Updates from Louisiana's Transportation Industry!

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2025 Annual Sponsor

 

ACT NOW: Louisiana Needs More Responses in ATRI Survey – Win Blanton’s Green Label Special Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has launched its 2025 Top Industry Issues Survey – and they want to hear from you. This annual survey helps identify the biggest challenges facing trucking and guides policy, research, and solutions that directly impact our businesses and professional drivers.

Please encourage multiple people within your company to complete the survey – not just the owner. Anyone with a connection to the trucking industry, whether directly or indirectly, is encouraged to take part. 

Take the survey today: https://www.research.net/r/2025-TII-Survey 

As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey and leaves their email will be entered into a drawing for a bottle of Blanton’s Whiskey.

The survey closes October 10, 2025 – don’t miss your chance to make your voice count.

 

Support Our 2025 Road Warrior – Rep. Emily Chenevert

TruckPAC invites you to join us in supporting Representative Emily Chenevert, our 2025 Road Warrior for the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Starting in 2024, LMTA began recognizing legislators from both the Louisiana House and Senate who embody the definition of a Road Warrior. These legislators not only hold the highest scores for voting with LMTA positions but also serve as true champions and leaders for our industry.

Representative Chenevert has been one of our strongest allies. She:

  • Authored and passed HB 431, shifting Louisiana to modified comparative fault – a historic legal reform aligning our state with national standards and reinforcing personal accountability.

  • Authored multiple key legal reform bills. 
  • Passed legislation in 2024 to require discovery of third party litigation funding.

We are proud to honor Rep. Chenevert as a proven leader who stands up for Louisiana trucking businesses.

Now, she needs our support. Please consider either:

Suggested Contributions:
$500 Couple | $1,000 Event Sponsor | $2,500 Host Committee | $6,000 Team Chenevert

Please RSVP to Shea Brittain Thomas at shea@devisestrategy.com or 484-888-9587 (text/call).

  • Or sending a contribution directly to:
    Friends of Emily Chenevert
    17732 Highland Road Ste G, Box 237
    Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Let’s stand with Emily, just as she has stood with us. Whether you attend the reception or simply send a check, your support makes a direct impact in keeping a strong trucking advocate at the Capitol.

 

Help Launch the Louisiana Road Team – Join the Core Committee

Louisiana Truckers,

We have an exciting opportunity to promote and elevate the image of trucking in Louisiana — and we need your help to make it happen.

Louisiana is launching a Road Team for the state of Louisiana. A State Road Team is a group of professional truck drivers selected to represent our industry as public ambassadors. These drivers share their expertise with schools, civic groups, and the media — putting a positive face on trucking, educating the public about highway safety, and inspiring the next generation of drivers.

Our goal is to officially launch a Louisiana Road Team in 2026, and we are looking for two committed individuals to serve on the Core Committee that will help guide this effort.

As a Core Committee member, you commit to:

  • Determining the mission and goals for Louisiana’s Road Team.
  • Designing the program and selection process for Louisiana’s Road Team drivers.
  • Working with our association (LMTA) to promote the program and recruit driver ambassadors.
  • Ensuring quality in this initiative reflecting the professionalism and pride of Louisiana’s trucking industry.

Your voice and experience as a Louisiana trucking professional are vital to building a successful program. If you’re passionate about promoting safety, professionalism, and the positive story of trucking, we’d love for you to join us.

Please reply to Jim Murphy at Old Dominion Freight Lines (jim.murphy@odfl.com) by October 15, 2025, if you are interested in serving on the Road Team Core Committee.

Together, we can build a program that showcases the best of Louisiana trucking. Thank you for your dedication to our industry — we hope you’ll consider helping us lead this important initiative.

 

Year-Round Visibility: Become a 2026 LMTA Annual Sponsor

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association is excited to announce that 2026 Annual Sponsorships are now available and can be purchased online! 

 

By becoming an LMTA Annual Sponsor, your company will gain year-round visibility and exclusive recognition at every major LMTA event, including the Seafood Gala, Annual Convention, and Transportation Conference.

 

Annual Sponsors enjoy:

  • Complimentary registrations to LMTA’s signature events (depending on tier)
  • Prominent signage and recognition at all annual events
  • Features across LMTA communications—our website, Truck Talk Weekly Newsletter, LMTA app, and social media
  • Opportunities for enhanced exposure, from promotional videos to logo placement and speaker introductions (depending on tier)

With Gold, Silver, Bronze, and specialty sponsorships available, there’s a package to fit every company’s goals. Flexible monthly installment options make it simple to support LMTA and showcase your commitment to Louisiana’s trucking industry.

 

Available Packages:

For installment pricing or more information, please contact Burton Comeaux, Accounting Director – burton@lmta.la

 

Join us in supporting the voice of Louisiana’s trucking industry while promoting your company in front of industry leaders all year long.

 

Emergency Declaration: Smitty's Supply Inc. Incident

Please be advised that the Louisiana State Police has issued an emergency declaration in response to the incident at Smitty’s Supply Inc. in Roseland, Tangipahoa Parish.

