2024 Lifeliner Magazine --- Issue 3 by Iowa Motor Truck Association

TRUCKING IS RESILIENCE

Having the support of the members in both good times and bad is what every association strives for and we are continually reminded of how special and extraordinary IMTA members are.

Issue 3, 2024

FEATURES

Celebrating Wins on the National Level p8

From supporting truck drivers and motor carriers to increasing highway safety, ATA secured 11 key pro-trucking policies and will continue to advocate for them until they reach the finish line.

Showcasing the Best of the Best p30

The 2024 Iowa Truck Driving Championships once again successfully highlighted the skills and dedication of Iowa's very own professional truck drivers.

BRENDA

EMILY HOUSBY Education & Events Manager emily@iowamotortruck.com

GARY HANDLEY Special Projects Coordinator gary@iowamotortruck.com

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

must rely on every minute they are on the road. My respect and appreciation for the professional men and women who proudly have the title as truck driver grew exponentially after this experience.

The purpose of the CEO driving challenge isn’t about which CEO is the better driver, it is more about showing our respect to the drivers and the importance of the TDC. The participants love the CEO driving challenge because they believe that it raises awareness to the senior level management about the TDC, as well as the job they do as a driver. It also shows the participant drivers’ families it is important for company leadership to understand what the challenges our professional drivers face every day in their profession.

I am proud to say that I made it through the course and with the help of TDC Chairman Keith Lamfers from Casey's, who was kind enough to coach me through the experience, I ended up with a pretty good score. I really appreciated the offers from many of the participants to be my coach that day! But more importantly, and as evidence by me kissing the ground after my run,I left that driving challenge with a renewed sense of pride for the industry and an immense amount of appreciation to the drivers that were at the TDC. These folks truly are the foundation of the trucking industry, the safest drivers on the road that proudly perform a service every day that enriches our lives in ways that are often taken for granted. If you got it, a truck brought it!

SCOTT SZYMANEK IMTA’s Chairman of the Board

For as long as I have worked in the trucking industry, I have always been a big supporter of truck drivers, I am an even bigger supporter now.

Driving a truck is not easy, embracing the lifestyle and challenges of being on the road is not easy, being away from your family for any period of time is not easy, yet truck drivers do it all with great ease and perform the role with finesse, commitment and an unprecedented level of dedication.

And for that, supporting them is not only easy but essential. They deserve our respect and appreciation every single day. They sure have mine.

Trucking is hard.

I learned that early on in my career. As I have visited with members over the years and heard many stories about the company history, there was a common theme of hard work, sacrifice and herculean strength resiliency that emerged.

Trucking is hard, but truckers are stronger.

It was also early in my career that I realized what an honor and privilege it was to be a part of such an important industry. People in trucking never back down or give up just because things get hard or difficult.

I quickly recognized the value of these attributes for our legislative efforts but over time, my respect and admiration for the resiliency and strength of the IMTA members went way beyond our legislative priorities.

Every day there are surprises and challenges for trucking and yet, the freight is delivered, families are fed, hospitals continue to treat the sick and people go on with their daily lives quite oblivious to what it takes to ensure a standard of living that is truly unprecedented.

For the last couple of years, the trucking industry has been thrown many challenges, most notably a crushing freight recession that will not loosen its grip. Every size and type of trucking operation is dealing with the impact of this challenging environment.

While frustration prevails, so does determination.

IMTA members are not deterred. The creativity, innovation and strength of the trucking industry is on full display. I have had countless conversations with employees at all levels in the company from the C-Suite to Operations to Maintenance and Safety and everyone is stepping up and doing what it takes to keep their head above water during these challenging times.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

extraordinary and dependable. The men and women who proudly get a paycheck from the trucking industry don’t back down, they don’t just throw in the towel and call it quits, instead, when the going gets tough, they get tougher.

At IMTA, we have been the beneficiaries of this extraordinary resilience too. Our attendance numbers at events over the last year have been strong and, in many cases, better than in previous years. Registrations for webinars and participation in educational activities have continued to surpass old records. Our dues revenue is on track to meet the budget and members are paying their dues faster than in previous years, primarily because of the new online payment option but we are still calling this a big WIN.

Trucking is hard, but truckers are stronger.

Having the support of the members in both good and bad times is what every association strives for and as we continue to reach our monthly benchmarks and projections, we are reminded of how special and extraordinary IMTA members are. We never take our members for granted and we take our role to serve the members very seriously.

We cannot thank you enough for your support and confidence in your association.

While there is a lull in freight, there isn’t a lull in the ingenuity and innovation. Trucking companies are using this time to work on their internal operations to be even stronger when things turn around. Many IMTA members are updating their facilities, investing in new computer systems and stepping up training at every level. IMTA members are finding ways to keep their drivers on the payroll even though it doesn’t always involve driving a truck. Good operators know that when things turn around, they must be prepared to act quickly so they are using this time to make their operations stronger, smarter and more efficient.

These are the stories and conversations that inspire me every day as I talk with members and are a stark reminder as to why the trucking industry is so

When you feel pain, we feel your pain and always strive to find ways to lesson that pain. When you feel frustrated and exasperated, we are equally frustrated and exasperated and look for ways to provide support and value.

And while I can’t and won’t make any predictions as to when this trucking recession comes to an end, I can say with great confidence that your association will not waver it its efforts to serve the membership and exercise the same discipline, resiliency and devotion to our mission that you all do every single day.

Trucking is hard, but IMTA members are stronger.

BRENDA NEVILLE IMTA President & CEO

THE PANDEMIC’S TENACIOUS GRIP ON TRAFFIC SAFETY NATIONAL UPDATE

A new study recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals the COVID-19 pandemic’s deadly impact on traffic safety in the United States. Researchers at the AAA Foundation found dangerous behaviors like speeding, not using seatbelts, and impaired driving contributed to a significant rise in fatal crashes compared to pre-pandemic times.

The new research highlights a disparity in the pandemic’s impact on traffic safety. Black and Hispanic Americans, already disproportionately affected by traffic fatalities, saw even more significant increases from 2020 through 2022. Similarly, those with lower educational attainment experienced a much sharper rise in fatalities compared to college graduates.

Foundation researchers found that 114,528 people were killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads from May 2020 through December 2022, a 17% jump in traffic deaths (nearly 17,000 additional fatalities) compared to what would have been expected under pre-pandemic trends.

Traffic deaths outpaced forecasts the most for young adults (2024), with teens (16-19) taking the top spot in 2021. Men consistently exceeded estimates by 14-19%, while women only did so in 2021 (15% increase).

FREIGHT CYCLE

The study highlights several key findings:

» RISKY DRIVING SPIKED: Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol remain significant contributors to fatal crashes.

» L ACK OF SEATBELT USE: The increase in occupant deaths was almost entirely among those not wearing seatbelts.

» FATAL CRASHES ACROSS AGE GROUPS: Drivers and victims of all ages up to 55 saw a significant rise in fatal crash involvement, with men disproportionately affected.

» LATE-NIGHT DANGER ZONE: Contrary to initial assumptions, the increase in fatal crashes wasn’t limited to times when the pandemic cleared previously congested daytime roads. Late nights and early mornings saw the most significant spikes.

» UNEQUAL IMPACT: The pandemic exacerbated existing disparities in traffic safety. Socially and economically disadvantaged counties and racial and ethnic minorities were disproportionately impacted.

Source: AAA Foundation

HAS REACHED ITS LOW POINT, ANALYSTS SAY

Recent data points to a potential positive transition in the freight cycle, analysts recently said, noting some changes show promise for carriers.

Analysts noted that new applications for transportation and warehousing businesses in June saw their largest increase since August 2022. Coupled with data showing recent gains in new trucking authorities, the data reinforces its low point assessment.

For dry van spot rates, including fuel, a bottom in pricing appeared to occur in April, Michigan State University interim chair of the school’s Department of Supply Chain Management Jason Miller.

A ratio between contract rates and spot rates can also shed light on whether a bear or bull market pricing is occurring. Miller calls this the dry van spot market cycle indicator and calculates it from DAT Freight and Analytics data.

