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Louisiana Truckers Face Frivolous Lawsuits: How New Laws Impact Your Business

Lawsuit abuse has long burdened Louisiana’s trucking industry—but recent reforms mark a step toward relief. Join us Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 2 PM CT for a critical webinar breaking down what these new laws mean for your operation.

Chris Billings, partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, will walk through the legal changes, what they fix, and what challenges remain. You'll get expert insight and actionable steps to ensure your business is prepared.

Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your company and stay ahead of the curve—register today.

REGISTER NOW - (LMTA MEMBERS ONLY)

Gone South dives into Operation Sideswipe, a major insurance fraud ring in New Orleans where scammers staged crashes with big rigs to collect massive settlements.

In Parts 1 & 2, hear how attorneys, fake witnesses, and “slammer” drivers targeted truckers—and how the scheme unraveled after a federal witness was murdered.

Why it matters: This real-life case exposes the tactics used to trap commercial drivers and highlights the urgent need for legal reform in our industry.

Listen now to Gone South Episodes 38 & 39 – a must for anyone in trucking.

Tired of Costly Legal Battles?
Reclaim Control with a Proactive Strategy Built for Louisiana’s Legal Landscape

CEOs, COOs, Senior Counsel, and Senior Safety Directors — join us for an essential, high-impact and interactive session tailored to address the unique litigation challenges in Louisiana.

In just a few hours, you'll discover how to:

• Dramatically reduce legal costs and insurance premiums
• Implement forward-thinking strategies to prevent accidents before they happen
• Build a more stable, predictable financial future for your business

Led by seasoned professionals with proven results, this interactive session will help you rethink how your organization approaches litigation risk.

Bonus: Participants will gain access to a follow-up driver training program — the final step in a comprehensive transformation.

Space is limited. Register today and take the first step toward stronger protection and smarter risk management.

REGISTER NOW - (LMTA MEMBERS ONLY)

Stay compliant and audit-ready by joining us for a comprehensive seminar on Hours of Service (HOS) regulations and logbook requirements, presented by the Louisiana State Police (LSP).

• SEPT 10: West Monroe
• SEPT 30: Broussard (Lafayette Area)
• OCT 23: Baton Rouge
• NOV 10: Jefferson (Greater New Orleans Area)

This training is ideal for drivers, safety managers, and motor carriers looking to deepen their understanding of HOS rules and ensure proper documentation.

Topics will include:

• Overview of HOS regulations and exemptions
• How to correctly complete paper logs and use electronic logging devices (ELDs)
• Common violations and how to avoid them
• Tips for preparing for roadside inspections and audits

Hear directly from LSP enforcement officers, ask questions, and walk away with the knowledge and tools to keep your operation in compliance.

Register today!

Through this 2 day course attendees will learn how to control costs through a complete and thorough vehicle accident investigation and develop skills in loss prevention, data collection and analysis. 

Control costs through a complete and thorough vehicle accident investigation.  Develop skills in loss prevention, data collection and analysis.

This course covers:

• Accident Management – Setting policy and procedures to be followed within the organization; driver conduct and actions at the scene; and the supervisor’s role.
• Cause and Chain of Events of Accidents – When and where did the accident begin; the multiple causes of accidents and driving tactics.
• The Role of Photography in Documentation – Procedures for gathering useful photographs.
• Roadway Evidence – Skid marks, metal scars, and damage to objects along the path of the vehicles and how they assist in determination of speeds and directions.
• Vehicle Damage – Contact, induced and other damage present and how to determine what may have caused each.
• Determining Speeds – How to determine the speed of vehicle from tire marks, critical speeds of curves, combined speeds, skip and gap skids, drag factors of roadways and other surfaces, and test skid procedures.
• Recording Information – Gathering measurements and creating field sketches, which will be used as part of the investigative process.

More information regarding NATMI and program details can be found below.

September 16 - 17 | NATMI's Fleet Accident Investigation Course

LMTA Office

325 Florida Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Register Now!

According to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, the federal National Registry II (NRII) system—requiring electronic submission of DOT medical certifications—goes into effect on June 23, 2025.

However, Louisiana will not meet this federal deadline.

What This Means for You:

Until Louisiana is fully compliant with NRII, you must take the following steps to remain in good standing:

1. Ask for a printed copy of your DOT medical exam—even if completed in another state.
2. Obtain your DOT medical as usual from a certified provider.
3. Manually submit your DOT medical certificate to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles using this link: Submit Here
4. Carry a physical copy of your DOT medical certificate with you at all times when operating a commercial vehicle.

