Chairman's Message

Did you make a difference today?

As many of you know, that is a question that I frequently ask people. And as you could also expect, this random question produces a variety of interesting and thought-provoking answers which I always enjoy hearing.

In its simplicity, this question tees up a lot of responses and always makes people think, which is why I always like to throw it out there.

As I come to the end of my role as the Chairman of the Iowa Motor Truck Association, this same question was asked of me but in a broader context. Did you make a difference as the IMTA chairman?

I am a firm believer in the power of the collective. Gathering and aligning the voices of our members is at the heart of our association’s mission and its ongoing success as an effective advocate. Because of that philosophy, I have never viewed this position in a singular sense. So, the real question is, are we making a difference as an association, as an industry?

Yes, we are making a difference every single day, with an emphasis on “we”.

Our strength as an organization comes from our unity and our shared passion for and belief in our mission. The collective voice of our association has always been the steady and consistent voice in telling the story of Iowa’s trucking industry. Over time this collective voice has become louder and even more influential as our issues continue to be in the forefront. Our views are solicited, our ideas are heard, and our actions and resources have produced results. Being an honest, accurate and effective voice for Iowa’s trucking industry is what we do, and we do it well.

Over the last two years, I have had a special, front row seat to the discussions, the debates, the decisions, the action as we navigated the uncharted waters of a pandemic. I have seen the passionate and unrelenting commitment that the association leaders, the members, and the staff have to our priorities. I have had the privilege of seeing this industry step up and provide the valuable leadership that was needed when a global pandemic swooped in and changed our lives forever.

I will always cherish the conversations I had with drivers as we handed them a boxed lunch in the early days of the pandemic. Most were shocked at the gesture; all were extremely grateful. These professional women and men were committed to doing what they do best, ensuring that what we needed in our daily lives was available. Everything from the oxygen required in our hospitals, to the food staples in our grocery stores, to the gasoline for our vehicles, to the medicines, and yes even the toilet paper, (if it wasn’t on the shelf it wasn’t a trucker’s fault), came via a truck. On reflection, what these dedicated professionals really delivered, was peace of mind that we would all be ok. The pandemic offered disruption and uncertainty, our industry brought some comfort, some feeling of normalcy.

From the earliest days of the COVID crisis, and the subsequent economic upheaval, our industry stood as the shining example of resiliency, determination, and fortitude. Our state and nation came to truly understand and respect the critical role of trucking and its people. We clearly demonstrated that our indus-

try is essential for each of our daily lives and the stan-

dard of living we all enjoy. Leveraging that goodwill and showcasing our leadership role must remain at the core of our advocacy for this great organization and the members we serve.

I have gained an even greater appreciation of the importance of our advocacy efforts and I am so very proud of the many IMTA members that continue to be engaged, active, and involved in our efforts at the statehouse. I saw the impact that was made with lawmakers when we told our story. I was amazed at the number of IMTA members that stepped up and helped with our lawsuit abuse legislation. Once again, the collective, loud voice made a powerful impact on this important legislative priority. This work will remain at the forefront with next year’s legislative session, and far into the future.

So yes, we do make a difference! It has been my distinct honor to be a part of this latest chapter of the storied legacy of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. I have truly enjoyed every minute of this leadership role and have been humbled and honored to work with many of you over the last several years.

Thank you for your support, your membership, and most importantly, your dedication to making a difference every single day. DAN VAN ALSTINE

2021 IMTA Chairman of the Board

BEING AN HONEST, ACCURATE AND EFFECTIVE VOICE FOR IOWA’S TRUCKING INDUSTRY IS WHAT WE DO, AND WE DO IT WELL.