With that ratio, a 10% threshold or below indicates a bull market cycle, while a 15% or higher threshold suggests a bear market kicking in, Miller noted. “July’s data is around 16%, suggesting no change is imminent from an uptick standpoint,” he wrote. The threshold had been mostly above 19% from May 2022 through April 2024.

Miller further said, “The bad news for carriers is that July’s reading of 15.8% is well away from the 10% threshold. As such, there aren’t signs of the market being ready to turn.”

Following monumental surges in spot and contract rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsequent drop off in demand has left a drag on operations. That’s meant bankruptcies across the trucking sector along with trucking authority stops that have persisted.

That down cycle has also lasted longer than normal. Dry van spot rates have been lower year over year each month for 27 consecutive months, excluding fuel surcharges, according to DAT data.

“I would look for a quarter of sustained performance above positive,” he said. “I’d love to see it one month positive. I’d really love to see it two months positive. Once it’s kind of in that positive territory, or even if it chops up and down, but generally positive for a whole quarter, I’m going to feel a lot better about where we are.”

The downturn has also involved nearly two years worth of negative contract rates.

“The velocity with which contract rates are coming down has definitely slowed,” Adamo said. “They’re tailing spotting rates by a couple months. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the holidays, contract rates aren’t kind of dead on year over year flat.”

“We continue to believe that the freight market will improve as more capacity exits the market so the industry as a whole can return to more disciplined operating decisions and improved financial results,” Heartland Express CEO, President and Chairman Mike Gerdin said in a Q2 earnings statement. “But, our current expectation of the timing of that favorable change likely extends into 2025.”

Source: Trucking Dive

MIKE GERDIN Heartland Express

NATIONAL UPDATE

BIDEN’S ‘INFRASTRUCTURE DECADE’ BECOMING MORE CONCRETE

A bipartisan infrastructure law topping $1 trillion is fueling a wave of freight and passenger mobility projects nationwide this summer.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, considered a bipartisan legislative achievement enacted nearly three years ago, is assisting state transportation agencies with large-scale transit and supply chain connectivity improvements.

This pillar of President Joe Biden’s “build back better” domestic agenda is often cited by supporters as the beginning of a transformative “infrastructure decade” capable of modernizing much of the transportation landscape.

On July 30, for instance, the Federal Aviation Administration indicated it had awarded $427 million for airport-related projects in 39 states. Two weeks earlier, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced more than $5 billion specifically for repairing, rehabilitating and restoring some of the nation’s most prominent bridges. Buttigieg said July 17, “There are currently about 3,000 fewer bridges in poor condition than when our administration began, and today we are proud to announce funding to repair or replace 13 of America’s largest and economically significant bridges.”

Overall, billions of dollars have been committed for maintenance and construction projects large and small in urban areas and rural regions. Many senior Republicans, meanwhile, continue to question aspects of Biden’s “build back better” regulatory trajectory. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), chairman of the influential Highways and Transit

Subcommittee, recently expressed concern about the implementation of regulations central to the White House’s response to climate change. “Rules and regulations continue to be considered that mandate certain technologies that may not be ready for mass adoption, particularly as it relates to the trucking sector,” Crawford told colleagues during a subcommittee hearing July 24.

“This can stifle the safe and efficient movement of freight, have safety implications on other roadway users, and may needlessly increase costs for consumers,” the subcommittee chairman went on.

Crawford is a co-sponsor of a procedural measure known as a Congressional Review Act resolution that would pause a new federal emissions rule for heavy-duty vehicles. During much of Biden’s tenure, a cadre of Republican policymakers have taken aim at the White House’s push of transportation emerging technologies as well as electric vehicles.

American Trucking Associations along with the 50 state trucking associations is among the groups supportive of the resolution’s aim. ATA Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer Ed Gilroy said in May: “We appreciate [lawmakers] drawing attention to this important issue and look forward to continuing to work with champions in Congress, coalition partners in industry and federal regulators to develop realistic, technology-neutral national emissions standards that will benefit our environment and set our supply chain up for success.”

Source: Transport Topics

PETE BUTTIGIEG

U.S. Secretary of Transportation

NATIONAL UPDATE

AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS CELEBRATES WINS IN TOUGH

LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT

It is no secret that this Congress has been by far the most unproductive in modern history. The legislative branch has managed to process a mere few dozen bills compared to the hundreds of bills it typically passes at this point in the biennium session.

Regrettably, the posturing and partisanship that have increasingly defined the lawmaking process do not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. The casualty of this gridlock is the failure to enact good public policy that could strengthen our supply chain, thereby helping to ease inflation, create jobs, and grow our economy.

Despite this challenging environment, the ATA refuses to give up— instead it adapts. Several must-pass bills remain on Congress’ to-do list before the end of the year, and ATA continues to focus its efforts on packing trucking’s priorities into these few bills that are moving forward.

From supporting truck drivers and motor carriers to increasing highway safety, here are the appropriations provisions ATA secured and will continue to advocate for until they reach the finish line:

1 EXPANDING TRUCK PARKING

If enacted into law, the House transportation funding bill would allocate $200 million for projects that expand truck parking. According to a USDOT study, 98% of truck drivers regularly experience difficulties locating safe parking, while ATRI found that this situation forced the average driver to sacrifice nearly an hour of drive time per day. The Senate transportation bill does not include new truck parking funding, but it calls on USDOT to prioritize investments provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for this purpose. The infrastructure law, which ATA championed, has already resulted in the construction of roughly 2,000 new truck parking spaces.

2 REVERSING THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR RULE

More than 350,000 truckers choose to work as independent contractors because of the economic opportunity it creates and the flexibility it provides, but a new rule dictated by the Department of Labor earlier this year threatens their livelihoods. The House appropriations bill includes a provision that would prohibit DOL from moving forward with this radical rewrite of an employment model that trucking has relied upon since the industry’s inception.

3 FIGHTING PREDATORY TOWING

To crack down on predatory towing, both the House and Senate funding bills would direct FMCSA to facilitate discussions with local, state, and private sector stakeholders to develop guidelines for towing and recovery regulations at all levels of government. A recent ATRI study found that more than four out of five motor carriers experienced excessive rates and unwarranted extra service charges, while a majority also encountered issues such as truck access and cargo release delays. The provision in the appropriations bills would take an important step forward to develop commonsense reforms that inject more transparency and fairness into the system and hold unscrupulous companies accountable.

4 PREVENTING CARGO THEFT

In recognition of the sharp increase in cargo theft, which spiked by 57 percent in 2023 compared to the prior year, the House and Senate funding bills would direct a coordinated effort from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security's Supply Chain and Resilience Center and relevant stakeholders, including professional policing organizations, to confront this issue. The bills would require the agencies to provide a report on cargo theft trends in the transportation supply chain, along with a strategy to combat cargo theft, to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The House Appropriations bill goes a step further by allocating $2 million to establish a Supply Chain Fraud and Theft Task Force.

PROMOTING HAIR TESTING

Hair testing is a proven, effective method to detect and deter drug usage; however, despite its codification in federal law, it cannot currently be used by carriers/employers under the DOT drug testing program as an alternative to urinalysis in meeting federal drug testing requirements. The House appropriations bill exerts pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services to finalize its longoverdue guidance and implement hair testing to allow implementation.

PROTECTING REFORMS TO THE YOUNGER DRIVER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The transportation funding bill locks in the improvements ATA secured to the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program to restore congressional intent and get the program back on track. The apprenticeship pilot was designed to serve 3,000 participating drivers at any one time; however, due in part to extraneous requirements imposed by FMCSA, participation was disappointing. The ATA successfully removed these burdensome regulations this spring, and this year’s funding bills would ensure these reforms remain intact.

BLOCKING DISRUPTIVE MEAL AND REST BREAK WAIVERS

In 2018, FMCSA granted a petition from ATA seeking a determination that California’s meal and rest break rules cannot be enforced on commercial drivers subject to federal hours-of-service rules. In 2020, FMCSA issued a similar determination on Washington State’s break rules. Those preemption determinations should have put to bed an inefficient patchwork of state and federal rules governing driver hours, yet last year, FMCSA announced it would consider resurrecting these ill-advised policies. The House appropriations bill would block FMCSA’s action and avert the negative impact that the reimposition of state break rules would have on trucking operations, safety, the supply chain, and drivers’ well-being.

