2024 Lifeliner Magazine --- Issue 1

STRATEGICALLY SERVING MEMBERS

Delivering tailored resources, fostering networking opportunities, and advocating for collective interests of IMTA members simply by asking for feedback and turning responses into action.

Our mission is to assist transportation companies and their people with protecting and maximizing assets, resources and opportunities. We help companies reduce insurance costs, leverage safety technology, and create operational e ciencies.

Scan to learn more or to get in touch with one of our Transportation Specialists

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Headquarters in Cedar Rapids, IA

IMTA Strategic Priorities p12

After several months of gathering information, the IMTA Board has determined which issues and concerns of the trucking industry will be the priorities of the Association for the upcoming year.

The Volatile Trucking Economy p20

The last the last four years have been the most volatile period in the trucking industry thanks to the ups and downs of the economy. But when can trucking expect to see the best of times again?

SPONSORS

IFC TrueNorth Companies

p2 Truck Country

p4 Truck Center Companies

p11 Thompson Truck & Trailer

p16 Midwest Peterbilt Group

p17

p22

p23

p28

p29

FEATURES

p3 Chairman’s Message

p5 President’s Message

p6 Iowa Update

p9 National Update

p12 IMTA Strategic Priorities

p14 ATRI Update

p18 Up Close and Personal

p20 Economic Update

p24 Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation

p28 Human Resources Insight

p34 IMTA Update

p40 Final Thought

OUR STAFF

BRENDA NEVILLE, CAE President & CEO brenda@iowamotortruck.com

JANELLE STEVENS Director of Communications, Education & Events janelle@iowamotortruck.com

ALLISON MEINERS

Director of Safety & Member Services allison@iowamotortruck.com

EMILY HOUSBY Education & Events Manager emily@iowamotortruck.com

IOWA MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION

AUSTIN BYRNES Communications & Marketing Manager

austin@iowamotortruck.com

GARY HANDLEY Special Projects Coordinator

gary@iowamotortruck.com

KEVIN WILLIAMS Special Projects Coordinator kevin@iowamotortruck.com

Renewable Energy Group

MHC Kenworth

Great West Casualty Co.

Luma Brighter Learning

Cornerstone Sponsors

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GTG Peterbilt

Scale Funding

p33 Central Trailer Service

Sanco Thermo King

p36 Ziegler CAT

IMTA Show Trailer

p37 Quality Services Corp. Trivista Companies

IBC Alliance Interstate Risk

BC Midwest Wheel Companies

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WAYNE TRAVERSE CITY

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with some outstanding leaders. These individuals exemplify what I consider to be a good leader. They were hard working, successful, consistent, competent, trustworthy, and passionate in not only leading the organization but also helping others lead and develop as a leader.

I have also worked with some folks that were not good leaders. They were in positions of power and needed to be good leaders, but they sadly missed the mark. While they had the competency for the job, they simply did not have the skill set to lead. These individuals were as impactful to my leadership journey as the good ones. I appreciate the lessons learned from working with both types of leaders, the good and the bad. All of these experiences were essential in my ability to grow as a leader.

Over the last several years, I have learned a lot about leadership by serving on the IMTA Board of Directors. IMTA has a large board by today’s standards, with over 35 trucking CEOS and vendors serving on the board. From my first meeting, I was impressed with the high level of engagement and commitment that was demonstrated by the board members. They take their role on the board very seriously.

I HOPE YOU ARE INVESTING TIME AND ENERGY IN DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. IT IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE.

Most of our meetings have over 90% participation by the board members. These folks want to serve and put in the work required to be a valuable leader to IMTA. They represent a lot of different types of operations from all over the State of Iowa. They come prepared for the meetings and set aside their personal positions to develop solutions, strategies, and positions that are for the good of the entire association and more importantly, the trucking industry.

While many of us on the board are competitors, that is set aside in the meetings, we simply roll up our sleeves and get to work on tackling the issues that impact us all. I have learned a great deal from

my fellow board members and am very proud of the work we do. As I have gained experience as a board member, I now understand why there is a waiting list of folks that want to get on the IMTA board.

It is this same set of leaders over 30 years ago that had the vision to start the IMTA leadership program. The IMTA leadership program is the longest running leadership program in the nation as far as state trucking associations are concerned. In fact, many states have used our program to develop their own programs and like IMTA, they have come to learn that investing and developing our future leaders is such an important job.

I recently had the honor of spending some time with the 2024 IMTA leadership class. These 18 individuals represent the “best of the best” of upcoming leaders. Speaking to the 2024 leadership class will probably be the easiest speaking gig I will have as your chairman. I was asked to talk about my leadership journey and share with the group some of my opinions relative to leadership. It was a fun presentation with good interaction and engagement. The highlight for me, however, was getting acquainted with this group of bright and enthusiastic leaders. It was fun spending time with this group, and they are impressive. The future is bright for our association and the leadership program is the catalyst for this optimism.

SCOTT SZYMANEK IMTA’s Chairman of the Board

The 2024 IMTA leadership class is featured on pages 38 and 39. I encourage you to reach out and provide your support to this fine group of individuals. But more importantly, I challenge you to make this a top priority within your own organization. Taking the time to invest in the development of future leaders is by far the most important work we can do not only as leaders but as an association and an industry. I am certain that the return on that investment will pay big dividends for years to come.

I am always accessible by phone or email, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to learn more about developing leaders or simply talk about the association or trucking. I am eager to serve the membership and always interested in feedback from the members.

I had the privilege of seeing history made on February 15th as I sat down to watch the Iowa Hawkeye Women’s basketball game. Two minutes into the game against the University of Michigan, 22 year old Caitlin Clark hit the 3,528th point of her college career. That amazing shot made her the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball.

Quite honestly, I was surprised at how emotional that moment was for me. I was so tremendously proud and excited for this young woman and the profound and powerful impact she has had on not only on the trajectory of women’s basketball but quite honestly the landscape for women in general.

The role model that she has become for women of all ages and walks of life is truly inspiring. The impact that she is making will be felt for generations and goes way beyond basketball. She epitomizes what it means to work hard, pursue a dream, and capture this unprecedented success with humility, poise and the kind of confidence that is needed to break records and shatter stereotypes.

In the days that followed this extraordinary milestone, I was saddened and frankly, angered to read the derogative comments made by other women. Women that had been as equally effective in their trailblazing efforts to break records and glass ceilings quickly shattered more than goodwill with their pettiness and jealousness.

This was a stark reminder to me that while we, as woman, have made great strides, there is still work to be done in supporting and lifting one another.

Early in my career at IMTA, I participated in an IMTA board training session. The woman leading the session was articulate, confident, and extremely talented in guiding 40 strong-willed, successful men through a strategic planning session. I was not only in awe of her expertise and brilliance with the subject matter but equally impressed by her confidence and her ability to hold her own when there was obvious dissension in the group.

After a full day of this intense session, I was eager to ask her if she would be willing to serve as a mentor for me. I was 24 years old and recognized I had a lot to learn not only about the trucking industry but also about myself and my ability to serve in this role at IMTA. I was so excited at the prospect of having someone so extraordinary help me become more effective.

Sadly however, my hopes were quickly dashed when I received an emphatic NO and was told that I needed to do the same thing that she had done…. figure it out on my own. Initially I was angry and honestly, a little stunned by her response. But within a short amount of time, I realized I had many great role models at my disposal as I did more work with our board and committee leaders. These exceptional people taught me more than they will ever know through their words and actions as volunteer leaders for IMTA.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Over the next three decades, I had a front row seat to the action and actively worked with many gifted mentors and role models. Both men and women involved with this association and the trucking industry have had an instrumental impact on my development not only as a leader for IMTA but as a woman working to be the best version of myself. These extraordinary individuals have been brutally honest and unapologetically bold in their feedback and counsel, which is exactly what I needed and wanted. They pushed me and challenged me. Sometimes it was very difficult and daunting as I ventured outside of my comfort zone. But they always reminded me that in order to grow as a person, I had to do difficult things and make difficult decisions. And there were times I failed miserably and times I was wildly successful, and they were there through it all.

I have also had the honor of working with many amazing men and women as their mentor. I have learned as much from these individuals as they have ever learned from me and after my early experience with rejection from a potential mentor, I vowed I would never say “no” to someone that wanted a mentor.

BRENDA NEVILLE IMTA President & CEO

Maybe the emotions that came with seeing Caitlin Clark drain that historic shot were simply 37 years of emotions that accompanied my journey. A journey that was peppered with missteps, stumbles, and many missed shots. But through the support of many people who invested in my success, I am where I am today. Nothing as historic as Caitlin Clark, but very impactful to this Iowa farm girl, nonetheless.

