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2023 Louisiana Transportation Conference | Jan 18

Congressman Graves, DOTD Sec. Wilson, First Lady Edwards, Representatives from OMV, FMCSA, State Police, & MORE!

Join us for our 2023 Transportation Conference on January 18 at the Cook Hotel & Conference Center on the Louisiana State University campus. 


Meet and speak directly with agency leaders, regulators, and politicians as we discuss issues ranging from infrastructure to logistics that affect the everyday operations and business of Louisiana's transportation industry. 


There will be ample opportunities to network and visit including exhibitor opportunities. A tentative speaker and schedule details can be found below. 

 

DETAILS:

2023 Louisiana Transportation Conference

Cook Hotel & Conference Center | Baton Rouge

January 18, 2023 | 8:00am - 5:00pm

Registration can be completed online!

Room block information & registration.

TUESDAY, JAN 17
Membership meetings: We asked that all members register for the meetings they plan to attend. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN 18 
Please note that speakers, topics and times are subject to change.

  • 8:00 - 8:30 am | Breakfast & Welcome with Sen. Sharon Hewitt
  • 8:30 - 9:00 am | Updates from the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) with Jill Jarreau
  • 9:00 - 10:00 am | Updates from the LADOTD with Sec. Shawn Wilson
  • 10:00 - 10:15 am | Exhibitor Break
  • 10:15 - 10:45 am | The State of Insurance a discussion with Tim Temple – The Committee of 100
  • 10:45 - 11:15 am | Updates from Louisiana State Police (LSP) with Major Frank Besson
  • 11:15 - 11:30 am | Exhibitor Break
  • 11:30 am - 12:15 pm | Changes in Louisiana’s Political Landscape a discussion with Jeremy Alford –  LaPolitics Weekly
  • 12:15  - 12:45 pm | Updates from FMCSA with Bill Norris - Division Administrator
  • 12:45 - 1:15 pm | Human Trafficking & the Trucking Industry with special guest First Lady Donna Edwards
  • 1:15 - 1:30 pm | Exhibitor Break
  • 1:30 - 2:30 pm | Louisiana Judicial Reform a discussion with Lauren Hadden – LABI Judicial Program Director
  • 2:30 - 3:45 pm | 2023 Session: Louisiana’s Legislative Outlook with Rep. Paula Davis (R-69) & Sen. Mike Reese (R-30)
  • 3:45 - 4:15 pm | Updates from Washington, D.C., with Congressman Garret Graves 
 

Truck Driving Championships & Safety Award Applications are NOW OPEN!
Information, Details & Deadlines Below!

TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Louisiana Truck Driving Championships (TDC) is a competition of professional truck drivers hosted each year by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) and is the regional qualifier for the National Truck Driving Championships hosted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). As part of the LMTA Foundation's mission to promote safety and highlight driver excellence in Louisiana's trucking industry, there is no registration fee for the Louisiana Championships.

 

The TDC has a long history within the LMTA, and was previously known as the Louisiana Truck Rodeo. The TDC competitors comprise eight driving classes and feature drivers throughout the state. During the TDC competition, each driver can demonstrate his or her driving and inspection skills, knowledge and professionalism through a series of tests.

 

Each driver is graded in three tasks:

  1. Written examination
  2. Pre-trip inspection test
  3. Driving skills test

Our 2023 Truck Driving Championships will be held March 3-4, 2023. The registration, testing and awards banquet will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge off of Bluebonnet Blvd. The Pre-trip inspection and driving course will be hosted in the Blue Bayou and Dixie Landing Amusement Park overflow parking lot in Baton Rouge, located on the corner of Highland Road and the I-10 W on-ramp.  

 

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE BY FEBRUARY 17, 2023

 

SAFETY AWARDS

The LMTA in partnership with Great West Casualty Company and the LMTA Foundation, are proud to offer the following awards programs to those throughout Louisiana's trucking industry. These awards are dedicated to safety professionals and professional drivers for improving safety and the image of our industry every day.

 

Please see each award's specific form for details and notes of consideration. Awards will be presented during the 2023 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships Awards Banquet. Please plan to have a representative from your company or selected nominee attend.