HALTING

FHWA’S GHG EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE RULE

Late last year, FHWA published a rule without statutory basis to require state and local transportation agencies to measure and report their current greenhouse gas emissions, set targets for reductions, and report on the progress towards meeting those goals. ATA opposed this rule because it could lead to the delay or cancellation of some infrastructure projects. The House appropriations bill would forbid it from taking effect.

9 PROHIBITING CONGESTION TOLLING

In June, ATA and the Trucking Association of New York scored a major victory when state leaders decided to indefinitely pause a congestion pricing plan in New York City. The toll would have charged trucks up to $36 each time they crossed into Manhattan below 60th Street to make deliveries. Although this policy collapsed under the weight of its own unfair design, the House appropriations bill would prevent New York or any other jurisdiction from implementing a similar tolling scheme.

10 STOPPING THE JOINT EMPLOYER RULE

Last year, the National Labor Relations Board issued an expansive regulation that would ensnare many trucking companies that contract with other employers to accomplish their work. This restrictive standard guarantees widespread economic harm that will lead to lost jobs, less autonomy for small business owners, and fewer opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to enter the trucking industry. The House appropriations bill would overturn this rule, helping to preserve flexibility for trucking businesses and enable our industry to keep the supply chain moving.

11 FREEZING DOL’S WALKAROUND RULE

Earlier this year, OSHA finalized the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process (the Walkaround Rule). The rule forces businesses to allow non-employees, including union representatives and trial attorneys, to access their facilities to accompany OSHA inspectors on safety inspections. The House appropriations bill would restore the previous standard that had been in place for over five decades that only authorized employees to take part in an OSHA inspection.

Want to get more involved with ATRI?

There are a number of ways you can be part of this vital industry organization:

» Participate in ATRI’s research. When ATRI puts out a call for carrier data or asks for responses to an industry survey, take the time to participate. More is always better when it comes to research and we encourage you to join the growing number of motor carriers, professional drivers and industry suppliers who all regularly take part in ATRI’s studies.

» Contribute to ATRI. Join your peers in the industry and STEP UP with a charitable contribution to support ATRI’s research. Giving is easy and can be done online at www.truckingresearch.org.

» Suggest a research topic. ATRI is always looking for new research ideas for the RAC to evaluate.

» Join the RAC. Want to be involved in setting the trucking industry’s research agenda? Send us an email letting us know you want to be considered for a nomination to serve on the RAC.

» Spread the news. When ATRI releases research results, please Tweet, Facebook and otherwise share the findings with your colleagues and peer network so that everyone benefits from our work on behalf of the trucking industry.

HOW TO ATTRACT MORE WOMEN INTO THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has new research identifying approaches to increase the number of women truck drivers entering and staying in the industry. After quantifying six key challenge areas facing women truck drivers, the research lays out an action plan for the industry – with discrete steps for motor carriers, truck driver training schools and truck drivers – all designed to make trucking careers more attractive to women.

This research was identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in March of 2023 as a top priority to help further understand the challenges women drivers encounter. The research then promulgates specific strategies that the industry can implement to increase the relatively small number of women in trucking.

Among the challenges identified in ATRI’s research were industry image and perception, training school completion, truck parking shortages and restroom access, and gender harassment and discrimination.

ATRI’s research included input from thousands of truck drivers, motor carriers and truck driver training schools through surveys, interviews and a women driver focus group to identify the underlying factors that generate challenges, as well as strategies for navigating and overcoming these barriers to success for women drivers.

“ATRI’s research gives a voice to the thousands of women truck drivers who have found successful and satisfying careers in this industry and encouragement to other women to consider truck driving jobs,” said Emily Plummer, professional driver for Prime Inc. and one of the America’s Road Team Captains.

The research found that women are drawn to driving careers for the income potential, highlighting the fact that pay parity for women and men is much more prevalent in the trucking industry than in other fields.

The analysis found that carriers that implement women-specific recruiting and retention initiatives have a higher percentage of women drivers (8.1%) than those without (5.0%).

The report details how fleets can put such initiatives in place.

“This report provides an important roadmap for the industry to increase the number of women drivers,” said Joyce Brenny, Brenny Transportation President and CEO. “We have found tremendous success and improved safety with our women drivers and believe others who utilize this research will also experience success.”

REBECCA BREWSTER ATRI President & COO

INDUSTRY COSTS INCREASED MORE THAN 6 PERCENT DURING FREIGHT RECESSION

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) annual Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking reveals that industry costs have increased by more than 6 percent. This annual report analyzes lineitem costs, operating efficiencies, and revenue benchmarks by fleet sector and size, providing crucial benchmarking for motor carriers and a comprehensive overview of the financial state of trucking for decision-makers in both industry and government.

The overall marginal costs of operating a truck hit $2.270 per mile in 2023. While the increase was only 0.8 percent over the previous year, when surcharge-protected fuel costs were excluded, marginal costs rose 6.6 percent to $1.716 per mile.

Overall, 2023 expenses rose moderately across most categories, with average costs across line-items increasing at less than half the rates experienced during 2021 and 2022. Truck and trailer payments grew by 8.8 percent to $0.360 per mile, driver wages grew by 7.6 percent to $0.779 per mile, and repair and maintenance costs grew by 3.1 percent to $0.202 per mile. The exception to this trend was truck insurance premiums, which grew by 12.5 percent to $0.099 per mile after two years of negligible change.

The soft 2023 freight market posed many challenges for operational efficiency, as tracked in the report. Deadhead mileage, a critical financial drain, rose to an average of 16.3 percent for all non-tank operations, and driver turnover rose by five percentage points in the truckload sector.

These pressures combined with low freight rates strained profitability across the industry. Average operating margins were 6 percent or lower in all fleet sizes and sectors other than LTL. The truckload and specialized sectors experienced drops in per-mile or pertruck revenue, and most saw “other costs” – expenses outside of the core marginal lineitems – increase as a share of total revenue.

The report also includes analyses of cost trends in 2024 and beyond, including, for the first time, carrier-reported changes in Q1 2024 costs.

AVERAGE MARGINAL COSTS PER MILE, 2014-2023

AVERAGE MARGINAL COSTS PER HOUR, 2014-2023

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

Scan the QR code to download ATRI's annual Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking report.

IOWA UPDATE

IOWA CEO SURVEY: TALENT RECRUITMENT BIGGEST CONCERN

A big-picture look at the sentiments of Iowa business leaders indicate that talent recruitment remains the biggest challenge for most (51%), followed by rising input costs (22%), according to Iowa Association of Business & Industry (ABI) 2024 CEO survey. The hot topic of artificial intelligence (AI) accounted for two of the seven questions on the survey, with results showing the up-and-coming technology is already being woven into Iowa business operations. More than 70% of the CEOs responding indicated they were either exploring or had already implemented AI applications in their businesses, but few had put policies in place governing the use of AI by employees.

With a presidential election looming, more CEOs responding are pessimistic (32%) than optimistic “about the current direction of our state/country,” with 43% either neutral or unsure on the question. A quarter of respondents say higher interest rates are affecting capital allocation decisions or causing re-evaluation of investment plans. Less than 10% cite serious disruptions on international operations due to global hotspots like Israel, Ukraine and China.

Asked for their views on the economy for the second half of 2024, respondents tilted slightly toward the positive. On a 1-10 scale with 1 being most negative and 10 most positive, 61% of CEOs’ responses fell in the 6-10 range.

TOP CONCERNS VARY

As a top concern, “talent recruitment is an opportunity for any business,” Chad Reece, vice president of government and industry relations for long-time Forest City RV Manufacturer Winnebago Industries. “With the advent of advanced technologies used in manufacturing, that talent pool has to evolve.”

When it comes to attracting talent, “the state of Iowa is in better shape than some other,” Mr. Reece says. He credits state efforts to “entice employees to choose Iowa” and programs by universities and community colleges to train the workforce with up-to-date skills.

Osmundson Mfg. President & CEO Heather Bruce is not losing sleep over either raw material prices or recruiting. Her concerns are more basic: “Nobody’s buying anything. I need sales, more than I’m worried about my costs.”