I believe, now more than ever, we must find ways to support, help, and lift people to be successful. We all have something to offer and share which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on a peer, colleague or even a stranger. I challenge you to find one person in your operation that you can take under your wing to help them gain the confidence to succeed.

As for the woman who gave me that sage advice in 1987 to “figure it out on your own”. She was in the audience for a trucking presentation I gave to a group of female business leaders a few years ago. I shared this same story and after the presentation as people were milling around and talking with me, she passed by me and caught my eye, then she simply gave me a wink and thumbs up.

Well played Mary, well played.

IOWA UPDATE

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE IOWA CAPITOL?

When the 2024 legislative session officially convened on Monday, January 8th, the focus was on higher education, tax cuts and nursing homes. Legislative leaders are committed to a pro-business environment in the State of Iowa.

“One of our areas of focus is competitiveness. We want to improve Iowa’s competitiveness with the states around us. By doing this we will make our state the best place to live, work and raise a family,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver in his opening day speech to the Iowa legislature.

The first major deadline for the session was Friday, February 16th, the first funnel for the session. By this first funnel deadline, most bills must have passed through a full committee in order to still be “alive”. These funnel deadlines enable legislators to narrow their focus on the bills that ultimately have “risen to the top” and are considered the top priorities. The tentative date for adjournment is April 16th.

Below is a summary of the bills of interest to IMTA that are still alive and others that didn’t make it past the required funnel date.

LAWSUIT ABUSE LEGISLATION (TORT REFORM) STILL IN THE FOREFRONT

After several years, IMTA passed historic lawsuit abuse legislation last year setting a cap on non-economic damages for commercial motor vehicles in Iowa. This year legislation was introduced to repeal everything that IMTA passed last year. The bill, SF 2224, failed to advance out of Transportation committee. A big thank you to Senators Mike Klimesh, Waylon Brown and Tom Shipley for not even holding a subcommittee meeting.

There were several other bills introduced attempting further tort reform in areas unrelated to commercial motor vehicles and none of these bills made it through the first funnel, thus being dead for the session.

One of the bills made changes in “phantom damages”, legislation IMTA passed three years ago prohibiting plaintiff attorneys from claiming damages that were covered by insurance. This legislation (SSB 3028 and HSB 504) would have broadened the coverage for damages incurred in the future.

Another bill would have limited information provided to a jury pertaining to medical expenses. It also failed to advance.

Two other bills giving lawsuit protection to manufacturers of pesticides were introduced. The House version failed to advance out of committee, but the Senate version appears to be still alive but faces an uphill battle. As we know all to well, tort reform isn’t easy..

BLUE LIGHTS AND DEBRIS

HF 529 requires that cleaning up debris (glass, oil, cargo) from an accident to be an insurable claim. Tow truck operators argued they have been required to clean up crash sites and have been stuck with the costs associated with the cleanup if the owner’s insurance did not cover the associated costs. The proposed legislation also allows tow trucks to use rear facing blue lights. It appears the legislation could require truck owners to carry additional coverage for cleanup. The legislation failed to advance.

PROHIBITION ON HANDHELD DEVICES WHILE DRIVING AND BANNING TRAFFIC CAMERAS

SSB 3016 and HSB 668 prohibit the use of phones or any handheld device while driving. IMTA’s interest is to make sure drivers are still able to communicate with their dispatch. The ban on use of phones is included in a bill that would ban traffic cameras. The Senate version has passed out of committee and will be on the Senate debate calendar.

TRUCK WEIGHTS FOR NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES ADJUSTED

Legislation allowing a change in truck weights powered by natural gas or battery to allow these vehicles to run at 82,000 pounds on state roads. These vehicles are currently allowed to run at 82,000 pounds on interstate highways. Both the House bill, HF 2447 and the Senate bill, SF 2143 have passed out of committee.

PROHIBITION ON LITIGATION FINANCING

HF 2348 and SSB 3150 would have placed restrictions on businesses offering financing for litigation. Both bills failed to advance.

SENATOR JACK WHITVER

TRUCK HISTORY REQUIRED FOR SALES IN IOWA

SSB 3087 would require any truck sold at auction to provide a history of that vehicle. Dealers have expressed concerns about the ability to obtain that information. The sponsor of the legislation has agreed to work with IMTA to address our concerns. The bill failed to advance.

CDL EXCEPTIONS

SF 2090 would exempt a person from the CDL requirement if operating a CMV with a gross weight less than 26,001 pounds while towing nonhazardous materials or agricultural hazardous materials (fertilizer, pesticides, fuel) if the operation is solely for use in that person’s employment. The bill would jeopardize federal funding in the tens of millions of dollars. The bill failed to advance.

RIGHT LANE OR CENTER LANE

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CMVs

SF 499 would require the owner of a vehicle who is in an accident with a CMV and is at fault to provide the owner of the CMV with a similar vehicle or pay for the rental of a similar vehicle and pay the CMV owner for income lost as a result of that vehicle being out of use. The legislation did not advance.

E-VERIFY

This legislation requires all hires to be put through the federal E-verify system. The system has been known to provide erroneous reports and adds additional hoops for the employer. E-verify is designed to determine if the applicant is in the US legally. The bill requires the verification after a job has been offered. SF108 has passed out of committee, but the House version has failed to advance.

PROHIBITION ON BACKGROUND CHECKS

Whereas E-verify would require verification of citizenship, SF 2319 would prohibit an employer from seeking any criminal history. SF 2319 failed to advance.

SF 2116 would require drivers to drive in the right lane or the center lane on three lane highways except when overtaking another vehicle. The legislation has passed out of committee and will, likely, be debated in the Senate.

REMOVING TAX ON ELECTRIC FUEL

Many businesses offer free charging for electric vehicles. Current law requires the tax be paid on the electricity whether it is sold or given away. The tax is dedicated to the road use tax fund since these vehicles use the roads. Tax bills are exempt from the funnel and will be alive until the end of the session. HF 2387 is alive but faces an uphill battle.

PROHIBITION ON REMOTE DISABLING

HF 2417 would prohibit any vehicle from having the ability to be disabled remotely. The bill also requires all vehicles to have an operating AM radio. The bill failed to advance.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIDIOL

Legislation that would allow the possession of a medical cannabis card as a defense for an individual that has been charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence did not.

IOWA UPDATE

GOVERNOR’S WORK-BASED LEARNING INITIATIVE

This is a priority for Governor Reynolds, and it is still alive. This legislation seeks to improve work-based learning programs that expose high school students to local employers and prepares workers for in demand professions. Much of this is accomplished through a new Workforce Opportunity Fund. The Senate version used a portion of the Unemployment Compensation Reserve Fund. The House version was silent on funding. Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING REFORM

A key legislative priority this year is the passage of a bill that would make long overdue changes to Iowa’s drug and alcohol testing law. The legislation implements proper jurisprudence as it relates to employers who are alleged to have violated this area of the law. Right now, an employer is assumed guilty until proven innocent. The bill would flip the burden of proof to the plaintiff to prove their case against the employer. It would also provide more flexibility to the employer and employee when exchanging drug and alcohol testing results. Right now, an employer must use certified mail, return receipt requested. The change would allow the employer to offer in-person exchange, electronic exchange, and the current method to the employee. The bill tightens up the definition of “safety sensitive position” and creates an evidentiary standard the plaintiff must satisfy when attempting to prove their case. Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

UNEMPLOYMENT PRACTICES CODIFIED

The Senate Workforce and House Labor and Workforce Committees have signed off on legislation related to two practices that Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) utilizes for unemployment insurance. The bill codifies that four weekly work searches must be completed for those receiving unemployment benefits. It also requires IWD to verify the identity of the claimant via multi-factor authentication prior to releasing unemployment to the claimant. The purpose is to cut down on fraud and allow claimants to receive benefits in a timely fashion. Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

GOVERNOR’S VERSION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

The bill would eliminate 111 of Iowa’s 256 boards and commissions (43%). It would also require the boards and commissions that would remain intact to be reviewed every four years to determine whether they should continue to be in existence. The bill has passed out of the Senate State Government Committee. Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

MEGA SITES

HOUSE VERSION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

The House has their own version of boards and commissions reform. They’re considering a much narrower reform as they propose eliminating 49 of them. This bill has moved out of the House State Government Committee.

Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

The Senate and a House Ways & Means Subcommittee have approved legislation that would give the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) additional incentives to attract large scale investment from in-state or out of state companies. Projects that include more than $1 billion in capital investment, create high paying jobs, are geared towards advanced manufacturing, biosciences or research, located at a certified site plus a few other parameters are eligible for the incentives. It’s imperative to pass the legislation as it could unlock a once in a generation type of investment in Iowa. Source: ABI (Association of Business & Industry)

TRUCKING CONTINUES TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE TRIAL BAR

Many state trucking associations have made lawsuit abuse reforms a top priority by introducing legislative initiatives to rein in the abuse that unfairly targets the trucking industry.

