CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE Happy New Year! There are a lot of commercial motor vehicles in the state The New Year is here and for those of us in trucking, that are represented beyond the IMTA membership. I am we enter the time of the year that really offers up the most sure you know folks that fall into that category. One of the challenges. Weather throughout the country gets dicey and ways you can help with this legislative effort is to reach out we all know what that does to the OTR trucking operation to the small business owners, and bottom line, not to mention the stress it puts on our local grain elevators, farming drivers. Now more than ever, I encourage IMTA members operations and every person to take the extra time and effort needed to ensure that that you know that operates a our drivers are always encouraged to operate in the safest commercial motor vehicle. Tell manner. Often, that means parking the truck and riding them about this important legout the storm, which is never fun for anyone, but always islation and harness their supthe best course of action. I wish everyone in the trucking port. We need their voice. We industry the best of luck over the upcoming months as we need the communicating with all navigate this challenging environment. legislators. We need their help. And while we are on the subject of challenging environIMTA has made lawsuit abuse ments, this time of year is also when our state legislature a top priority based on feedconvenes and while some would say this is not as challeng- back from the members. And ing as driving a big rig in a snowstorm, there are certainly while our work at the Capitol different storms brewing at the State Capitol. is important, we are offering Legislative leaders and our Governor are taking bold up additional assistance in this BRENDA DITTMER IMTA’s Chairman of the Board steps to create a pro-business environment and we must area too. IMTA has contracted BRENDA NEVILLE continue to show our support for their efforts. Trucking with one of the top experts in IMTA President & CEO was specifically mentioned in the Governor’s Condition the nation to provide tactical litigation training. Dr. Bill of the State speech when she urged lawmakers to address Kanasky with Courtroom Sciences has assisted with depoa legal system that is awarding millions of dollars in dam- sition preparation and provided guidance to help folks be ages without regard to the consequences. She called for prepared for possible litigation. I have had the pleasure of sitting through one of his reasonable caps on non-economic damages for trucking sessions and it was not only the most educational session accidents. The Governor’s comments were a big I had attended but also the most comdeal and clearly sets her expectations and pelling. The trucking industry is being I HAVE HAD THE support for tort reform. It was also a very targeted by plaintiff attorneys and we PLEASURE OF SITTING must fight back. The best way to do visible show of support for our continued efforts to get lawsuit abuse legislation that is to be educated and informed. THROUGH ONE OF HIS passed. We are extremely grateful for the IMTA is offering a once in a lifetime SESSIONS AND IT WAS educational opportunity and there is Governor’s support. NOT ONLY THE MOST Even with the Governor’s support no excuse for anyone to miss out. The initial sessions are being offered in a this will not be an easy effort. While EDUCATIONAL SESSION I HAD ATTENDED BUT Republicans have a majority in both the virtual platform and then in April there House and Senate, the Republican trial will be a 2-day, in-person event that will ALSO THE MOST attorneys will never support this legislation offer up even more extensive training. COMPELLING. along with a handful of other Republicans Yes, there is a fee associated with this that aren’t supportive for various reasons. training, but it pales in comparison to We will, however, continue to be relentless in our efforts what it could potentially cost you when you are sitting to get the votes needed in the House and hopefully see across from a plaintiff attorney. This is yet another storm these important reforms become reality. We are offering we are facing right now and like the way we approach the up solid legislation that has been passed in other states. winter months in trucking, we simply need to get out there Just last year, Texas passed legislation that is very similar and get the job done. I am counting on you to join me in this fight. to what we are trying to get done. As of the writing of this column, this legislation is specific to commercial motor vehicles (identical to last year).
ISSUE 1, 2022
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