 

APPLICATIONS:

- Fleet Safety Awards (DEADLINE JAN 27)
- Safety Professional of the Year (DEADLINE FEB 10)
- Truck Driver of the Year (DEADLINE FEB 10) 


If you have any questions, please contact the LMTA Office.

 

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DEADLINES ABOVE

 

LMTA Safety Management Council (SMC) Updates
Courtesy Inspections, TDC Planning & More!

Per chairman Jeff Beam, we will hold a Safety Management Council meeting on January 17, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Cook Hotel and Conference Center. The following day is our Louisiana Transportation Conference, which is followed by an SMC Courtesy Inspection on Thursday, January 18 in Breaux Bridge.

 

As many of you are aware, we are getting geared up in earnest for the Truck Driving Championships so it’s an important meeting. We also just scheduled a Compliance Seminar for Feb 7 in West Monroe.

 

Our SMC calendar also details the many other SMC activities that we will undertake this year. We hope that members will join us for these important learning and networking opportunities!

 

VIEW 2023 SAFETY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL CALENDAR 

- Jan 17: SMC Truck Driving Championships Planning Meeting

- Jan 19: CVI - Breaux Bridge

- Feb 7: Compliance Seminar - West Monroe presented by the LMTA Foundation 

 

Compliance Seminar - West Monroe | Feb. 7
Presented by the LMTA Foundation

Our February 7 seminar will be held at the Hampton Inn in West Monroe, LA, covering ways for drivers and companies can improve safety scores and regulatory violations. Presented by the LMTA Foundation as part of our mission to execute education and research projects for the Louisiana trucking industry, registration for this seminar is free of charge and open to all. Please complete registration using the link below or by clicking here.

 

Compliance Seminar - West Monroe
Location: Hampton Inn West Monroe
Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Time: 8:00am - Noon
Presenters: Sgt. Brady Johnson - Louisiana State Police; FMCSA Representatives
Registration: Free & open to all - Must be completed online.

 

LMTA & NTTC Cargo Tank Workshop | Apr. 11 & 12

The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) Cargo Tank Test & Inspection Workshop is coming to Baton Rouge April 11 - 12, 2023. The cargo tank workshops are designed to help cargo tank repair technicians, testers, and inspectors comply with current regulations – whether as a bulk carrier or as a commercial repair facility. Each workshop focuses on compliance with USDOT’s cargo tank qualification and maintenance regulations found in 49 CFR Parts 107 and 180. 

 

The course includes a workbook and a copy of the 55th Edition of NTTC's Bulk Hazmat Compliance Guide. Registration is limited.

 

LMTA members - use the promo code listed on our website to receive special membership pricing!

 

Cargo Tank Test & Inspection Workshop

Location: Embassy Suites Baton Rouge

Date: April 11 - 12, 2023

Registration: Complete online (LMTA promo code for special pricing available) 

 

Advertising Opportunities Open for 2024 Directory

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association has partnered with E&M Consulting, Inc. to produce our Membership Directory.  The publication will be available in both print and digital formats.  E&M will manage the project, including advertising sales and layout/graphic design.  They are highly professional and produce a high-quality publication, and we ask that you give them a moment of your time.  E&M will be contacting all Industry Professionals about the advertising opportunities available.  The publication is a great opportunity to promote and give your company additional exposure. 

 

If you have any questions or want to advertise, please contact an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 8005 or advertising@eandmsales.com.  As always, your support is greatly appreciated!  

 

LMTA Member Exclusive NO COST Employee Benefits 
Benefit plans from LMTA Insurance Management!

We are excited to share our partnership with Mengel Financial Group to bring our members our new benefit plans under LMTA Insurance Management!

 

Since 2005, Mengel Financial Group has been offering Voluntary Employee Benefits to meet the needs of companies and their employees. Mengel Financial Group is committed to providing our members with the best and most affordable group benefits based on their specific needs. Offering Voluntary Employee Benefits strengthens relationships with your employees and improves retention and recruitment. 

 

All of the benefits are offered at NO COST TO THE EMPLOYER. Mengel Financial Group has partnered with over 20 insurance carriers, which allows us to provide the best and most affordable benefits to satisfy our member's employee’s needs. Many of their benefit offerings are Guaranteed Issue requiring no medical questions or medical exam.