The fourth-generation owner of the Perry-based tillage and planting products producer, Ms. Bruce says “We had three years during Covid when everything was gravy in the farming industry. Inflation caught up, interest is up. With the culmination of all that, farmers aren’t buying right now.”

RISING INTEREST RATES A BROAD CONCERN

Osmundson, which is opening a second manufacturing facility in Mayfield, Kentucky, doesn’t typically take on much debt for capital projects, but rising interest rates are still a major concern. “It affects us because it affects our customers,” says Ms. Bruce.

Osmundson’s immediate customers are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the agriculture industry such as Iowa-based Kinze Manufacturing. Its ultimate consumers are the farmers who buy the big-ticket items and replacement parts that OEMs sell. Interest rates affect purchasing decisions at both levels.

GLOBAL VOLATILITY MATTERS

One of many Iowa manufacturers involved in global markets, Osmundson experienced immediate effects when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2019. “We were growing very well before Covid and when the war came, nobody was able to sell there at all,” says Ms. Bruce. “Ukraine is the breadbasket more than Iowa is for Europe,” says Ms. Bruce. She holds onto hope for a positive outcome “as long as Ukraine is able to put up a fight.”

Winnebago’s market is focused in the U.S. and Canada, but “when international markets are affected, we’re all impacted in some way,” says Mr. Reece.

AI USE IN EARLY STAGES

“AI is at the top of most everybody’s list,” says Mr. Reece. “I don’t know that everyone has a full understanding of the total scope of possibilities. We are exploring all those opportunities. He declines to go into specifics on how Winnebago is using AI, but is clear that his company is “setting parameters around usage.”

“AI is a powerful tool, but you have to remember when you engage on a platform that is not locked inside your company, you may be sharing data that is proprietary,” he says. “There are steps you can take to mitigate that risk.” Ms. Bruce takes a more skeptical approach. “Nobody is truly using the actual AI. We’re all using some form of generative AI. Just the next buzzword in the industry, I would argue.“

STATE OF NATION, ECONOMY

Most respondents were high on Iowa’s business climate and efforts by the state government in that area, but range from pessimistic to neutral on the nation’s direction and economic outlook for the rest of 2024.

“The economy either needs to be in recession or bypass one. We’re teetering. That’s where we’ve been all of 2024,” says Ms. Bruce. “My hope is that we’ll be in full recession in 2025, or we’ll be coming out of it.

She’s similarly dour on choices facing voters in the 2024 presidential election. “We need candidates younger than 80 to be running our country. We the people need to do something different. We can’t be doing the same thing over and over and expect different results. That’s what we’ve been doing the last 20 years.”

Winnebago’s Mr. Reece, a 36-year company veteran, takes a longer view. “National election cycles are interesting. This one doesn’t differ. What we have going is that we are pretty optimistic about the longterm demand and desire for outdoor recreation. The election will happen, the American people will decide, and after the election, the American people will move forward.”

As for the economy, he says, “As we move forward past the election cycle, I think we will see improvement, but it is going to take a little time.”

Source: Corridor Business Journal/ Association of Business & Industry

NEW LEGISLATION IN EFFECT FOR TRAFFIC CAMERAS, BANNED IN CITIES

OF LESS THAN 20,000

Traffic cameras are a hot topic and a legislative lightening rod, but legislation that went into effect on July 1st specifically sets some guidelines for traffic cameras. Based on the inquiries by IMTA members on the new legislation, an overview of the new legislation will hopefully answer questions and provide the clarity on the new guidelines.

Cities wishing to add traffic cameras on their streets will be required to prove to the Iowa Department of Transportation that the cameras are needed for safety. If these towns are able to show the DOT the cameras are necessary to improve safety the Department will issue the city a permit for installation. The communities seeking the permits must provide the Department with traffic and crash figures showing why a camera is necessary in a specific location. This data will be essential in getting the permit for cameras.

Cameras can be used only to cite drivers who fail to yield or stop at a traffic signal-controlled intersection or a railroad crossing, or who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph. Local authorities will be required to review and approve a record of the alleged traffic violation captured by a traffic camera before a citation is issued.

Communities that already have the cameras in place will be allowed to retain those cameras, but after July 1, 2024 they are subject to the same requirements demonstrating why a camera is needed at each location going forward.

However, communities of less than 20,000 population need not apply.

The new legislation prohibits communities with a population of less than 20,000 from levying fines, they may be permitted to install the cameras, but they would be restricted to only issuing warning tickets. Communities below 20,000 population that currently have speed cameras will be required to remove the cameras. They may be able to keep the cameras but cannot levy fines.

The new law also stipulates that monies received from the cameras must be used on transportation infrastructure or on police or fire department operations. Many of the communities which currently have cameras send the revenue to the city’s general fund.

OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE NEW TRAFFIC CAMERA LAW

Local governments must place signs at least 500 to 1,000 feet in advance of any traffic cameras, notifying drivers that they are in use.

Anyone who is ticketed from the cameras can provide evidence they were not driving at the time the ticket was issued, they will be required to provide the name and address of the person who was driving the car.

Any stored photos of license plates from the cameras must be deleted within 30 days unless they're part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Communities must submit annual reports by March 1 to the Department of Transportation, detailing the number of collisions and citations at any locations with traffic cameras.

The law also places a cap on the amount of any fines issued:

» $75 for speed greater than 10 mph above the limit but not more than 20 mph in excess of the limit.

» $100 for speeds 20-25 mph over the limit.

» $250 for speeds 25-30 mph above the limit.

» $500 for 30 mph over.

Chevron

FEDERAL EXCISE TAX

WILL THE FEDERAL EXCISE TAX GET REPEALED?

Motor carriers pay 12% federal excise tax (FET) every time they purchase a new power unit, tires and trailers. On average that tacks on an additional $20,000 to the price tag of a new truck. Repealing the FET has been a top priority for the trucking industry for the last several years.

The FET dates back to 1917, when it helped finance the United States’ involvement in World War I. At the time, the tax was 3%, but over the years it grew to 12%. It is one of the few federal taxes levied at the product’s point of sale and it is also the highest percentage-based tax imposed by Congress on any product.

The trucking industry has long objected to the tax. The American Trucking Associations have been aggressively calling for its repeal for the last several years for many reasons. One strong argument hits at the fairness of the tax. Trucking is being targeted by the tax. The trucking industry delivers 72% of the goods purchased by consumers yet must pay one of the federal government’s few sales taxes.

Bipartisan legislation to repeal the tax, the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2023, has been introduced in congress and it calls for the repeal of FET. The bill sponsored by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md) is unlikely to pass this year because of the upcoming elections. But next year, a non-election year, would be a prime opportunity. Major parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in 2017 during the Trump Administration and supported by the trucking industry, are expiring. If Congress does not enact major tax legislation next year, many Americans will see a tax increase, so likelihood of focusing on tax policy is very high.

A second argument for the repeal of the federal excise tax is that repealing the tax would provide an immediate incentive for trucking companies to trade their older, dirtier trucks for the newer diesels.

The Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act says that from 2007 to 2020, carbon dioxide emissions from trucks were reduced by 202 million tons, while nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions were reduced by 27 million tons.

A truck sold today emits one-tenth as much NOx and particulate matters as a truck sold in 2006. The industry has eliminated almost all sulfur dioxide emissions. It is expected to reduce carbon dioxide

emissions by 1.37 billion metric tons between 2014 and 2027. Additionally, engines have become more fuel efficient. Today’s Class 8 truck saves 2,200 gallons of fuel each year compared to previous technologies. Today 60 brand new trucks emit what one truck emitted in 1988.

The timing of repealing the FET compliments the ongoing discussions by environmental groups that are really backing electric vehicles. The trucking industry continues to see measures to replace diesel trucks with electric trucks. The industry is not opposed to electric trucks where they make sense, but a forced transition before the technology and grid is a recipe for disaster.

A Class 8 battery electric truck can cost more than $400,00, more than twice as much as a clean diesel truck. The Clean Freight Coalition released a study in March that found that the commercial vehicle industry would have to invest almost $620 billion in charging infrastructure to fully electrify the US commercial truck fleet. Utilities would need to invest another $370 billion, creating a combined $1 trillion price tag.

