SOUTHERN TIRE MART

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE BY FEBRUARY 17, 2023

The Louisiana Truck Driving Championships (TDC) is a competition of professional truck drivers hosted each year by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) and the LMTA Foundation 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.

Our 2023 Truck Driving Championships is to 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 parking lot in Baton Rouge.  

VIEW MORE INFORMATION ON THE CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Below are upcoming deadlines and information for our upcoming Truck Driving Championships. 

• Applications for Safety Professional & Truck Driver of the Year must be submitted by BY THE END OF BUSINESS TODAY. Requirement details and applications can be found on our website.
• All competitors must be registered online by NEXT FRIDAY, Feb. 17. Requirements and steps for registering online can be found below and on the event's webpage. 
• The volunteer sign-up form is now available! All those interested in volunteering may sign up here so we can start assigning coverage. We ask that all volunteers plan to attend the 1:00 PM March 2 meeting at the LMTA Office.
• The hotel block at the Renaissance Baton Rouge is now closed. If you or your company is still in need of accommodations, we have listed some nearby hotels on our website.
• For those planning to attend the March 4 Award Banquet who are not volunteering or registered with a driver, attendee registration is now open. 

Also, a friendly reminder of the following important dates: 

• Feb 15 | 10:30 AM  – SMC planning meeting via Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 841 8202 4054 | Passcode: 732566
• Feb 17 | EOD – All competitor registration must be completed
• Feb 23 | 2:00 PM – SMC planning meeting via Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 894 8043 1321 | Passcode: 596594
• Mar 2 | 1:00 PM – TDC Volunteer Mandatory Meeting
  • In-person at LMTA Office, Baton Rouge

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA), in partnership with Great West Casualty Company, named 19 division winners in the 2023 Louisiana Fleet Safety Awards competition. These awards competition stresses the importance of safety, recognizes professionalism, and focuses on the principles behind safe driving programs, according to the LMTA.

The top three winning companies in each of the 13 mileage and cargo-based divisions had the lowest accident frequency ratios per million miles annually. All companies will be recognized during the Truck Safety Awards on March 4, 2023, at the Renaissance Baton Rouge. Awards for Most Improved and the overall President’s Award will be announced during the banquet, with all fleet category winners being considered.

The 2023 Louisiana Fleet Safety Awards Winners are as follows:

• Overall Awards
  • Most Improved (To be announced during the Awards Banquet.)
  • President's Award (To be announced during the Awards Banquet.)

• Under 1 million: Hazardous/Tank:
  • 1st place: Freedom Trucks
  • 2nd place: O’Neal Gas, Inc.
  • 3rd place: Newman Transport
• Under 1 Million: Misc.
  • 1st place: Red Guard
  • 2nd place: River City Ready Mix
• Under 1 million: General Commodities Truckload
  • 1st place: New South Express
• Under 1 million: Household Goods
  • 1st place: American Moving and Storage
• 1,000,000-3,000,000: Tank/Hazardous Materials
  • 1st place: Groendyke Transport, Inc.
  • 2nd place: Hercules Transport, Inc.
• 1,000,000-3,000,000: Misc.
  • 1st place: Sabel Steel Baton Rouge
  • 2nd place: D&J Construction Co.
• 1,000,000-3,000,000: General Commodities LTL
  • 1st place: ABF Freight
• 3,000,000-6,000,000: Tank/Hazardous Materials
  • 1st place: Ergon Trucking Inc.
• 6,000,000-9,000,000: Misc.
  • 1st place: Dupre Logistics
• 6,000,000-9,000,000: Tank/Hazardous Materials
  • 1st place: Dupre Logistics
• 9,000,000-12,000,000: General Commodities LTL
  • 1st place: Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
• 12,000,000-20,000,000: General Commodities Truckload
  • 1st place: C&S Wholesale Service Inc.
  • 2nd place: Walmart Transportation
• 12,000,000-20,000,000: General Commodities LTL
  • 1st place: Fedex Freight

The Trucking Safety Awards will be presented during our Championships Awards Banquet on March 4. We ask that award winners and guests planning to attend complete our free registration online. THIS REGISTRATION IS ONLY FOR THOSE NOT REGISTERED AS A VOLUNTEER OR WITH A DRIVER COMPETING. 