This declaration provides exemptions from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Parts 390–399) for carriers providing direct assistance in Louisiana, including essential services such as power restoration, delivery of groceries, fuel, propane, and waste removal.

The emergency declaration took effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 21, 2025, and will remain in place until the end of the emergency as defined in Title 49 CFR Part 390.5, or 11:59 p.m. on October 4, 2025.

Please note this does not exempt carriers from controlled substance and alcohol testing, CDL requirements, financial responsibility rules, hazardous materials regulations, or Louisiana size, weight, and traffic safety laws.

For more details, please review the official declaration.

LSP OFFICIAL DECLARATION

 

Updates to Louisiana Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits – Sept. 2025

The following information is provided directly from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) regarding updates to the Annual Oversize/Overweight Permit ($2,500) that went into effect on September 2, 2025. Please review the details below to ensure compliance moving forward.

1) Route Registration Now Required

  • Obtain the annual permit as usual.
  • When you go to use the permit, select “+ Register Route.”
  • You’ll be taken to the Route Planner to enter your intended route.
  • Once approved, the route will appear under your Registered Routes.
  • This process is required so our system can analyze bridges along your route.

Grandfathering: Any permits issued before September 2, 2025 are grandfathered and do not require a route map. Permits issued on/after September 2, 2025 must include a registered route.

2) Tire Information Requirement (Effective September 10, 2025)

  • All permits must include tire size and number of tires per axle.
  • While many customers already provide this, it is now mandatory.
  • This data enables bridge and weight analysis within LADOTD’s system.

Need Assistance?

Permit Line: 800-654-1433 (option 1)

If you can’t get through, contact: DOTDLaGeauxPermits@LA.GOV

Julie Gautreau — Julie.Gautreau@LA.GOV

Chief Jeff Melchior — Jeff.Melchior@LA.GOV

We appreciate your cooperation with these updates, which help ensure safe and efficient travel across Louisiana’s roads and bridges.

 

Save the Date: 2026 Truck Driving Championship - June 19 - 20 | Hotel Room Block Open

We’re excited to announce that the 2026 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships will take place Friday, June 19 – Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana.

This annual event brings together the best of Louisiana’s trucking professionals for two days of skill, safety, and camaraderie. In addition to the driving competition, we will also present the Louisiana Safety Awards, including:

  • 2026 Truck Driver of the Year
  • Safety Professional of the Year
  • 2026 Fleet Safety Awards

Applications for these awards will open in the spring of 2026.

More details coming soon: Registration, sponsorship opportunities, hotel information, and the full schedule will be released in the coming weeks—stay tuned for updates!

We can’t wait to see you in Lafayette for another great competition and to celebrate the outstanding professionals who keep our industry safe.

Hotel & Rooms

We are excited to announce that our official room block for the Louisiana Truck Driving Championships is now open! The Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette/Cajundome is the closest hotel to the Cajundome, offering unbeatable convenience for your stay.

Rooms are expected to fill quickly, so we strongly encourage you to book as soon as possible.

To reserve, simply use our group code TRUCK:

  • Online: Book Your Room Here
  • By Phone: Call 337.291.1977 and mention the group code TRUCK

Secure your room today and be right where the action is!

 
 

Industry Update: No Confirmation Required for DOTD Police Violations

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has asked us to share the following clarification regarding violation reports issued by DOTD Police.

DOTD has observed that industry representatives are frequently mailing signed inspection reports—often via certified or priority mail—back to the Department in response to violations.

Please be advised:

  •  Corrective action notations or signed inspection reports do not need to be returned to DOTD Police. Submitting these materials creates unnecessary cost and administrative burden for carriers.
  •  In those cases, all required reporting and corrective procedures remain in place.
  •  Those processes remain unchanged and must continue to be followed as prescribed.

DOTD Police intends to include this clarification in facility literature and on future inspection reports. In the interim, please discontinue mailing corrective action confirmations for DOTD Police-only violations.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring compliance while also reducing unnecessary expenses and administrative effort. 

 

Emergency Declarations

All Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations

LMTA Member Exclusive Affinity Programs

The LMTA currently offers a variety of exclusive business partnerships and services to members of the association. Special member-only offers for our partners are listed below and can be found through your LMTA Info Hub under the "Resources" tab.

 

LMTA & WEX CARD

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) is excited to announce a rewarding affinity program partnership with WEX and their MasterCard product. Whether you use a physical WEX MasterCard, a Ghost Card for recurring payments, a Virtual Card for one-time payments, or integrate WEX MasterCard to handle all electronic payments, you can help the LMTA earn valuable rebates.

LEARN MORE

 

APP EMBARK

App Embark specializes in creating mobile apps for companies that allow employers to organize and communicate with their employees more efficiently and effectively. As part of our partnership with App Embark, LMTA members save $500 on the cost of the build fee!  

 

TO LEARN MORE OR SCHEDULE A DEMO, SELECT THE LINK BELOW IN YOUR MEMBER PORTAL.

 

Please note: Since these are exclusive member only offers, you will be directed to log into your Info Hub to view the details.

 

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