Repealing the FET and getting cleaner diesel trucks on the road would reduce emissions immediately with the significant costs and disruptions involved in transitioning to electric trucks and creating a nationwide charging system.

Another important provision of the FET discussion is that the FET applies to electric trucks as well and since electric trucks cost twice as much as a diesel truck, the tax would be twice as much too, about $50,000.

Bottom line, the FET is a very antiquated tax and there are solid arguments supporting the repeal of the FET. Like many trucking issues, this isn’t a Democrat or a Republican issue, it is merely common sense and hopefully common sense will prevail and the FET will be repealed in 2025.

The trucking industry starts at “Yes.”

America’s trucking industry recognizes the immense importance of reducing emissions and our environmental footprint:

We supported the phase-out of sulfur in diesel fuel in 2006, reducing sulfur dioxide emissions to virtually zero.

We led EPA and NHTSA regulations in 2011, 2016 (EPA GHG Phase 1 & 2), cutting CO2 emissions by 1.37 billion tons, reducing oil consumption by 2.5 billion barrels by 2027.

We supported EPA’s SmartWay program, eliminating tons of pollutants and carbon from the air and reducing billions of gallons of fuel consumption through industry-led, voluntary best practices in fuel-economy, sustainability, and energy efficiency.

It takes 60 of today’s clean-diesel trucks to produce the emissions of a single truck built in 1988.

ATA is a fair, honest, collaborative, and productive partner with regulators and our industry is committed to emissions reductions. The trucking industry is steadfastly advancing towards zero emissions. Our nationwide membership of motor carriers, representing various sizes and operations, firmly believes that the most efficient and expeditious route to this destination involves sensible and pragmatic policies, industry cooperation, a deep understanding of supply chain dynamics, and an all-of-the-above technological approach.

California and EPA regulations are undermining emission reductions.

These policies are largely predicated on the rapid, at-scale adoption of battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles while disregarding other readily available emission-cutting technologies and legislative solutions. Beginning January 1, 2024, California – with the approval of EPA – begn mandating the sale and purchase of zero-emission trucks, even though:

There is not enough available electricity on the grid today and scaling electricity demand and distribution under EPA and CARB’s timelines will be challenging. Full electrification of the entire U.S. vehicle fleet will require a 40.3% increase in the nation’s current electricity generation, and 14% for freight trucks alone.

• Today, fleets must interact with a complex web of over 3,200 locally owned electric utilities to install charging infrastructure on site required to comply with new regulations. Utilities often estimate lead times of 18 months to three years before installation is completed.

• Refueling hydrogen infrastructure for commercial trucks is nonexistent today.

The supply chain for minerals is in a critical state and still developing. Tens of millions of tons of rare minerals will be needed to support a battery electric vehicle supply for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, yet the environmental lobby opposes any effort to permit mining and tap into domestic reserves.

• The Department of Energy’s July 2023 Critical Minerals Assessment identifies reserves of cobalt, lithium, nickel, graphite, gallium, magnesium as highly important to energy and in high supply risk through at least 2035.

• To create a sustainable mineral supply chain, the United States will need to unlock domestic sources, enter strategic trade partnerships, and develop a robust recycling network.

The charging infrastructure is nowhere near ready. Using today’s truck & charging requirements, more chargers and new hydrogen refueling stations will be needed than there currently are parking spaces, even though there is already a severe, chronic nationwide shortage of commercial truck parking.

• To scale the deployment of medium- and heavyduty battery-electric trucks envisioned by EPA’s GHG3 rulemaking, 15,625 chargers would have to be installed every month between now and 2032, according to a Ricardo analysis.

• 6 million depot chargers and 176k on-route yet-to-be technologically developed chargers will be required to support full electrification for medium- and heavy-duty trucks

These policies set trucking up for failure, in turn setting the American consumer up for failure. Remember, we deliver food, medicine, and baby formula. Failure is not merely inconvenient; it’s catastrophic. Our industry isn’t averse to overcoming challenges—we proved that during COVID. But we cannot overcome the challenges that policymakers willfully choose to pretend don’t exist.

IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION

IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION PROUDLY SUPPORTS IMTA SHOW TRAILER OUTREACH EFFORTS

Two years ago, the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation made the decision to provide funding to the IMTA Show Trailer outreach efforts. After sitting for two years during the pandemic, it was unknown what the future was for the show trailer. However, after some minor marketing it was discovered that there was tremendous interest for the show trailer and driving simulator.

The show trailer is now on the road almost 10 months out of the year and so far in 2024, over 10,000 folks have stepped foot in the show trailer with almost half of that number taking a spin in the driving simulator, and those number do not include the activity at the Iowa State Fair.

“The IMTA Show Trailer is the most effective tool we have to promote the trucking industry for possible employment from drivers to mechanics and everything in between. People of all ages love the show trailer but most of our efforts are focused on students,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

IMTA has partnered with the FFA and Future Iowa. Both of these organizations hold numerous events across the state and the IMTA show trailer is always a popular attraction. Additionally, over 50 Iowa schools featured the show trailer at various events. IMTA members are also welcome to use the show trailer at special events and almost 25 members had the show trailer at company outings.

There are 15 driver ambassadors and 4 workforce ambassadors that help man the trailer and driver simulator at all the different events. Requests are already coming in for 2025 and it is anticipated that the show trailer will continue to be very popular.

“We are very pleased that the show trailer is making the kind of impact we had hoped it would make and there are significant annual costs to maintaining the show trailer and supporting the kind of outreach effort that makes an impact. One of the objectives of the Foundation is public relations and outreach so it only makes sense that we provide financial support. For the last two years we have covered half the bill for the annual expenses, and we want to continue to provide whatever financial support is needed to allow the show trailer to make a valuable impact,” said Foundation Board Chairman Steve Schuster.

All the proceeds from the Foundation live auction and silent auction held at the annual management conference goes towards the show trailer fund.

Please contact the IMTA office if you would like to reserve the show trailer.

STEVE SCHUSTER Foundation Board Chairman

$2,037,200 RAISED

NAMING RIGHTS

$250,000

Jackie Johnsrud

The Gerdin Family

Truck Country

Van Wyk, Inc.

LEGACY WALL

$100,000

MHC Kenworth

Midwest Peterbilt Group

Midwest Wheel Companies

Olson Explosives

The Hummer Family

The Rasmussen Group

TMC Transportation

* as of 08.12.24

PATRON LEVEL

$50,000

Panama Transfer, Inc.

Warren Transport, Inc.

GOLD LEVEL

$25,000

SILVER LEVEL

$10,000

BRONZE LEVEL

$5,000

SUPPORTER LEVEL

$2,500

FRIEND OF CAMPAIGN

Dickey Transport

Heyl Truck Lines

DMTC, Inc.

Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.

GTG Peterbilt

Amhof Trucking, Inc.

Barton Solvents, Inc.

Brenda & Joe Neville

Barr-Nunn Transportation LLC

Clausen Companies

Cottingham & Butler

Casey's General Stores, $1,000

Craftsmen Utility Trailer, $1,000

Crawford Trucking Inc., $1,500

Dave & Maggie Weber, $500

David Zerbe, $100

Peterson Transportation Inc.

Sukup Manufacturing Co.

Hueneman Farms L.C.

Rathje Construction Co.

The Ennis Family

Dan & Chris Van Alstine

Hite Trucking, LLC

Keane Thummel Trucking

Fareway Stores

Seger Transport Inc.

Star Equipment, Ltd.

Pomp's Tire Service

Rory & Megan Triplett

Simon's Trucking

Ten D, Inc. / Merchants Distribution Service

Ten D, Inc. / Reppert Rigging & Hauling

US Cargo Control

Frost Brown Todd LLC, $1,000

Hanifen Towing, $1,000

Jeff Martin, $100

MHCS, $1,000

Niece Trucking, $500

Wehrle Trucking, Inc., $1,000

Windstar Express, Inc., $500

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

HOW FAMILY MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BEST WORK

Lauren C. Howe, Jochen I. Menges

Tennis star Serena Williams recently unveiled her next endeavor after leaving the courts behind: her new brand, Wyn Beauty. Like the decision to retire from tennis to focus on family, Williams’ choice to focus on beauty is a family affair. As Williams put it: “Motherhood has allowed me to look at beauty through the eyes of my daughter, Olympia. We’re always experimenting with makeup together, and I think about how these moments will be part of both of our beauty journeys… I also hope my daughters see how many different passions I have — from tennis to beauty — and learn that they can lead dynamic careers and lives across their many interests.”