Through the unrelenting efforts of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill that would make evidence of a litigant’s non-use of a safety belt admissible in court in most cases. It has been sent to Governor Holcomb, who is expected to sign it.

The West Virginia Trucking Association used the Iowa language to introduce a bill that would cap non-economic damage awards at $5 million. The legislation passed 30 – 1 and was moved to the House of Delegates.

The Wisconsin Motor Truck Association passed a bill that would cap non-economic damage awards at $1 million. It is expected that the Governor, who has been very vocal about his opposition to tort reform efforts, will veto the bill.

The Texas Trucking Association along with another advocacy group have filed a “friend of the court” brief with the Texas Supreme Court asking that it rejects a $100 million lower-court accident verdict against Werner Enterprises. Last year Werner filed with the Texas Supreme Court an appeal in the case of a $100 million lower court verdict that a Houston jury awarded during a 2019 trial. The verdict was upheld by a state appeals court last year, prompting the Supreme Court appeal.

“This is how we move the needle on this issue and in time, we will see the kind of changes that are needed to make a powerful impact on the current litigious environment,” said IMTA President & CEO Brenda Neville. “Taking on the trial bar is a very heavy lift but the trucking industry and state trucking associations are providing the leadership needed to move the needle on this important priority.”

USDOT GIVES TRUCK PARKING PROJECTS $292 MILLION IN GRANTS

Infrastructure projects aimed at expanding and improving truck drivers’ access to safe parking are receiving $292 million in federal funding, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced.

The four projects, which will add spaces in Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri and deploy a regional West Coast system to connect drivers with available parking spots along Interstate 5, were included among 37 infrastructure initiatives totaling $4.9 billion that President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced jointly.

“I often hear directly from truck drivers on the serious challenge of finding safe parking, and today, we are answering those concerns with more action,” Buttigieg replied when asked why such a sizable share of the funding went to truck parking.

The projects include:

» $180 million for the Florida Department of Transportation to build over 900 truck parking spaces along I-4 in central Florida

» $92 million for the Missouri DOT to add to and improve parking facilities and information systems along I-70

» $12 million for the Washington DOT to deploy with California and Oregon a regional truck parking information management system at 54 truck parking facilities along the I-5 corridor to connect truck drivers with available parking

» $8 million for Wisconsin DOT to reconstruct a rest area along I-90, expanding the site’s number of parking spots from 16 to 70

The funding comes from two discretionary grant programs,including the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program. Buttigieg described the four initiatives as “truly transformative projects that will change entire regions and our entire country for the better.”

NATIONAL UPDATE

CARGO THEFT 2024 OUTLOOK: ALL-TIME HIGH

Cargo theft continues to plague freight haulers across the U.S. With more spikes around the country, thieves have increasingly preyed on the trucking industry over the past five years.

According to Scott Cornell, the national segment lead for transportation at Travelers Inland Marine, the industry shouldn’t expect cargo theft to slow down soon.

“Cargonet reported a few months back that cargo theft is at a 10-year high. I think it’s at an all-time high,” said Cornell. Cornell has more than 27 years of experience with cargo theft, working on a team since 2005 that investigates incidents for Travelers’ clients. Since 2011, they’ve recovered more than $90 million in stolen goods.

According to Cargonet, strategic cargo theft is on the rise. This is when thieves trick targets into giving them cargo through methods such as identity theft, fictitious pickup, and double brokering, according to Cornell. Strategic cargo theft is less risky for thieves than straight cargo theft because it doesn’t require the culprits to be physically present. Because of this reduced risk, Cornell believes strategic cargo theft will continue to be a problem in 2024.

When it comes to stolen commodities, Cargonet reports that cargo thieves prefer shipments including “energy drinks, sodas, liquor, hard seltzers, motor oils, tires, and solar panels.” But Cargonet also notes a broader range of commodities have recently been targeted, including “footwear, clothing, beauty products, ATVs, and construction equipment.” According to Cornell, the economy drives what commodities are targeted for cargo theft; however, food and beverages are always targets because they’re consumable.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve noticed cargo theft spreading into non-traditional areas of the country,” Cornell said. “Because if I’m stealing virtually, and I don’t have to care about where it sits, I can target a load of meat coming out of Iowa instead of a load of meat coming out of Texas. As a thief, my thought process is going to be: ‘People in North Dakota don’t think about cargo theft. So I’m going to target some loads coming out of North Dakota.’”

SOURCE: Fleet Owner

PARTS, LABOR COSTS ROSE IN THIRD QUARTER OF 2023

The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and Decisiv Inc. said that parts and labor expenses rose 1.9% during the third quarter of 2023, according to data released in the latest Decisiv/TMC North American Service Event Benchmark Report.

“This return to increasing parts and labor costs highlights the fact that fleets must remain vigilant when it comes to managing their maintenance expense data,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell.

The increase follows a 1.3% decline in the second quarter across the top 25 Vehicle Maintenance Reporting System Level Codes. The jump in costs reflect an equal rise in parts and labor expenses – both of which rose 1.9% individually during the third quarter. On a year-overyear basis, parts costs are up 0.9% and labor costs rose 4.9% for a total combined increase of 2.5%.

Considering that truck tonnage and consequently mileage continue to decline, the likely explanation for higher parts costs is the impact of ongoing inflationary pressures. In September, the American Trucking Associations’ seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.1% compared to the previous month and was down 4.1% year-over-year, the seventh straight annual decrease and the largest over that period. In the same month, ATA’s not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in freight tonnage actually hauled by fleets, was 6.8% below August.

The labor costs side of the equation is equally challenged, driven in large part by the ongoing technician shortage affecting dealers and fleets. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the costs associated with technician recruitment will not see any relief for the foreseeable future, with a projected need of about 23,900 heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians each year on average over the next decade.

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IMTA STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

IMTA LEADERS IDENTIFY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The advocacy efforts of the association are paramount and IMTA volunteer leaders continue to focus on using IMTA’s political capital in a manner that gets results and impacts the members in a positive way.

“Having a reliable, honest and effective voice at the capitol is one of the most important things we do as an association,” said IMTA Chairman Scott Szymanek. “And because trucking is so important to Iowa and IMTA has been effective at their efforts at the Capitol over the years, we have established clout, goodwill and valuable political capital that we must always strive to use in the most effective manner.”

“Through the members we get a feel for what they are dealing with, what the hot topics are and get a pulse of what the members face daily as they strive to run a safe and profitable operation,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

After gathering the information, the strategic priorities are developed and then the Board identifies which ones will be the focus for the upcoming year.

“This process has allowed a lot of people to be engaged and active in the development of our advocacy priorities which then guides the staff as they implement the annual advocacy program,” said Chairman Szymanek.

Why is this so important?

IMTA is inundated with requests to get behind legislative initiatives and proposals and having a mechanism in place to help the staff assign and allocate resources based on the approved priorities is extremely helpful.

“We are very pleased with the process and the final outcome with our 2024 strategic priorities document, but also recognize that this is a very fluid process too. We know that we have to be ready to pivot based on what initiatives surface both on the state and national level but this document is helpful in guiding us on where our we will be focusing in the next 12 months,” said Hugh Ekberg, IMTA’s First Vice Chair.

TIER # 1 TOP PRIORITY

IMTA WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE THESE PRIORITIES THROUGH LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES, COALITION/ PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

I. TRUCK PARKING

IMTA will continue to advocate for additional truck parking in the State of Iowa

II. ECONOMIC GROWTH

IMTA advocates for initiatives and development of economic growth policies, tax policies, innovative programs and funding mechanisms that foster a pro-business environment while also strengthening the prosperity of Iowa through successful investment and development of new and existing business and industry.

III. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

IMTA will advocate for state and federal policies that will provide cost-effective, realistic goals for emission and carbon reduction supported by data and research. While establishing realistic technical standards for trucking equipment and achievable practices for operations of all sizes.

IV. DISTRACTED DRIVING

IMTA will advocate for legislation and policies on both the state and national level that can be effectively initiated and enforced to secure meaningful results in curbing or eradicating the distracted driving epidemic that results in far too many crashes and fatalities.

V. LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

IMTA is opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

SCOTT SZYMANEK

IMTA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

HUGH EKBERG

IMTA FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN

IMTA STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

CONTINUED MONITORING, ACTIVE MONITORING, AND IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED ACTION:

I. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR MODEL

IMTA will be unwavering in its efforts to protect the current IC model. While Iowa has a very favorable code language regarding independent contractors, there is continued movement in other states and on the national level to change this model. IMTA must be diligent in tracking developments to ensure a favorable business environment.

I. INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

In addition to supporting a gas tax, IMTA will continue to advocate for the addition of an indexing provision that would call for regular increases to this user fee rather than relying on lawmakers. IMTA is opposed to tolling and all other inefficient and unfair schemes that are offered up to fund roads and bridges.

III. LAWSUIT ABUSE REFORM (TORT REFORM)

IMTA will continue to support innovative lawsuit abuse initiatives that will focus on curbing the ongoing abuse of the judicial system and its propensity to target motor carriers/trucking industry. Creating predictability and certainty for motor carriers is at the heart of this important priority.

IV. REGULATORY REFORM

IMTA members strive to comply with a wide scope of regulations at the local, state, and federal levels. The regulatory environment can be overly burdensome, and IMTA will continue to advocate for the streamlining and modernization of regulations based on sound data and stakeholder input.

V. SAFETY POLICY & EMERGING SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES

IMTA will continue to support the development of safety policies and safety technologies that improve and enhance a carrier’s ability to operate safely and efficiently while also protecting the professional truck driver and the motoring public.

VI. WORKFORCE

IMTA will support continued collaboration and innovation between public and private sectors to meet the workforce needs of Iowa’s trucking industry. IMTA also supports the development of incentives and innovative educational programs to address the workforce needs in the trucking industry.

VII. LABOR ISSUES

IMTA will monitor labor initiatives to ensure that the current labor environment is favorable to Iowa trucking companies.

VIII. DOT (DEPARTMENT

OF TRANSPORTATION) INITIATIVES

IMTA will continue to monitor the priorities, practices and activities of the Iowa DOT that specifically impact the trucking industry. IMTA will also continue to collaborate and partner with IDOT in developing initiatives and programming that will further advance the trucking industry’s ability to serve every Iowan. IMTA strives to maintain a positive and professional relationship with this regulatory partner.

IX. DPS (DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY) INITIATIVES

IMTA will continue to monitor the priorities, practices, and activities of the Department of Public safety as it relates to Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE). IMTA will continue to work towards maintaining a positive and open line of communication with this enforcement partner to ensure that Iowa’s trucking industry and the motoring public are served in a fair, effective and respectful manner.

TIER # 3

I. FEDERAL PREEMPTION/F4A

IMTA will advocate for and support development of initiatives/action plans that maintain federal preemption of state regulation of driver meal and rest breaks, support preemption of other state regulation of interstate trucking, including restrictions on piece-rate competition.

I. WORKERS COMPENSATION

IMTA supported and was actively involved in the workers compensation legislation that was passed in 2017 which resulted in much-needed changes to Iowa’s workers compensation laws and brought the system back into balance. This legislation resulted in an immediate workers compensation rate decrease for Iowa trucking companies. These changes must be preserved to protect a workers compensation system which will keep Iowa competitive with other states.

III. CSA

IMTA will continue to push for the implementation of FAST Act provisions regarding CSA and advocate for other appropriate policies regarding accuracy, and suitability for Safety Fitness Determination and Beyond Compliance purposes.

IV. HOURS OF SERVICE REGULATIONS

IMTA will continue to advocate for common-sense measures backed by data and research to balance fatigue and productivity.

V. MANDATES

IMTA is opposed to mandates of any kind and supports market-driven solutions.

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Is California Ready for an Electric Vehicle Future?

In December 2022, the American Transportation Research Institute published Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet. That study found that full electrification of the U.S. vehicle fleet would require a large percentage of the country’s present electricity generation. Domestic long-haul trucking would use more than 10 percent of the electricity generated in the country today – while an all-electric U.S. vehicle fleet would use more than 40 percent. Some individual states would need to generate as much as 60 percent more electricity than is presently produced. ATRI found that California would need to generate 57.2 percent more electricity than is presently produced. This analysis provides additional metrics by which to evaluate the future of electric vehicles in California.

Where California Gets its Electricity

Electricity is Expensive

California has the nation’s 2nd highest average

areas have higher per kWh costs than the state

Diego:

Francisco:

Los Angeles:

A

The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) must review and approve all proposed rate increases and in 2023 the CPUC voted to increase rates for the state’s largest utility by 13%. The utility had, however, asked for a 26% revenue increase to meet its infrastructure needs.

Uncertain Future for CA’s Electricity Generation

At California’s top-3 ranked power generators:

• California’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, provides 8.5% of in-state electricity. In 2018 the CPUC approved a plan to close the plant in 2025. The state has since moved to keep it open longer but once it goes offline, the gap will increase between what California will need versus what it produces.

• The Intermountain Power Project is a coal-burning power plant in central Utah operating since the mid-1980s by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and most of its electricity is consumed in California.

• The Moss Landing Power Plant is a natural gas power plant built in the 1950s. Though it has the 3rd highest output of CA-controlled facilities, its capacity was decreased from 2560 MW to 1020 MW when two of its units were retired in 2016.

California Will Need to Power a Lot of Vehicles

According to the Federal Highway Administration, California is:

>31 million Vehicles

Consumers Will Pay More for Goods Delivered by Trucks

With new battery-electric vehicle trucks costing more than $425,000 – more than double the cost of a comparable diesel truck – California’s supply chain will get more expensive.

Additionally, the cost to power a battery-electric truck, including equipment, installation, utility upgrades and electricity, could be as high as $1.21 per mile, nearly double the cost per mile of diesel fuel.

And, those trucks will need somewhere to charge. The nation currently faces a significant truck parking shortage, with an estimated one parking space for every 11 truck drivers.

Adding a charger at each of California’s 13,144 truck parking spaces would cost between $1.472 billion and $2.878 billion for just the purchase and installation of the charging units.

California Will Need More Battery-Electric Class 8 Trucks to Haul the Same Amount of Freight

Using data from its 2023 Operational Costs of Trucking report, ATRI updated an earlier analysis to find that that if today’s diesel tractors were replaced with much heavier electric trucks – one-third of the truckload sector would suddenly be too heavy for U.S. roads. The result – additional electric trucks would be needed to move the same amount of freight as a diesel truck. For every 1,000 trucks, an additional 343 trucks would be required due to battery weight.

For a copy of the full report, please scan the QR code or visit ATRI’s website at TruckingResearch.org

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

THE HEART AND SOUL OF IMTA’S COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, AND EVENTS DEPARTMENT

Janelle Stevens, Emily Housby, and Austin Byrnes

The success of any trade association lies in its ability to tell a compelling story. And if the story is compelling enough, members will stay engaged and most importantly, stay involved with the association. But here’s the most challenging part of that simple equation…the story must never get old and is told multiple times. That is at the heart of association communications.

Therefore, the people that are involved with communications activities are extremely special and talented. These folks must be creative, inspired, resourceful, dependable, up to speed on everything related to the industry, hardworking, and most importantly extremely dedicated to the science and art of communications.

The description above perfectly defines the communications team at the Iowa Motor Truck Association. Not only are they experienced and passionate about their roles, but they are also extremely dedicated to keeping IMTA members informed and inspired. “Everything we do is centered on serving the members. We are always moving forward with our priorities from the member’s perspective; how will an IMTA member interpret or respond to something? Knowing your audience and tailoring everything to fit that audience is always at the forefront,” said Janelle Stevens, IMTA’s Director of Communications, Education, and Events.

Janelle will be starting her 14th year with IMTA this coming April. Prior to coming to IMTA, Janelle worked for the Iowa Cubs Triple-A Baseball Team in Des Moines. This Illinois native was lured away from her home state because of the affordability and opportunities of the Iowa schools. While she had contemplated being be a Hawkeye, she quickly realized Iowa State was where she wanted to embark on her collegiate journey -- and the University of Iowa made her decision incredibly

easy due to their consistent misspelling and mispronunciation of her last name (Videgar). As an avid sports enthusiast, thanks to growing up outside of Chicago, she quickly became a die-hard Cyclones fan and still follows sports of all kinds.

While she loved her job as the Operations Manager with the Iowa Cubs, she was ready for a change. In a conversation with her soonto-be father-in-law Dan Stevens, a board member for the Iowa Motor Truck Association, she learned about an education and events manager position that was open at the association. As fate would have it, Janelle went through the interview process and emerged as the top candidate (she never mentioned her ties to the association). She officially became part of the IMTA team on April 18, 2011. From the very beginning, Janelle possessed the skills, attributes, and most importantly, the attitude and acumen needed to excel in association work.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS CENTERED ON SERVING THE MEMBERS. WE ARE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR PRIORITIES FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

In addition to her creativity and passion for details, her enthusiasm and willingness to take on anything that came her way quickly endeared her to the IMTA team. She excelled in the education and events manager role. Janelle was always up for taking on a new project or tackling a new challenge because of her desire to solve problems and find solutions. As is often the case in association work, she wore several hats often filling in for folks when they were on vacation or when they left IMTA. As her confidence and understanding of the association operation grew, so did her role at IMTA. After only a few years, she was elevated to a director’s position and ultimately was charged with overseeing the communications department which also encompassed education and events activities.