You will be notified as soon as Louisiana implements the necessary systems to meet NRII standards.

If you have questions or need assistance submitting your certificate, don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Thank you for staying compliant and safe on the road.

We’re excited to invite you to participate in a new initiative: the Quarterly Check-In with Chief Jeff Melchior, Chief of Police for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

While both help keep Louisiana’s roads safe, what’s the difference between DOTD Police and State Police?

DOTD Police focus on transportation enforcement, weigh stations, commercial vehicle compliance, and road work zones—primarily supporting safe freight movement. Louisiana State Police have law enforcement authority statewide, handling everything from traffic stops-including mobile commercial stops-to major criminal investigations.

These quarterly sessions are designed to open the lines of communication between DOTD Police and Louisiana’s trucking industry. They’re informal, honest conversations — not lectures — where truckers, dispatchers, and company reps can hear updates directly from Chief Melchior and share the real-world issues they’re facing on the road and in operations.

This is not limited to LMTA members. All truckers and industry professionals are welcome to participate or submit topics for discussion!

We want to know:

• What topics need more clarity?
• Where do you see misalignment or confusion in enforcement?
• What issues matter most to you and your company?

Use the form below to submit any questions, topics, or concerns you’d like discussed in an upcoming Check-In. Your feedback will help shape the conversation and move our industry forward, together.

SUBMIT YOUR TOPICS HERE

Thank you for being a part of this important effort to build mutual respect and collaboration.

Interested in joining one of our quarterly webinars? Register online today!

• Sept 9: Quarterly Check-In with the Chief
• Dec 3: Quarterly Check-In with the Chief

Let’s move forward together — with honesty, integrity, and courage.

Thank you for being part of this important step toward a safer, stronger, and more collaborative transportation system.

As of the date this newsletter was written, the requirement for businesses to file a Beneficial 

Below is a free "Litigation Checklist" from LMTA members Perkins & Associates. Their team wanted to share this information, providing a litigation checklist that may help your company to keep track of what should be done along the way in the unfortunate event of a suit against your company. 

While we hope your team never has to use this resource, we encourage you to review it and keep it on file.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE CHECKLIST

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) remains committed to engaging with the industry at all levels beyond enforcement efforts. As part of this proactive approach, LADOTD offers its team as a resource for training, discussions, and industry collaboration, whether through formal sessions or informal meetings.

Organizations across the state are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. LADOTD leadership is available to visit facilities, conduct walkthroughs, and engage directly with staff to foster stronger connections and support industry needs. Strengthening these relationships is a priority, and LADOTD is dedicated to facilitating meaningful engagement throughout Louisiana.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact:

Chief Jeffery C. Melchior

Jeffery C. Melchior,

Chief of Police - DOTD Police

225-377-7185

jeff.melchior@la.gov

Louisiana State Police (LSP) are offering safety and compliance services for carriers and professional drivers. This is a great opportunity for truckers and their drivers to understand what LSP are looking for on the highway. LSP will come to your facility and train your crew. Please note: this is not a class. Contact Brady Johnson at brady.johnson@la.gov if you would like LSP to perform one of these services for you. Services are provided across the state and are open to fleets of all sizes. No fleet is too big or too small!

Take advantage of the following services to improve safety and compliance:

• Part A (CDL, medical certificates, clearinghouse, ELD/logbook violations , speeding/moving violations, required documents like proof of annual inspection)
• Part B (mechanical violations, such as cargo securement, brake adjustment, tire violations, etc.)
• Weight and Dimension Laws (Louisiana State Law only)
• General HazMat (placarding, marking, labeling, shipping papers)
• Cargo Tank Inspections (test date markings, rear end protection, required marking)
• Other Bulk HazMat (IBCs, portable tanks, chlorine service)
• Compliance Related Topics (Driver Qualification Files, Vehicle Maintenance Files, DOT Drug/Alcohol Testing , Clearinghouse, logbook record-keeping, etc.)
• Mock Level 1 inspections for anyone who wants to see and question the LSP’s inspection process. 

Sgt. Brady Johnson

brady.johnson@la.gov

Louisiana State Police

Compliance Review Division 

CVE Training Coordinator 

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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!  

LMTA INSURANCE SERVICES- MENGEL FINANCIAL GROUP

Mengel Financial Group is committed to providing the best and most affordable Voluntary Employee Benefits based on employers’ specific needs. As part of our partnership with Mengel Financial Group, LMTA members are offered group benefits at no cost!  

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.