Indeed, Williams’ daughter Olympia has been motivating her mom to do her best since before she was born. Williams was two months pregnant when she won the Australian Open. When Williams later wrote a public message to her newborn daughter, she emphasized how much she looked forward to seeing her daughter watch her from the players’ box, saying that “you gave me the strength I didn’t know I had.”

Family is one of the most important things in most people’s lives, across cultures and geographies. Yet, the idea that family can be motivational at work has been overlooked.

Family is one of the most important things in most people’s lives, across cultures and geographies. Yet, the idea that family can be motivational at work has been overlooked. Instead, in the past, family has been mostly seen as competing with work for an employee’s finite resources, like their time and energy. A large body of research on workfamily conflict drew on this notion and illustrated how work and family domains create conflicting demands and interfere with one another.

Our research, and the stories of the workers in Mexico that we studied, tell us the opposite. In stark contrast to the idea that family mainly drains energy from work, we found that family can provide energy for one’s work. These findings encourage us to rethink family as a key source of motivation at work.

Since we published the original research in 2017, further research has corroborated our findings and the results have been replicated and extended in other studies. We’re now able to more deeply understand the ways that family can play a role in motivation at work, as well as how managers can apply our findings in their own organizations.

The same year that Serena drew strength from her daughter’s presence on the tennis courts, we published our research on family motivation, or how family can motivate people to do their best at work. In quite a different context — the dusty desert of northern Mexico near the U.S. border — we had observed 97 employees working in a low-cost factory for processing coupons. As we spoke with the employees of this factory and later systematically studied them with surveys and objective performance indicators, an intriguing pattern emerged: those who performed best were the ones who did the job not for themselves, but for the benefit of their family.

FAMILY AS A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION AT WORK

Research on motivation has suggested that people work harder if work provides them with money and status (extrinsic motivation), joy and fulfillment (intrinsic motivation), and a sense of making a difference to others in the world (prosocial motivation). However, one reason why people work is often neglected: their family. Many people are motivated to get up every morning and go about their work because they care about supporting their family and because their family benefits from their job. This family motivation can boost employees’ performance at work, inspiring them to do their best.

The low-income employees we studied spend their workdays scanning discount coupons that are shipped to Mexico from retailers located in the U.S. — a monotonous, manual process that involves taking each coupon out of its shipping container, scanning the barcode, and double checking that the system processes the coupon correctly. We found that those who were more motivated by their family to do their work had more energy for their work. This energy, in turn, increased employees’ ability to meet their target goals for work each day. Subsequent studies among both lower-income and higher-income employees in China have again found that family motivation increased employees’ work effort in ways that led to enhanced productivity.

The reasons why family energizes extra work effort are manifold. The most straightforward is that employees want to ensure that they have the financial resources to sustain their family. But family motivates many to work hard for reasons beyond finances. Parents describe wanting to do their best at their job because they care about being a role model, to illustrate the value of a strong work ethic, or to teach their children positive career strategies — like Serena Williams’ desire to show her daughters how to embrace different interests across careers. These dynamics emerged in qualitative interviews researchers conducted in South Asia to explore the nature of family motivation further. One employee said: “My kids are everything to me. I want to give them the best and also want to be [a] role model for them. I want to teach them that one should [honor] their responsibility and earn a respectable living.”

Work can also be a source of pride, as employees share their accomplishments to make family members proud. As another South Asian employee shared, “My family feels pride in my work, my earning capabilities, and my growth in my career. It is the encouragement and backing from my family that motivate me to grow.” Just as Serena Williams looked forward to her daughter watching her work, these employees delighted in seeing the pride in their accomplishments reflected in their families’ eyes.

Family can also give employees a bigger-picture perspective that can help them to overcome challenges at work. For instance, Mark Buckingham, a physiotherapist who worked with athletes as they became new parents, noted: “Babies put a bad day or a poor training session into context. Oddly, they make athletes better at time management. People don’t tend to overtrain as much because they haven’t got the time. People become better athletes when they have babies because they become able to put things into context.”

These focus and time management skills extend into the workplace, as well. Ironically, mothers are often advised not to mention their

The poet MAYA ANGELOU wrote,

“I sustain myself with the love of family.”

As a key force in life, love of family drives the choices we make at work and shapes how we spend our work time. Organizations that embrace family at work stand to benefit from attracting and retaining employees who are highly motivated and engaged.

In the past, family has been mostly seen as competing with work for an employee’s finite resources, like their time and energy. Yet, there’s another growing body of research that finds that family can play a role in motivation at work, boosting employees’ performance and inspiring them to do their best.

children in job interviews, for fear that they may be judged to be less committed to their careers. Yet such old-school thinking is in direct conflict with what the research actually shows: family can motivate work by prompting people to become more absorbed in their work. Employees who have a family anticipate having afterwork domestic responsibilities that will take their time. Having these must-do responsibilities after work actually increases employees’ focus and commitment while at work. Far from serving as a distraction, research shows that employees with family responsibilities report more work absorption than single, childless employees.

Indeed, there are a variety of ways in which a fulfilling family life improves work. For example, family motivation enhances employees’ self-efficacy, or their sense that they can accomplish tasks at work. In addition, positive family events help a leader to feel like a valued family member and strengthen a leader’s prosocial motivation to benefit others with their work, and these forces ultimately spill over to promote effective leadership behaviors in the workplace, like being approachable and inspiring.

via benefits like on-site childcare. Employees can also infuse their work environment with special items related to their family, such as photos, children’s drawings, or letters. Infusing workspaces with family memorabilia has the added benefit that reminding ourselves of our families can bring out our best in other ways: for instance, research shows that having photos of loved ones on a desk can reduce unethical behavior such as padding expense reports.

AVOIDING THE DARK SIDE OF FAMILY MOTIVATION

Of course, there are risks and challenges associated with family motivation in the workplace.

If family motivates people to do their best at work, there is a risk that people will do too much for the sake of their families. For example, one way that family motivation can affect work is by reducing turnover. What may sound good for the employer at first glance may have downsides down the road, both for the employer and the employees. If employees don’t want to change jobs to avoid bringing turbulence to their family — for example, avoiding taking on a new job because children would have to change schools and leave friends behind — it might lead employees to remain in a job that is otherwise not appealing, or where they’re no longer learning, growing, and feeling engaged. For instance, some researchers found that family motivation was associated with employees at corporations in China staying at their jobs despite experiencing abusive supervision. Thus, although the family is a motivating factor, it is important for employees not to neglect their own needs at work.

HOW WORKPLACES CAN ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO BRING FAMILY INTO THE OFFICE

HOW WORKPLACES CAN ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO BRING FAMILY INTO THE OFFIE

Given that family motivates people at work, organizations stand to benefit from bringing family into work. This could mean that workplaces should consider how employees can bring children physically into the office — whether by hosting events like “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day(s)” that give children insight into career paths and help them feel pride in their parents’ work, or

In addition, employees with higher levels of family motivation may be at an increased risk of stress and burnout. The original study in the Mexican factory found that employees with higher levels of family motivation reported being more stressed at work. Further demonstrating the increased stress associated with family motivation, one employee interviewed in the study on lower- and higher-income employees in China said, “Supporting family makes me feel pressured, so I try my best to be careful at work and avoid errors.” As one South Asian employee put it in the interviews, “When you have to work for your family, you do not want to lose a good job whether it is [in] your [best] interest or not. You try to keep a good relationship and avoid anything which is against the rules, regulations, or culture.” As these quotes illustrate, family motivation may also prompt employees to be more risk-averse, as they feel the pressure to maintain their employment to support their family. For instance, the study with lower- and higher-income Chinese employees found that employees who were higher in family motivation tended to show less creative behavior at work.

These examples also illustrate a potential risk that organizations could take advantage of family motivation, if they know employees rely on the work to support their families and will therefore stay in bad working conditions or work themselves to exhaustion. In fact, organizations have a particular responsibility to support employees who have care duties, as they are at risk of burning the candle at both ends, giving their best at work and then returning home for the “second shift.”