“Janelle is without question a valuable and respected leader on the IMTA team. She is the consummate professional and such a wonderful colleague. It has been a privilege to work with her over the years,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

Directing all the activities that keep the members involved and engaged is part of her oversight. As a first-class, member-oriented organization, Janelle and her team continue to meet and exceed expectations. Janelle’s leadership has been instrumental in elevating or improving everything she gets involved with.

Emily Housby is equally passionate and dedicated to being part of the communications, education, and events team. Emily joined IMTA in January of 2023 but prior to coming to IMTA she had over 6 years’

IMTA’S COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION & EVENTS DEPARTMENT

Emily Housby, Janelle Stevens, Austin Byrnes

»»»»»»»»»»»»

experience in association event planning. Emily too has a passion for details and a level of expertise in planning and coordinating events that is a perfect fit for IMTA’s high standards. As the events and education manager, Emily oversees every detail of every event that bears the IMTA name.

Emily grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, and attended the University of Northern Iowa. Emily has quickly established herself as a very effective, efficient, and reliable event planning and education coordinator. While we would like to think the highlight of 2023 for Emily was her new job at IMTA, we believe that her wedding on November 4th to Max Housby probably beat out IMTA for the top spot.

The newest member of the communications and events department is Austin Byrnes. Austin joined IMTA on February 15th and brings an impressive resume of experience as the Director of Communications for an athletic department at a small private college in the State of Washington. Like both Janelle and Emily, Austin quickly rose to the top of the candidates’ pool with his tremendous experience and more importantly his love and passion for communications and telling the story through numerous vehicles. Austin brings a toolkit of skills and expertise that will no doubt make a big impact on IMTA’s communications efforts.

A native of Washington state, Austin and his fiancée moved to Iowa without knowing anything about the state and they have fallen in love with the Midwest. An avid baseball fan, Austin has enjoyed watching the Iowa Cubs and getting acquainted with Des Moines. One of his favorite pastimes is attending the legendary Des Moines Farmers market with his fiancée Elyse. Austin and Elyse will tie the know on a Caribbean cruise in October.

“We are so grateful for the communications and events team. Every day they come to work ready to serve the membership. They all are creative, innovative, and above all else, very passionate about their work which shows in everything they do. We have all seen their great work time and again and I suspect they will continue to knock it out of the park and make the kind of impact that truly puts us in a league all of our own. They are a true joy to work with,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

AND PERSONAL MEET THE TEAM

JANELLE STEVENS Director of Communications, Education & Events

STARTED WITH IMTA

April 18, 2011

“

“

“The current IMTA staff reminds me of the 1992 “Dream Team.” While the Dream Team

comprised players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, each renowned for their unparalleled skills and achievements, the IMTA staff includes like-minded professionals who bring a wealth of experience, passion, and expertise to their roles.”

EMILY HOUSBY Education & Events Manager

STARTED WITH IMTA

January 17, 2023

“Since starting over a year ago, I quickly learned that everyone involved with the IMTA

is passionate about the industry and what they specifically do, and rightfully so, it’s a great industry. The highlight for me is not only being able to plan the unique opportunities for our members, but getting to learn more about the individual members and about their respective companies. “

AUSTIN BYRNES Communications & Marketing Manager

STARTED WITH IMTA

February 15, 2024

“My Fiancee and I moved to Iowa in June of 2023 without ever visiting the state or the

Midwest! However, we absolutely love city life and everyone we have met along the way. Here at the IMTA I look forward to building new relationships and learning more about the trucking industry.”

ECONOMIC UPDATE

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES

Donald Broughton, Managing Partner, Broughton Capital LLC

The last the last four years have been the most volatile period the trucking industry has endured since it was deregulated in 1980.

» After busily stocking shelves for consumers as they prepared to quarantine (the Best of Times),

» then going through a couple of months with very few loads (the Worst of Times),

» the pace at which demand surged for all modes was only surpassed by the magnitude by which pricing soared. From the lows of May ’20 to the peaks in early ’22, spot pricing (not including fuel surcharge) for Flatbed and Reefer increased by more than 80% and Dry Van doubled! On both a nominal basis and percentage basis, it was a record increase in magnitude for all modes. Even more astounding, the speed at which it increased (>80% to 100% in less than 18 months), produced a record premium for spot above contract, as contract was unable to keep pace (the Best of Times).

» With the extraordinary surge in profitability, many truckers made two costly mistakes: they assumed the best of times would last forever; they abandoned their normal discipline on expenses and disbursed much of their new found wealth on new equipment and higher driver pay. Then, as the rate of growth in demand slowed or flattened, spot pricing recorded another record (again in less than 18 months), by falling back to levels just above pre-Covid. Since all the costs of operating a truck had increased, the decline in profitability has been even more severe than the increase that preceded it (the Worst of Times).

In the broader economy, there has also been volatility, but it has not been nearly as severe as it has been for truckers. And, despite an endless series of dire predictions by the press and politicians, the rate of growth in the US economy and the expansion in per capita consumer income has outpaced the rest of the world and set a series of its own records (almost all positive). We continue to make the same prediction as we have since mid ’20 – especially for the US, the coming decades will be the greatest expansion in human

prosperity since we emerged from the Dark Ages into the Renaissance. But this time, the progress that took a century through the medieval period will be achieved in a decade.

IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING!

Despite a chorus of people continuing to insist on a recession, the world’s largest economy is continuing to expand at a faster pace than the rest of the world.

» On top of 5.8% growth in ‘21, the US economy grew 1.9% in ‘22, and 2.5% in ‘23.

» The rate of GDP growth in China was 2.9% in ’22 and 5.2% in ‘23, albeit higher percentages than ours, but since China’s economy is <65% the size of the US economy, the total amount of our nominal expansion was >2X larger.

» What was the value of the annual increase in US Nominal GDP vs the Chinese Nominal GDP?

» In ’22 $2.148 trillion vs $860 billion,

» In ’23 $1.894 trillion vs. $770 billion.

» By the end of 2022, the US economy was 57% larger than it was 10 years ago (in 2012).

» By the end of 2023, the US economy was 27% larger than it was in 2019.

The US is not decelerating (going into a recession), for three basic reasons:

» Onshoring is becoming a tidal wave.

» While the rate of single-family home construction has slowed as mortgage rates have climbed back to normal levels, but the total number of residential units under construction has hit all-new highs.

» If you want to work, there are plenty of jobs to choose from, and what you will earn is rising quickly. Meanwhile, the rate of inflation has already declined to 3% which magnifies the amount of disposable income for most consumers.

THE TIDAL WAVE OF ONSHORING

Spending on building domestic manufacturing facilities has skyrocketed, and is going even higher. Everything from refined oil products and gas liquefaction plants to replace Russia as the supplier of BTUs to Europe, to bringing the production of the semiconductors we design home, is being built as fast as possible.

After hauling all the materials and machinery required to make these ‘gamechanging’ upgrades, for many years/decades to come, trucks will be needed to haul millions of loads of raw materials into, and finished goods out of each plant. This second wave of activity is often underestimated. Moving an international container, or finished product from other countries, usually requires only one haul. But, when the product is manufactured domestically, demand for trucks is often multiplied by a factor exceeding 3X , as materials are hauled to places where they become parts, and parts are hauled to places where they are assembled into finished products before those finished products are hauled to where they are purchased by the consumer.

BROUGHTON Broughton Capital LLC

While the surge in onshoring is creating some confusion in the balance of traffic in many trade flows, as we export more and import less.

It has already begun driving down our trade deficit: 18.4% lower than last year, the monthly imbalance has fallen by almost a half a trillion dollars in the last 18 months. If the investment in domestic manufacturing continues (it is ahead of what we were called crazy for forecasting), when coupled with the expansion in our oil and gas exports (we will marginalize Russia before replacing it, as Europe’s BTUs provider withing 3 years) the unbelievable event that we foresee gets

DONALD

a little closer to reality every day. Within 10 years, the US will retain the title of ‘World’s Largest Importer’ while regaining a title we have not held for over 90 years – ‘World’s Largest Exporter.’

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Although onshoring will produce trucking demand for years to come, demand in other areas has softened. The construction of Single-Family Housing has underperformed as mortgage rates over the last two years have increased >2X.