• If you are interested in volunteering at this year's Truck Driving Championships, please complete the volunteer form and banquet registration here.
• If you plan on having a driver compete in the Championships, please register your driver here and include yourself and all guests in the total count here.

VIEW MORE INFORMATION ON THE FLEET SAFETY AWARDS

LMTA's Safety Management Council (SMC) is excited to announce that our second Courtesy Vehicle Inspection will be held outside of Hammond in the southeast region of the state on Thursday, February 16. Registration is free, and can be completed through the provided links. 

These inspections allow participants to work directly with the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) and other station officials to identify and educate members of the types of issues analyzed during an inspection.

The Feb. 16 meeting will begin held at the Baptist Scales located outside of Hammond, LA (Baptist Weight Scales on I-12 Hammond, LA 70403). Details on our group breakfast will be emailed to attendees.

Feb. 16 Courtesy Vehicle Inspections 

Location: I12 W Scale House, Hammond, LA 70403

Date & Time: February 16, 2023 - 7:00 to 11:00 am 

Registration: Free - Must be completed online.

VIEW MORE INFORMATION ON HOW COURTESY INSPECTIONS WORK 

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) 

The 2023 LMTA Annual Convention will take place July 13-15, 2023 at the The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. We encourage all those planning to attend to book early. This resort is in demand and usually fully books before the spring! 

The Lodge at Gulf State Park
21196 E Beach Blvd
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 

The cut-off for reservations is Monday, June 12, 2023.
BOOK ONLINE or by phone (251) 540-4000 (Group Code: LMTA)

Please Note: The LMTA reserves the right to remove any guest from the room block who is not registered for the convention. Removal from the block may result in an increase in rate or cancelation of reservation by the hotel.

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 

FROM THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (FMCSA)

FMCSA removed the following devices  from the list of registered ELDs due to the company’s failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.

REVOKED DEVICES:

• 1.) ELD Name: ELD ONE
  • Model number: OELD01
  • Identifier: OWLA01
  • Provider: TMS ONE
• 2.) ELD Name: Nationwide ELD
  • Model number: NWTELDV1.1
  • Identifier: NWT001
  • Provider: Nationwide Technologies Inc
• 3.) ELD Name: ONE PLUS ELD (n/k/a 1 PL Logs)
  • Model number: ORS
  • Identifier: ORS160
  • Provider: ONE PLUS ELD (n/k/a 1 PL LOGS)
  • Registration ID: 8J3V 

Motor carriers and drivers who use the device listed above must take the following actions:

1. Discontinue using the revoked device(s) and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data.
2. Replace the revoked device(s) with compliant ELD(s) from the Registered Devices list BEFORE:
   1. April 1 (for ELD One)
   2. April 4 (for Nationwide ELD)
   3. April 10 (for ONE PLUS ELD)

Motor carriers and drivers who continue to use the revoked devices past the listed deadlines  will be in violation of 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)—“No record of duty status” and drivers will be placed out-of-service (OOS) in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria.

If the ELD provider corrects all identified deficiencies, FMCSA will place the device back on the Registered Devices list and inform the industry and the field. However, FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the actions listed above now to avoid compliance issues in the event that these deficiencies are not addressed in time.

Questions? 
Contact ELD@dot.gov 

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

Main Takeaways:

• Friday showers are likely and turning colder with lows in the 40s.
• Saturday looks to be mostly cloudy and cool with scattered to numerous showers. Becoming breezy to windy late in the day. Highs in the 50s.

FROM SAMBA SAFETY

It’s common for companies to struggle to understand how their telematics investment fits into their safety program. While these devices provide a large quantity of data, it’s often delivered in various formats and systems, making it extremely challenging to extract valuable insights and formulate an accurate risk profile of your drivers. 

If you can relate, join us on February 28 at 1 pm ET ( as our experts explore these challenges in our latest webinar, How Telematics Data is Driving New Strategies for Safety and Risk Mitigation. You’ll discover how you can simplify your access to critical telematics data to transform how you identify and mitigate driver risk completely. 

How Telematics Data is Driving New Strategies for Safety and Risk Mitigation

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
12 p.m. CT

Register Now! 

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