The onus is on organizations to mitigate the potential downsides of the pressure family motivation creates, first and foremost by offering employees good working conditions like stable pay and predictable schedules, as well as the resources to promote mental health and well-being. If family motivates employees at work, organizations need to do their part to support employees with families in turn, such as providing benefits like parental leave and flexible work, or designating certain days as “family and loved ones days off” to give employees time for those who matter most. These policies can send a clear signal that an employer is supportive of people’s personal relationships, and could pay back dividends, given that employees are likely to come back into the office with refreshed motivation from the time spent with loved ones and gratitude toward their employer for creating this time and space.

Employers should take steps to give family-motivated employees the security they need to ameliorate any potential negative effects. First, organizations can help employees feel that their job is stable. Since feelings of financial precarity create pressure, benefits such as savings programs and mortgage assistance can help, as well as making payments toward employee student loans, or allowing employees to choose their benefits and perks so that compensation is customized to their individual needs. Second, to encourage familymotived employees to take risks, organizations could strive to create a psychologically safe environment in which employees do not feel they will be viewed negatively and at risk of losing their job if they speak up or take creative risks. Leaders could explicitly assure employees that such risks are valued and will not threaten their job’s stability.

Lauren C. Howe is an Associate Professor in Management at the University of Zurich. As a member of the Center for Leadership in the Future of Work, she focuses on how human aspects, such as mindsets, socioemotional skills, and social relationships play a role in the changing world of work.

Jochen I. Menges is a Professor of Leadership and Human Resource Management at the University of Zurich, the Director of the Center for Leadership in the Future of Work, and a co-founder of the Global HR Valley®, a growing people innovation ecosystem. He studies how people can feel and do their best at work, today and tomorrow. Jochen is also a faculty member at Cambridge Judge Business School.

c.2024 Harvard Business Review. Distributed by The New York Times Licensing Group.

ASK THE MEMBERS

How does family affect your work & career motivation?

JEFF

ARENS

Schuster Co.

“Trucking is 24/7, and so is family. I have always been one to lead by example in both aspects. My family motivates me to put my best foot forward in everything I do, showing that hard work and dedication can help to achieve a sense of well being in work and life.”

JERRY BENDER

Midwest Wheel Companies

“My career is a “shared responsibility” with my wife and kids. My wife attends many events and work trips with me and has made quite a network of her own in our industry. My children both worked all the way through school at Midwest Wheel, and my daughter is currently working full time. To say family is important in my job, would be putting it lightly.”

BLAKE GROLMUS

Ruan Transportation

“Providing for my family and doing work that they can be proud of is a big motivation for me. Having a strong support system allows me to do my best work, but also provides the balance needed to unplug at the end of the day and be present when we’re together.”

CAITLIN MUHLBAUER

Heyl Truck Lines

“As a family organization, we lean on one another during difficult times and are reminded of our motivation. We all have shared goals and support one another in our legacy for generations to come.”

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS EVERY SIZE

Discover solutions designed to match your business. At TrueNorth, we go beyond the placement of insurance to assist transportation companies and their people with protecting and maximizing assets, resources and opportunities.

• Skilled workforce and knowledgeable parts representatives

• New & Used Trailer sales, Truck Bodies

• Authorized Warranty & Repair Center for: Strick - Merritt -MorganWabash - Wilson - Transcraft - Landoll - Benson- Vanguard/CIMC

• Fully stocked parts department with statewide delivery

• Major Parts suppliers for all makes and models of trailers and van bodies

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS: A CELEBRATION OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

The 2024 Iowa Truck Driving Championships recently concluded, highlighting the skills and dedication of Iowa's very own professional truck drivers. This year's event featured 24 participating companies and 122 drivers, including 43 first-time participants. The competition was a showcase of precision driving and safety knowledge, with participants navigating challenging courses and demonstrating their expertise in various situations.

The inclusion of a significant number of first-time competitors brought fresh enthusiasm and underscored the growing interest in the trucking profession. These new drivers impressed with their abilities, despite their relative inexperience in competitive settings, signaling a bright future for the industry.

"Year after year we see new faces not only to the Iowa TDC but the industry itself. Having a strong showing in attendance as well as in their scores from these first year participants shows the strength of the trucking industry. We are certainly in good hands," said event chairman Keith Lamfers, Casey's General Stores.

Overall, the 2024 Iowa Truck Driving Championships were a resounding success, celebrating the professionalism and skill of Iowa’s truck drivers. The event wouldn't be possible without the volunteers, financial supporters, and participating companies. It is no small task to host the annual event, but with the buy-in of so many individuals we are able to create a truly special event for everyone involved, especially the drivers.

EVENT PHOTOS & VIDEO

Scan the QR code to access & download photos from the 2024 TDC, including the professionally produced event video.

2024 TDC COMMITTEE

KEITH LAMFERS Chairman Casey’s General Stores

CODY MCCLAIN Co-Chairman Tucker Freight Lines

ADAM TALLMON Alliance Interstate Risk

MANDI CARVER Don Hummer Trucking

JOHN HOLT Ruan Transportation

JESSE LALUMENDRE Schuster Co.

BRIDGET NIXON Solar Transport

TERRY PUMP CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.

KRYSTIN SITZMANN TrueNorth Companies

DAVE ZERBE Keane Thummel Trucking Inc.

JUSTIN WALTERS Tenstreet

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT John Holt (Ruan Transportation); Justin Walters (Tenstreet); Krystin Sitzmann (TrueNorth Companies); Dave Zerbe (Keane Thummel Trucking, Inc.); Mandi Carver (Don Hummer Trucking); Bridget Nixon (Solar Transport); Keith Lamfers (Casey's General Stores); Adam Tallmon (Alliance Interstate Risk); Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines); Terry Pump (CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.) Not Pictured: Jesse Lalumendre (Schuster Co.)

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOARD / CEO DRIVING CHALLENGE

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Chris Hummer (Don Hummer Trucking); 1st Place Winner, Steve Schuster (Schuster Co.); Tom Jones (Solar Transport); 2nd Place Winner, Perry Moser (CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.); Jeff Arens (Schuster Co.); 3rd Place Winner, Scott Szymanek (Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.)

EVENT SPONSORS

THANK YOU! IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ascendance Truck Centers

Bridgestone Americas Inc.

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

Comdata

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.

Don Hummer Trucking

Fleetworthy Solutions

GTG Peterbilt, Inc.

Isaac Instruments

Johnsrud Transport, Inc.

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Quality Services Corp.

Ruan Transportation

Seneca Companies

Central Trailer Service

Chartwell Law

Colliers

Cottingham & Butler

DISA Global Solutions

Fareway Stores, Inc.

Hanifen Towing

Interstate PowerSystems

Lockton Companies, LLC

MHCS

All Seasons Trucking, Inc.

Argee Transport

Bauer Built Tire & Service

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

BMO Transportation Finance

Clifton Larson Allen, LLP

Decker Truck Line, Inc.

DMTC, Inc.

E-SMART LLC

FedEx Freight

GATR Truck Center

Geotab

Great West Casualty Company

Sully Transport, Inc.

TEC Equipment

Tucker Freight Lines

United Trailer Leasing

Verizon Connect

Walmart Transportation

PrePass Safety Alliance

REMsafe Sleep

SambaSafety

Schuster Company

Warren Transport, Inc.

Green Products Company

Housby

Hy-Vee, Inc.

JMT Trucking Company

Joe Morten and Son, Inc.

Kunkel & Associates

Mid-States Utility Trailer

Ottsen Oil Company

Panama Transfer, Inc.

Platform Science

Pomp's Tire Service

Procircular

Red Wing Shoes

Sanco Thermo King

Solar Transport

Ten D, Inc

Tenstreet

The Paladin Group

Truckers Insurance Associates

US Cargo Control

Valley Distribution Corp.