If the 10-year Treasury yield continues to decline, as we are currently predicting, mortgage rates should follow. While we believe it is unrealistic to expect rates to fall back below 3% (that was probably a once in a lifetime all-time low), we foresee rates descending below 6% as a high probability, and even approaching 5% by mid-2024 as a realistic prospect. As mortgage rates approach 5%, we project a powerful resurgence in single family housing construction, and nothing drives truck tonnage as strongly as young families buying what is required to turn that new house into their home.

It will still grow (and it remains at the highest levels since 2006), but it will continue to under-perform as lifestyles have shifted, and multifamily will surprise to the upside for the next decade.

DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME

DPI on a per capita basis has grown robustly this year, expanding at a pace of +6.5% to +8.6% every single month this year. Until recently, consumers were spending those extra dollars on experiences (a record number of US tourists visited Italy last summer) and services.

US Consumer Disposable Personal Income (on a per capita basis), after growing at a very healthy rate of 7.0% in ’20 and expanding another 5.7% in ’21 (despite the first half of the year spent still emerging from the quarantines, ’21 per capita DPI was 13.1% higher than it was in pre-Covid ’19), plateaued in ’22 (contracting a very faint -0.5%). In every single month throughout ’23, it has re-accelerated like an Indy race car coming out of the pits. In the most recently reported month (Dec ’23), Disposable Personal Income (on a per capita basis) once again surged compellingly. Dec’s DPI increased 6.4% on a YOY basis, following the equally strong YOY results of Jan, Feb, March, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, and Nov (+8.4%, +8.3%, +8.5%, +8.6%, +8.6%, +8.2%, +7.2%, +6.8%, +6.4%, & +6.6% respectively).

While the consumer spent more on experiences and services, and less on goods in ‘23, the continued strong growth in consumer income signals that when they start spending on goods again, they will have plenty of money to spend. The recent upturn in container volumes suggests that may already be happening.

Although we would normally be concerned about the weakness, we saw in the first 6 months of ’23, we believe the recent improvement in container volumes is being driven by the ongoing explosion in e-commerce, and strong new household formation. Whether they move into a single-family house or a multi-family building, young couples will use their robust growth in consumer income to drive strong consumer spending that turns their new house into a home.

It will not happen immediately, but if these trends continue, demand and pricing

will start to improve in all segments of trucking. At the current rate of increase in onshoring, construction, consumer income, and inbound container volumes, by the beginning of 2Q ’24 truckers could once again be having “The Best of Times.”

2024 SHOULD BE A PROSPEROUS YEAR!

Our Philosophy

It is our long-held belief, backed up by years of experience and tons of data, that the most reliable and earliest indicator of economic conditions is the trucking industry. Long before the wizards of Wall Street, or those big brains with PHDs in economics, become aware of a trend, the men and women of the trucking industry know. Not only do you know whether the consumer economy or the industrial economy is getting better or getting worse, based on the volume of loads and the rates being paid, but you know about specific companies (i.e., Wal-Mart may be sticklers about appointment times but they get me unloaded quickly; K-Mart is very disorganized, take forever to unload me, I can’t understand how they stay in business). Our ongoing mission with this column will be to: highlight trends in other parts of the freight market that you might not be aware of, but could end up affecting you; as well as trying to explain what we believe are the reasons behind the trends you are experiencing in trucking.

After spending over two decades as one of Wall Street’s top Analysts and one of its leading Market Strategists, Donald Broughton founded Broughton Capital in 2017. Broughton is notorious as a hard-hitting forensic accountant, using Sell ratings more often than any other analyst. He is highly regarded for translating goods flow data into economic forecasts that have proven to be highly prophetic. Additionally, Broughton is convinced that most individuals know much more about the economy than they realize and believes that economists are only boring because they are lazy or choose to be.

No matter where the road takes you, rest easy knowing Great West Casualty Company is one of the most trusted providers of commercial trucking insurance in the nation. For over 65 years, we have made it our goal to understand and serve our insureds’ needs.

Learn more or request a quote at

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

BECOMING MORE COLL ABORATIVE WHEN YOUR IMPULSE IS TO BE TERRITORIAL

Jenny Fernandez, Kathryn Landis and Julie Lee

Many leaders prioritize their personal or departmental needs, especially amid disruption like restructuring, layoffs, and budget cuts. While it’s natural to advocate for your success or support your people, it becomes problematic when it comes at the expense of the organization.

A client of ours, “Elena,” came up in a company that had been bought and sold several times over the past 20 years. With each merger and acquisition came a change in leadership structure and ownership. This left Elena feeling vulnerable, as she would often see prior leadership teams — including her managers, mentors, and supporters — impacted. Elena felt deeply bruised if she was layered under a new boss or her team was restructured.

In fact, in times like this, Elena’s territorial instincts would kick in. On this occasion, after being promoted to EVP-Americas of client success, she held on to a key client relationship that needed to be transitioned to one of her new peers. This territorial approach was preventing her from operating at her full potential in her new role. She was preoccupied with what she was “losing” to her sales counterpart by transitioning these client relationships. Consequently, she struggled to capitalize on the opportunity to make a broader impact on the customer experience and gain the seat at the executive table she had long desired.

Elena’s experience is not unique. In our work as consultants and executive coaches, we’ve observed many leaders who become territorial and overprotective of their teams, client relationships, and resources to preserve their ability to succeed. It’s not uncommon for talented leaders to compete internally with their peers for people, investment, and attention; in fact, it’s often that individual drive that made them successful in the first place. However, when you’re looking to scale your leadership and reach the C-suite, this “fend for yourself” mentality will stop you in your tracks. Here are four strategies to help senior leaders redefine “winning” as a shared goal.

judgmental (i.e., jumping to conclusions) with exercising judgment (i.e., creating space to understand someone else’s actions). Adams explains that you have a choice: to be a “judger” who’s inclined toward fault-finding, or a “learner” who leads with curiosity to understand someone’s actions.

TO INCREASE YOUR SELFAWARENESS, REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

» What narrative am I telling myself about the situation?

» What assumptions am I making about the circumstances and people involved?

You must start by uncovering your role in the situation. Examine a given circumstance from all sides to uncover what you may have overlooked that’s contributing to the problem. This includes increasing your self-awareness. Research has shown that only 10% to 15% of people fit the criteria of being self-aware, defined as understanding yourself and your goals and valuing others’ opinions. Conflicts don’t happen in a vacuum, and it’s never too soon to hold yourself accountable for your contribution to a given situation.

In Elena’s case, honest reflection prompted her to take a hard look at the narratives she was telling herself and the biases she had formed about her coworkers. Marliee Adams explains this concept in her book Change Your Questions, Change Your Life. It’s easy to mistake being

Exploring the narratives you construct can reveal underlying biases and preconceptions that may contribute to conflict. It also helps you connect the dots between your judgments and your decisions and actions.

Create psychological space and reflect on what you may have inferred about someone else’s intentions, objectives, or anticipated response. Often it’s the stories we tell ourselves that lead us to jump to conclusions that may not be based on reality. For example, if you feel like a victim of the circumstances, then you may craft a story to support that identity.

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

WHAT WOULD SHIFT IF I SLOWED DOWN TO UNDERSTAND MY NEGATIVE FEELINGS?

It’s natural to pay excess attention to the negatives, which are typically driven by our emotions. The next time you have a negative reaction, consider what behavior or event specifically triggered it. This will help you understand the internal or external source of what’s bothering you, which may not be directly related to the current situation, as past experiences and challenges can activate negative emotions. Most importantly, you can delay taking action so that you’re not disproportionately influenced by your feelings. As Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson shared in The One Minute Manager, “We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior.”

WHAT FEEDBACK CAN I SOLICIT TO EXPAND MY RANGE OF INPUTS?

Ask yourself, “Did I genuinely value others’ opinions, or did I primarily rely on my own viewpoint?” Embracing diverse perspectives fosters a more comprehensive understanding of the situation and promotes collaboration. Consider speaking with a thought partner such as an executive coach, trusted colleague, or friend who can help you identify misperceptions and oversights in a non-emotional way. Soliciting constructive feedback should be treated as information collection, not gossip or piling on to what you already believe to be true.

#2 FROM WIN-LOSE TO WIN-WIN

An organization is only as strong as the sum of its parts. Now that you’ve identified how you contribute to a problem, consider how to move from a “me to we” mindset. This means that while stakeholders you depend upon for your success have different or competing priorities, as members of the same organization, you all share an overarching mission.

Elena found it incredibly useful to identify the interdependencies between her team and other departments to fully grasp how hers and her counterparts’ success were intrinsically linked to achieve a particular organizational goal.

A powerful exercise to clarify where to focus your energy to align incentives is a “stakeholder evaluation map.” This will help you identify which stakeholders are critical to your success in the near term. Then you’ll be able to determine the actions you must take to move the relationship forward to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

To create a stakeholder evaluation map, start with a particular goal or objective — for example, in Elena’s case, she was focused on increasing revenue from existing clients year-over-year by 15% and new customer referrals by 12%.