 

Mengel Financial Group has been saving companies, employees & owner operators money on benefits since 1989, working with the Georgia Motor Transport Association in recent years, providing their members with affordable benefits.

 

LMTA Insurance Management also has a local benefits specialist in Tiffany VanHazebroeck, located in Mandeville, LA. Tiffany is ready to help our member companies provide their employees with exclusive voluntary benefits!

 

For more information or inquiries on benefits - please contact Tiffany VanHazebroeck or Ted Mengel whose information is listed in their profiles here.

 

TIFFANY VANHAZEBROECK | Benefits Specialist
(678) 977-5175
tiffanyv@lmta.la 

 

TED MENGEL | CEO

(404) 314-6799

ted@lmta.la 

 

Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) Meeting on I-10 Widening  - Jan. 15 (12:00 - 2:00 pm)

FROM THE CAPITAL REGION PLANNING COMMISSION (CRPC)

 

The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) will hold a joint Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation Policy Committee (TAC/TPC) meeting  on Wednesday, January 25th  from 1:00-2:00 PM  in the large ballroom at BREC located at 6201 Florida Blvd in Baton Rouge.

 

This meeting is the rescheduled December 14 meeting. Meeting documents can be found on the CRPC Website. Lunch will be provided.

 

GUEST SPEAKERS | I-10 Widening Project (Speakers will present from 12:00-1:00 PM)

  • Nicholas Olivier, Project Management Administrator (LA-DOTD)
  • James Taylor, Senior Urban Planner (Franklin Associates)
 

LADOTD Shares E-Ticketing Demonstration for Construction Vendors

FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT (LADOTD)

 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has announced the launch of a demonstration of an e-Ticketing Portal. LADOTD has worked closely with HaulHub Technologies to develop a portal that will interface with the contractor’s existing e-Ticketing platform and will allow LADOTD, and their jobsite inspectors, to seamlessly manage digital workflows in a single environment.  

 

E-Ticketing will allow LADOTD to improve safety for everyone on the jobsite and utilize inspectors more efficiently as materials are tracked in a paperless environment. Our goal during this demonstration is to use the HaulHub e-ticketing portal on several asphalt, ready mix, and aggregate projects across the state.

 

We encourage all contractors and suppliers who are interested in participating in the demonstration to go to the link below to learn more information about connecting data to the e-ticketing portal. The portal will allow for uniformity, and one system, for LADOTD inspectors to access and consistently view construction materials being delivered to construction projects, in real time, without having to rely on paper to track the job’s progress. 

 

For suppliers with existing e-Ticketing services, the LADOTD Portal provides API access, and HaulHub will assist in setting up this connection. For suppliers without a provider, HaulHub can also provide a no-cost solution to ensure that  tickets are sent to the LADOTD portal.

 

We encourage all members to reach out to HaulHub directly, or visit https://www.haulhub.com/ladotd-2022/, to begin the process of connecting e-tickets.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Patrick Icenogle, patrick.icenogle@la.gov.

 

Some Emergency Declaration for Winter Weather Remain in Effect

The winter storm that moved through much of the country in the new year caused several states to serve emergency declarations. Some of these declarations may still be in effect or discontinued.

 

As always, we encourage members to consult the FMCSA portal for the latest information.

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

 

INFRASTRUCTURE - PAR: Driving Change for Roads & Bridges

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) is excited to host The PAR Perspective webinar, Driving Change for Roads and Bridges, on Friday, January 20, at 12:15 p.m. 
 
Louisiana has a $15 billion backlog of road and bridge needs. With an influx of federal and state cash, the governor and lawmakers have steered significant sums to chip away at those needs, but the state still is far from addressing the full list. The webinar featuring Dr. Shawn Wilson, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and Rep. Mark Wright, Chairman of the House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, will look at what’s received funding so far, what’s still waiting for dollars and what the timelines are for major projects. 
 
Register here to ask these policymakers your questions about transportation!

 

WEATHER - National Weather Service: No Advisories

Here is an update from our partners at the New Orleans and Baton Rouge NWS.

 

Main Takeaways:

  • Today will be mostly sunny but cooler with temperatures reaching the low to mid 50s.
  • Saturday will still be on the cooler side with high temperatures in the low to mid 50s under mostly sunny skies.