Whitfield & Eddy Law

Wilson Trailer Company

Workday

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

EVENT WINNERS

BRUCE ARNOLD PRE-TRIP AWARD TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), Warren Ratliff, Jr. (Quest Liner, Inc.), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores), Jonah Click (Decker Truck Line, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores), Award Presenter: Bridget Nixon (Solar Transport), Lanny Hicks (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores), Charles Hubbard (Tucker Freight Lines), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines)

WALMART TRANSPORTATION, LLC

DECKER TRUCK LINE, INC.

SOLAR TRANSPORT

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

EVENT WINNERS

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), 1st Place: Adam Stroup (FedEx), 2nd Place: David Wollbrink (XPO), 3rd Place: Brad Sewell (FedEx), Class Coordinator: Darrell Short (Hy-Vee, Inc.), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), 2nd Place: Mike Lundberg (Walmart Transportation, LLC), 1st Place: Allen Sohn (FedEx), 3rd Place: Steve Iburg (XPO), Class Coordinator: Justin Walters (Tenstreet), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), Class Coordinator: Terry Pump (CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.), 1st Place: Mark Brown (Walmart Transportation, LLC), 2nd Place: John Egli (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), 3rd Place: Austin Collins (FedEx), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), 2nd Place: Jimmy Collins (Perishable Distributers of Iowa, Ltd.), 3rd Place: David Birch (Walmart Transportation, LLC), 1st Place: Jonah Click (Decker Truck Line, Inc.), Class Coordinator: Bridget Nixon (Solar Transport), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), 1st Place: Warren Ratliff Jr. (Quest Liner, Inc.), 3rd Place Tie: Richard Barre (XPO), Walter Freeman (Solar Transport), 2nd Place: Robert Meyer Jr. (Johnsrud Transport, Inc.), Class Coordinator: Krystin Sitzmann (TrueNorth Companies), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), Class Coordinator: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 2nd Place: Chad Clawson (Ruan Transportation), 1st Place: Todd Ouverson (Decker Truck Line, Inc.), 3rd Place: Erik McFarland (Fareway Stores, Inc.), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), 2nd Place: Lanny Hicks (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), 1st Place: Jason Reiter (Casey’s General Stores, Inc.), Class Coordinator: Mandi Carver (Don Hummer Trucking), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores) Not Pictured: 3rd Place: Devon Dubendorf (Atlantic Bottling Co.)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TDC Event Co-Chairman: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines), Class Coordinator: Adam Tallmon (Alliance Interstate Risk), 1st Place: Jim Stinemates (Walmart Transportation, LLC), 2nd Place: Eric Jons (XPO), 3rd Place: Scott Marnin (XPO), TDC Event Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

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ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.

ATLANTIC BOTTLING COMPANY

CRST THE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION, INC.

DON HUMMER TRUCKING

DECKER TRUCK LINE, INC.

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

2025 THURSDAY, JUNE 12 FRIDAY, JUNE 13

PRAIRIE MEADOWS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

QUEST LINER, INC.

PETERSON TRANSPORTATION, INC.

FINAL THOUGHT

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 15 - 21

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an important time for all of us to thank professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in undertaking one of our economy's most demanding and important jobs.

Celebrated annually, this year's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 15-21, 2024 and we know that many IMTA members really step up to show professional truck drivers appreciation and gratitude for all the hard work they do. Their efforts contribute greatly to our quality of life and truly move America forward.

This week-long celebration honors the professional truck drivers who deliver America's freight safely and securely every day. These 3.5 million professional men and women not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, but they also keep our highways safe.

The impact of truck drivers is felt in every corner of the country, as more than 80% of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to meet their freight transportation needs. From food, clothing, and medicine to household products, construction materials and heavy-duty equipment, the things that fill our lives and power our economy are made available thanks to a truck and a driver behind the wheel.

National Truck Driver Appreciation week serves as a reminder of the importance of the hardworking men and women that make sacrifices every day to keep

America moving. Throughout this week of celebration, we all have the opportunity to thank these professional men and women for their dedication, commitment and importance in making our lives pretty wonderful.

This nationwide celebration and cornerstone program was launched by the American Trucking Associations in 1988 to recognize and honor the vital contributions of truck drivers to our daily lives and the economy. Since 1988, trucking companies have really stepped up their appreciation activities and while many appreciation events are held during the designated week, more and more companies are now doing appreciation events throughout the entire year.

The Iowa Motor Truck Association will be highlighting the important role of the professional truck driver throughout the week with an extensive media outreach effort. We will also be handing out lunches to drivers at the Dallas County Scale and Jasper County Scale on September 17th and 19th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. We know that IMTA members are doing a lot of great things during this week as well and we encourage you to send us pictures and updates on what you are doing, and we will push this out to the media.

Join us in celebrating truck drivers by sharing a message on social media, tagging IMTA and using the hashtags #NTDAW24 and #ThankATrucker

Truck drivers are truly the foundation of this industry and showing our appreciation, respect and gratitude as often as possible must always be the goal. @IOWAMOTORTRUCK

We’re committed to getting you back on the road – EVERY CUSTOMER, EVERY TIME.

As your neighborhood dealer for over 65 years, Truck Country has the parts, service, and the trucks you need, where and when you need them.

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717 East Court Ave

Des Moines, IA (800) 888-0248

Davenport, IA (800) 553-1886

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Cedar Rapids, IA (800) 332-5435

Sioux City, IA (800) 943-3534

Springfield, MO (800) 785-3705

Clear Lake, IA (800) 397-5630

Kansas City, MO (800) 821-7402

Omaha, NE (800) 322-8757

2024 Lifeliner Magazine --- Issue 3

TRUCKING IS RESILIENCE

FEATURES

Celebrating Wins on the National Level p8

Showcasing the Best of the Best p30

SPONSORS

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

THE PANDEMIC’S TENACIOUS GRIP ON TRAFFIC SAFETY NATIONAL UPDATE

FREIGHT CYCLE

HAS REACHED ITS LOW POINT, ANALYSTS SAY

NATIONAL UPDATE

BIDEN’S ‘INFRASTRUCTURE DECADE’ BECOMING MORE CONCRETE

NATIONAL UPDATE

AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS CELEBRATES WINS IN TOUGH

LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT

1

EXPANDING TRUCK PARKING

2

REVERSING THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR RULE

3

FIGHTING PREDATORY TOWING

4

PREVENTING CARGO THEFT

HALTING

9

PROHIBITING CONGESTION TOLLING

10

STOPPING THE JOINT EMPLOYER RULE

11

FREEZING DOL’S WALKAROUND RULE

Want to get more involved with ATRI?

HOW TO ATTRACT MORE WOMEN INTO THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY COSTS INCREASED MORE THAN 6 PERCENT DURING FREIGHT RECESSION

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

IOWA UPDATE

IOWA CEO SURVEY: TALENT RECRUITMENT BIGGEST CONCERN

TOP CONCERNS VARY

RISING INTEREST RATES A BROAD CONCERN

GLOBAL VOLATILITY MATTERS

AI USE IN EARLY STAGES

STATE OF NATION, ECONOMY

NEW LEGISLATION IN EFFECT FOR TRAFFIC CAMERAS, BANNED IN CITIES

OF LESS THAN 20,000

OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE NEW TRAFFIC CAMERA LAW

FEDERAL EXCISE TAX

WILL THE FEDERAL EXCISE TAX GET REPEALED?

The trucking industry starts at “Yes.”

California and EPA regulations are undermining emission reductions.

IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION

IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION PROUDLY SUPPORTS IMTA SHOW TRAILER OUTREACH EFFORTS

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

HOW FAMILY MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BEST WORK

FAMILY AS A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION AT WORK

FAMILY AS A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION AT WORK

AVOIDING THE DARK SIDE OF FAMILY MOTIVATION

AVOIDING THE DARK SIDE OF FAMILY MOTIVATION

HOW WORKPLACES CAN ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO BRING FAMILY INTO THE OFFICE

HOW WORKPLACES CAN ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO BRING FAMILY INTO THE OFFIE

ASK THE MEMBERS

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS EVERY SIZE

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS: A CELEBRATION OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

2024 TDC COMMITTEE

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOARD / CEO DRIVING CHALLENGE

EVENT SPONSORS

THANK YOU! IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

EVENT WINNERS

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

EVENT WINNERS

NOT CONVINCED YET?

IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL THOUGHT

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 15 - 21

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