THEN ASK YOURSELF

» Who are the key stakeholders I must engage in the coming three to six months to be successful?

» What specific resources will I need to meet this objective, and by when?

» Who has the authority to make decisions about this objective?

» What’s the opportunity cost to the customer or organization if I don’t get the resources I need?

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

Next, determine the concrete actions that will create mutually successful outcomes for each stakeholder along with milestones to hold yourself accountable. For Elena, this exercise illuminated the importance of her cross-functional partnerships, revealed shared objectives, and enabled her to focus her energy on advancing her strategy in alignment with her colleagues.

#3 RE-ESTABLISH TRUST

After a long period of uncertainty, like when the organization is operating in survival mode, it’s important to recognize that a low level of trust has likely developed, and it’s critical to rebuild that trust with your colleagues. You may observe symptoms such as coworkers lacking initiative or struggling to make decisions or engage in healthy debates.

As Frances Frei and Anne Morriss, coauthors of Move Fast and Fix Things and Unleashed propose, there are three pillars of trust. They write, “People tend to trust you when they believe they are interacting with the real you (authenticity), when they have faith in your judgment and competence (logic), and when they feel that you care about them (empathy). When trust is lost, it can almost always be traced back to a breakdown in one of these three drivers.”

We asked Elena to reflect on the following coaching questions to identify the root causes of the trust breakdown and devise strategies to regain it:

»»» AUTHENTICITY

» What can I do to demonstrate my values and intentions through my words and behavior?

» In what ways can I build trust by enhancing transparency and openness in my interactions with others?

»»» LOGIC

» What strategies do I enlist to communicate my decisions and actions clearly and logically to foster understanding and trust?

» What steps can I take to ensure that my decision-making process is aligned with organizational goals?

»»» EMPATHY

» How do I ensure that I’m actively listening to others and demonstrating an understanding of their perspectives and emotions?

» Next time I’m in a meeting with others, what concrete steps can I take to communicate that I value their success, either during or after the meeting?

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

Regaining trust will require both parties to take accountability for what went wrong as a first step to repairing the relationship. It also won’t happen overnight. For Elena, this involved speaking to each stakeholder individually to acknowledge her missteps and share her desire to improve the working relationship and what that would mean for her and the organization. She also made a conscious effort to build rapport and take action to support others’ priorities to demonstrate that the partnership was not one-sided.

#4 CREATE A SHARED COMMITMENT

You must forge a collective agreement, including the working norms and processes you and your colleagues will commit to. Creating a shared commitment will increase the probability of success, as people naturally rebel at expectations because they don’t consider the needs of the other person. This can be established with working agreements that define objectives and the commitments that must be upheld by all parties to achieve them.

HERE’S SOME SAMPLE LANGUAGE TO BEGIN THIS DIALOGUE:

Given our shared goal of [insert goal], I’d like to achieve [insert milestone] by [deadline]. This is needed because [explain rationale]. What help do you need from me to make this happen?

Once you know what’s needed from each party and an agreement is made to achieve a given goal, it’s time to proactively identify progress milestones along the way, a cadence for communication, and preferred channels. With a commitment to collaborative problem-solving, you’ll not only create a more successful outcome but also foster an execution-as-learning opportunity for continuous improvement.

For Elena, transitioning from a “fend for yourself” mentality to a shared perspective of “winning” enabled her to not only achieve her goals as a newly promoted executive but also show up as the leader the organization needed at that moment. While it can be hard to let go of your default “territorial” response to a situation, adopting a collaborative approach will ultimately position you for greater success. As Steve Jobs said, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”

Jenny Fernandez, MBA, is an executive and team coach, Columbia and NYU faculty, and future of work and brand strategist. She works with senior leaders and their teams to become more collaborative, innovative, and resilient. Her work spans Fortune 500 companies, startups, and higher education.

Kathryn Landis, MBA, is the founder and CEO of the global coaching and advisory firm Kathryn Landis Consulting, which helps senior leaders empower and inspire their teams, create a lasting positive impact, and become the best versions of themselves in work and life.

Julie Lee, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, NYU faculty, and a leading Gen Z employment and mental health strategist. Dr. Lee’s work spans Fortune 500 companies, startups, and higher education institutions, including Harvard and Brown University.

©2023 Harvard Business Review. Distributed by The New York Times Licensing Group.

WHY COLLABORATION DOESN’T COME EASY

» YOU’RE COMPETITIVE AND FEAR BEING OVERSHADOWED.

You must believe that your contribution will be amplified if it’s blended with others’ contributions.

» YOU’VE RELIED HEAVILY ON HIERARCHY TO GET THINGS DONE. You must be less directive, and more curious and conversational.

» YOU’VE FOCUSED MORE ON RESULTS THAN RELATIONSHIPS. Spend time reflecting on the relationships in your life, both inside and outside of work.

» YOU HAVE A HARD TIME TRUSTING. Acknowledge that there is a difference between having healthy skepticism and assuming bad intentions.

» YOU DON’T KNOW HOW. Make a careful inventory of behaviors for which you know you lack sufficient skill or orientation.

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IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN STORE FOR IMTA HEADQUARTERS BUILDING

Some major improvements are currently being made to the IMTA/IMCF headquarters building and IMTA members have continued to support this effort with almost $1 million secured through member donations. This major renovation and refresh project is the final leg in the long journey of continued leadership and investment associated with IMTA headquarters building which is prominently located at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol.

THE FIVE “W”s OF THE LASTING LEGACY PROJECT

WHO

is overseeing the project? The Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation is the owner of the building and is the group that made the decision to move forward with the renovation. Because of the Foundation’s role in this project, all contributions towards the project are 100% tax deductible.

WHAT 2

is the scope of the project? A total transformation of the West Wing and the bathrooms will make it even more functional in serving the membership by offering multiple spaces for member events and training sessions. The original roof (27 years old) will also be replaced, the original carpet will be replaced in the IMTA office area along with a new coat of paint. Additionally, the courtyard area will also be updated and renovated to complement and expand the event capability of this unique space.

WHEN 3

is this happening? The renovation of the West Wing started in late January, and it is hoped that all the work will be completed by October 2024.

is this happening? The West Wing area of the building encompasses about 6000 square feet and a vast majority of that space was not being used since the space was vacated by a tenant in 2011. The perimeter of the space contained several offices and could not be used for anything other than storage. WHERE 4

WHY 5 PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT:

is this project being pursued? Because it is the right thing to do and expanding the space and utilizing every square foot of this valuable real estate to serve the members made it an easy decision.

WEEK THREE

The

WEEK FOUR

IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION

FUNDRAISING GOAL: $2.5 MILLION

All money raised through the Lasting Legacy campaign will go into a restricted fund that will specifically go towards the renovation efforts of west wing, a new roof, IMTA office refresh as well as ongoing building expenses.

LASTING LEGACY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

EXCLUSIVE NAMING RIGHTS

» Here is an amazing opportunity to leave a legacy by having your name and company’s name permanently displayed in prominent locations throughout the west wing.

LEGACY WALL

$100,000

» Join a growing list of supporters who will have their name permanently listed on the legacy wall that will be featured in the main Conference Room. Legacy supporters will also be listed with all supporters on a display in the atrium too.

FRIEND OF THE CAMPAIGN

$50 up to $50,000

» Contributions of any size are appreciated and welcome. All friends of the Legacy Campaign will be listed on a permanent display in the atrium.

All contributions go directly to the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation (501 C 3) and is a tax deduction in its entirety.

Scan the QR code to submit your commitment interest.

INTERESTED IN MAKING A DONATION, BUT HAVE QUESTIONS FIRST?

Contact a member of the Lasting Legacy Committee.

BRENDA NEVILLE Iowa Motor Truck Association

brenda@iowamotortruck.com

JACKIE GORDON

jackiekgordon@gmail.com

STEVE SCHUSTER Schuster Co.

sschuster@schusterco.com

DAVE VAN WYK Van Wyk, Inc.

dvw@vanwyk.com

JEFF WANGSNESS JMT Trucking

jw@citrucking.com

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IMTA UPDATE

TRUCKING

DAY

AT THE CAPITOL: WAVING THE FLAG FOR IOWA’S TRUCKING INDUSTRY

The IMTA membership proudly, and visibly, represented Iowa’s trucking industry during the annual Trucking Day at the Capitol once again on Valentine’s Day. The event featured truck displays, truck rides, and an opportunity to drive a big rig through IMTA’s driver simulator. Additionally, the IMTA kicked off its “Nothing Without Trucking” campaign while also unveiling the newly released trucking Fast Facts specific to Iowa. These Iowa-specific Fast Facts are provided annually by the American Transportation Research Institute, gathering data that further highlights the importance of trucking in the State of Iowa.

