PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE And our fight will continue. A few weeks ago, the 2022 Legislative session adjourned Throughout the upcoming weeks and months, we will and despite another valiant effort to get our lawsuit abuse legislation passed, we came up empty handed. This kind be active and relentless in identifying the candidates that of loss two years in a row weighs heavy for me personally have the courage to stand up and support this legislation. because I know the gravity of this issue for IMTA members. We will only support the folks I hear the frustration in the voices of company owners as that support us. And with the they talk about the staggering increases in their insurance upcoming primaries and gencosts while getting less coverage. I have seen the worry in the eral elections this fall, we are eyes of a member as he walked me through the negotiations very optimistic that there will and the expense of defending himself for an accident where be some new legislators at the his driver wasn’t even at fault. And sadly, I am regularly hear- Capitol, many of which will be ing from members who are seriously considering throwing in able to support our legislation. the towel and getting out of the industry completely because Additionally, we will soon of the litigious environment. Trucking company owners are be launching a website and fearful they are merely one accident away from turning over statewide campaign entithe keys to the company because of the growing number of tled “Keep Iowa Trucking”. unfounded lawsuits that are targeted at trucking companies. Through this grassroots These examples were becoming far too common in my effort we will be securing conversations with members and that was the motivating support beyond the IMTA factor for IMTA to take on a fight that we knew would be membership. With almost extremely difficult and challenging. Sparring with the trial 125,000 commercial vehicles BRENDA NEVILLE IMTA President & CEO bar is not for the weak at heart, they are well organized, in this state, our voice must well-spoken, and highly motivated because we are hitting become louder, stronger, and more far-reaching. We must get the agricultural segment them where it hurts – their payouts. But given the magnitude of this issue and the increasing involved and engaged. Educating and informing a wider number of cases against trucking (yes there are nuclear audience on the importance of this legislative effort is our settlements happening in Iowa regularly) we didn’t have top priority. While IMTA is taking lead on this issue, it is a choice, something needs to change, so we took our fight not our issue alone. Once we get this website completed, we will be asking to the Capitol. every IMTA member to allow For the last two sessions, our lawsuit abuse legislation has us to display their logo in supI HAVE SEEN THE WORRY IN THE been our top priority. Our goal is EYES OF A MEMBER AS HE WALKED ME port of this effort. Additionally, we will be asking our members simple, we must restore fairness. THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS AND to help us recruit every farmer, When a commercial vehicle acts THE EXPENSE OF DEFENDING HIMSELF wrongfully and causes a crash, cooperative elevator, delivery FOR AN ACCIDENT WHERE HIS DRIVER injury or sadly a fatality, by all service and anyone else that WASN’T EVEN AT FAULT. means we should be held accounthas commercial vehicle to join able. There isn’t a trucking comthis important campaign. The IMTA membership represents approximately 40,000 of pany in this state that does not accept that responsibility. But the onset of creative and frankly, unfair litigation the commercial vehicles in the State of Iowa, so there is a tactics are now common practice in Iowa and across the large number of folks that will be reaping the benefits of nation. These unfounded lawsuits are wreaking havoc on the this legislation well beyond the membership of IMTA and industry. The tort system is destabilized, and commercial it is high time that they join in this fight. vehicle accidents have become a profit center for the plaintiff Despite my disappointment and frustration with the attorneys. Through our legislative initiatives we are merely outcome of this past legislative session, it only fuels the fire trying to level the playing field and bring common sense to be even more relentless in this fight to do what is right back into trucking litigation. for Iowa’s trucking industry.
ISSUE 2, 2022
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