergency Waivers and Declarations that were set to expire. FMCSA’s Emergency Declaration that was set to expire on November 30th has been extended until February 28, 2022. FMCSA has extended the CDL and CLP waivers under certain circumstance.States are permitted to extend the validity of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and commercial learner’s permits (CLP) for those issued on or after March 1, 2020, until February 28, 2022. FMCSA has extended waivers related to third-party CDL skills test examiners, and CLP holders operating a CMV. FMCSA has indicated they intend to review the status of certain waivers as of January 3, 2022 and may take action to terminate the waivers sooner if conditions warrant. As always, carriers and drivers should review the details of these waivers to ensure applicability and compliance. If you have any questions, reach out to us. For more information please see the full article. READ MORE

ATA Update: Biden Administration Vaccine Mandate   November 30, 2021 | From our national partners at the American Trucking Associations:   While the litigation continues in the 6th Circuit, we wanted to update you on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s activities on the COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS). OSHA has extended the comment period to January 19, 2022 on the ETS – purportedly to allow stakeholders time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment. ATA will be filing comments on the ETS and we will share those in January.   Also today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky blocked another component of the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine mandate, specifically for federal contractors. This is the first ruling on challenges for mandating federal contractor vaccination, and it’s important to note that the ruling only applies to three states, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. But as cases continue through the federal courts, the rulings continue to find shortcomings in the vaccine mandates for federal contractors and also for OSHA to impose on employers.  While not directly relevant to our industry, yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri enjoined the health care vaccine mandate issued by the Department of Health and Human Services in 10 states. We will keep you updated as further developments take place.

Save the Dates:

2022 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships March 4 - March 5, 2022 L'Auberge Baton Rouge

2022 Winter Management Summit March 23 - March 24, 2022 Hotel Bentley - Alexandria

2022 LMTA Seafood Gala April 23, 2022 Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center Book Rooms Now!

2022 LMTA Annual Convention July 21 - July 25, 2022 Hilton Pensacola Beach Book Rooms Now!

Trucking News:

REUTERS: White House looks to boost U.S. trucking industry "The Biden administration is meeting with the trucking industry on Thursday as it looks to help add new drivers to a key part of U.S. supply chains.The White House says COVID-19 "exacerbated longstanding workforce challenges in the trucking industry, including high..." (READ MORE)

FREIGHTWAVES: Record-setting used truck prices no deterrent to spot rate-chasing buyers "Demand for low-mileage used trucks led desperate buyers to pay almost twice as much for used iron at November auctions as a year ago, reversing places with typically higher retail prices..." (READ MORE)

TRANSPORT TOPICS: White House Unveils Plan to Recruit Truck Drivers "The Biden administration is launching a multifaceted program in partnership with industry that aims to expand recruiting efforts in trucking through various efforts, and elevate the appeal of what one senior administration..." (READ MORE)

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