IMTA’s Driver Ambassadors were on hand to talk with lawmakers as well as IMTA members from across the state. The presence of IMTA’s Driver Ambassadors underscores the importance of direct engagement between industry professionals and policymakers. By facilitating conversations between these key stakeholders, Trucking Day at the Capitol facilitates a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the trucking sector.

“We love having the opportunity to showcase the trucking industry because we are not only essential to every Iowan, but we are also critically important in driving the economy in Iowa. Our Nothing Without Trucking campaign summarizes the impact that trucking has on each and every one of us,” said IMTA Chairman of the Board Scott Szymanek, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.

Trucking Day at the Capitol serves as a reminder of the integral role played by trucking in sustaining Iowa’s economy. As a lifeline for businesses across various sectors, the trucking industry ensures the efficient movement of goods and commodities, thereby supporting job creation and economic growth statewide. By highlighting these contributions, the event reinforces the significance of investing in infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that support a thriving industry and ensuring trucking has a seat at the table.

Jerry Bender, Midwest Wheel Companies; Senator Nate Boulton

Louis Thompson, Dickey Transport; Senator Carrie Koelker

IMTA DRIVER AMBASSADORS (FRONT, L-R) Chris Dougherty, Solar Transport; Rich Eckhardt, Ruan Transportation; Brian Merritt, Weinrich Truck Line (MIDDLE, L-R) Jim Stinemates, Walmart Transportation; Leland Hildebrandt, Ruan Transportation; Gary Benser, CRST the Transportation Solution, Inc. (BACK) Todd Anderson, Hy-Vee, Inc.

Nick Thummel, Keane Thummel Trucking; Iowa Senator Brad Zaun; Chris Hummer, Don Hummer Trucking

IMTA WORKFORCE AMBASSADORS & THE DRIVING SIMULATOR (FRONT, L-R) Kevin Gass; Gary Handley; Senator Dawn Driscoll; Kevin Williams (BACK, L-R) Representative Heather Hora; IMTA Chairman of the Board Scott Szymanek, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.

Dylan Stepleton, Truck Country; Senator Mike Klimesh; Brent McKenzie, Hy-Vee, Inc; Rich Eckhardt, Ruan Transportation

IMTA LEADERSHIP AT THE CAPITOL Don McGlaughlin, Heartland Express; Jeff Martin, Green Products Company; IMTA Chairman of the Board Scott Szymanek, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.; Brian Kohlwes, Hirschbach Motor Lines; IMTA President & CEO Brenda Neville; Brent McKenzie, Hy-Vee, Inc; Chris Hummer, Don Hummer Trucking; Nick Thummel, Keane Thummel Trucking

2024 IMTA TRUCKING DAY AT THE CAPITOL

REFRESH YOUR AGING ENGINE WITH FROM NEW IRON

2024 Show Trailer Travel Calendar

March 19: Cedar Falls STEAM Event

March 21: Earlham School District

March 22: Colo-NESCO School District

March 26: Marshalltown School District

April 3: Graceland College (Lamoni)

April 9: Iowa Lakes Comm. College (Emmetsburg)

April 14-16: FFA State Leadership Conference (Ames)

April 17: Build My Future (Des Moines)

April 22: North Iowa School District (Buffalo Center)

April 23: Ottumwa School District

IMTA UPDATE

IMTA LEADERSHIP CLASS: THE FUTURE STARTS HERE

Since the inception of the IMTA Leadership Class in 1993, this elite program serves as an invaluable tool for nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Back in 1993, IMTA leaders determined the need to offer a program that would allow future leaders to become better acquainted with IMTA and its efforts. Now, 31 years - and 461 graduates - later the IMTA leadership program is still in place and thriving. Year after year the interest level increases and waiting lists are put in place.

The class meets six days over a two month period, and then concludes their development at the annual Management Conference. The sessions are geared for both professional and personal development, while also incorporating a great deal of team building and networking opportunities.

“The IMTA Leadership Program is one of the greatest investments we can make for the future of our Association,” said IMTA Chairman of the Board Scott Szymanek, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc. “I can say without any hesitation that these individuals are going to make an impact on the industry, and make their respective companies proud.”

Without question, IMTA has the foundation of leadership support that will continue to do great things to conquer and overcome all obstacles that get in the way of allowing the trucking industry to be the top performer. And that foundation continues to grow with the 2024 IMTA Leadership Class.

18 PARTICIPANTS

151 CUMULATIVE YEARS IN TRUCKING

6 DAYS OF SESSIONS FOCUSED ON:

» ADVOCACY

» TEAM BUILDING

» PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

» PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS MADE

SCOTT HARTEMA JT Logistics

JESSE LALUMENDRE Schuster Co.

AARON HELDT Bison Transport USA

LAVELL MARTIN Hy-Vee, Inc.

BEN GAU Truck Country

DANY LYNN Tucker Freight Lines

DAVID MILLER C & J Trucking of Iowa

JADEN MOODY MHC Kenworth

SPENCER MILLER Thompson Truck & Trailer

DREW RAUCH Midwest Wheel Companies

KATIE MEYER Keane Thummel Trucking, Inc.

AARON PETERSON Heyl Truck Lines, Inc.

MOLLIE RHOADES Trivista Companies

JAN JAN TRINH Ruan Transportation

ADAM SHANAHAN TrueNorth Companies

ZACH VOLK Don Hummer Trucking

JENIFFER REA Warren Transport, Inc.

SARAH VAVRICKA West Side Transport, Inc.

Getting The Most Out Of Your Membership Dues

Brenda Neville, IMTA President & CEO

Serving the membership remains the foremost commitment of the Iowa Motor Truck Association staff, a dedication upheld every single day. With unwavering dedication, our professional team strives to deliver nothing less than 100%, consistently aiming to not just meet but exceed your expectations.

Whether it entails having a live person ready to assist you over the phone, guiding you through DOT audits, facilitating connections with fellow members to tackle operational challenges, or furnishing accurate information crucial to your financial well-being, our staff is driven by a commitment to serve you with utmost professionalism and expertise.

A significant portion of our time and resources is devoted to actively monitoring and engaging with over 20 state and federal agencies. We diligently track numerous court cases across the state and nation, ensuring we stay abreast of developments in this critical domain. Leveraging our network of 50 state trucking associations, we stay informed about legislative developments nationwide, while also closely monitoring an average of over 75 legislative initiatives right here in Iowa. Furthermore, we actively support and collaborate on various ongoing trucking research projects led by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

Recognizing the unique needs of each member, IMTA takes pride in its agility, proactivity, and responsiveness. We abstain from a one-size-fits-all approach, instead tailoring our programs, efforts, and

initiatives to address the specific problems and challenges our members face daily.

Regular feedback from our members is instrumental in ensuring we remain attuned to their needs. Through regular polls and member outreach events, we continuously solicit and receive valuable input and participation. Member focus groups serve as another invaluable resource, allowing us to stay abreast of the priority issues affecting our diverse membership base of over 400.

To excel in serving our membership, your input, involvement, engagement, and feedback are indispensable. The IMTA staff is committed to ensuring that every member perceives a tangible return on investment, motivating continued support and active engagement with the association.

Should you ever have any questions or reservations about renewing your dues, please know that your satisfaction is paramount to us. We are here to assist you every step of the way. Reach out to our professional staff at 515-244-5193 anytime.

Your ongoing satisfaction and support are always our top priorities, driving us to continuously enhance our services and initiatives to better serve you.

In addition to our commitment to serving our members, we also prioritize fostering a sense of community and collaboration within the trucking industry. Our association serves as a platform for members to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on solutions to common challenges. Through networking events, educational opportunities, and collaborative projects, we aim to strengthen the bonds

within our community and empower our members to thrive in an ever-evolving industry landscape.

Furthermore, we understand the importance of staying ahead of emerging trends and technologies that impact the trucking industry. That’s why we actively engage in partnerships with leading research institutions and industry experts to stay informed about the latest developments and best practices. By staying ahead of the curve, we ensure that our members have access to the resources and knowledge they need to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

In addition to our advocacy efforts on behalf of our members, we also prioritize safety and compliance within the industry. Through educational programs, safety seminars, and compliance workshops, we provide our members with the tools and information they need to operate safely and efficiently. By promoting a culture of safety and compliance, we not only protect the well-being of our members and their employees but also uphold the integrity and reputation of the trucking industry as a whole.

At IMTA, we are committed to serving as a trusted partner and advocate for our members. Whether you’re a small independent operator or a large fleet, we are here to support you every step of the way.

THANK YOU for your continued trust and support.

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