2019 Lifeliner Magazine (Issue 3)

DRUG & ALCOHOL CLEARINGHOUSE The trucking industry has had years to prepare, but concerns and questions still loom as the January 2020 implementation nears.

Issue 3, 2019

ISSUE 3, 2019

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Values Drive Performance Shared Values Can Lead to Organizational Excellence

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

FEATURES Issue 3, 2019

Preparing for the Inevitable p18

There is no better time than now to begin the Clearinghouse education process and get internal processes in place to be in compliance of this new hiring procedure.

Special Section: The Extra Mile Relive moments from the Truck Driving Championships, the Truck PAC Iowa Golf Outing, and our annual Call on Washington Trip

p2 p3 p5 p6 p9 p10 p14 p28 p32 p33 p38 p40

Listening In Chairman's Message President’s Message Up Close & Personal Ask the Members Members in the News Industry News Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation ATRI Update ATA Update IMTA Events Final Thought

COLUMNS p12 p27 p36

Legislative Update Next Generation Speaks Succession Planning

OUR STAFF BRENDA NEVILLE, CAE President & CEO

brenda@iowamotortruck.com

JORDAN BJERKE Membership & Finance Manager

jordan@iowamotortruck.com

DON EGLI, CDS Director of Safety & Security

don@iowamotortruck.com

MORGAN STEENHOEK Communications, Events & Marketing Assistant

morgan@iowamotortruck.com

JANELLE STEVENS Director of Communications, Education & Events janelle@iowamotortruck.com

MACLYN Design & Cover Illustration

KENZIE IHLE Administrative Assistant kenzie@iowamotortruck.com IOWA MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION 717 East Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 515.244.5193 | iowamotortruck.com

SPONSORS IFC p4 p8 p17

Great West Casualty Truck Country IMTA Cornerstone Sponsors MHC Kenworth

p24 p25 p30

Renewable Energy Group

p31

Thompson Truck & Trailer

Midwest Peterbilt Group Quality Services Corp.

Central Trailer Service

p35

p34

Thermo King Sales and Service

McGowen, Hurst Clark & Smith, P.C.

O’Halloran International

Donaghy-Kempton Insurors Housby Mack

IBC

Harrison Truck Centers

BC

Midwest Wheel Companies

ISSUE 3, 2019

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“Ensuring free and fair trade with our closest neighbors is critical to the trucking industry, which moves $772.3 billion worth of goods across our borders with Mexico and Canada.”

AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS PRESIDENT & CEO CHRIS SPEAR after Mexico’s ratification of the United State-Mexico-Canada Agreement

“Observations from Iowa - it is very flat, driving is monotonous, there is more unbuilt land in one block than NYC has in an entire borough, dirt roads are terrifying, no one carries almond milk and caucus-goers are extremely well-informed.”

POLITICO REPORTER SALLY GOLDENBERG tweeted during a recent visit to Iowa while covering the Presidential race

“I would say if I had one do over, it would be, I would not have appointed Jeff Sessions to be attorney general ... That was the biggest mistake.”

PRESIDENT TRUMP when asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” if he could have one “do-over” what would it be

LISTENING IN “Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It’s the one thing they’re running out of.”

AN EMOTIONAL JON STEWART while scolding a U.S. Congress committee for failing to ensure that a victims’ compensation fund set up after the 9/11 attacks never runs out of money

“Iowa is the best place in America to live, work and raise a family. With the entire country struggling to attract and train a quality workforce, Iowa has taken the lead in addressing this challenge holistically.”

IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS during her announcement of the “This is Iowa” campaign to spur economic growth

“This legislation invests in America’s infrastructure. It would provide billions for the roads, highways and transit systems of tomorrow.”

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN NITA LOWEY (D-NY) in remarks about proposed funding for infrastructure grants

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE Once again, some of the finest drivers in the industry showed up for the annual Truck Driving Championships.

We had nearly 100 competitors representing almost 30 companies and they were all excited to be there. In addition to the competitors, there were spouses, family members, lots of volunteers, safety personnel, and even people from the public stopped by to see what was going on in the parking lot at Prairie Meadows.

I was part of the appreciation ceremonies which are held on the first night. After a champagne toast, the drivers are asked to walk down a red carpet where you will find cheering and adoring fans (family members) and there isn’t a driver on the red carpet that isn’t smiling and soaking it all in. I was proud to be a part of recognizing and thanking the drivers as well as their spouses and special guests for all they do for the trucking industry.

Since 1946, we have been celebrating drivers through this important annual event that used to be called the Truck Roadeo. It was started back then for the same reasons it is still in place today; an opportunity to truly highlight and showcase the professional truck driver. The committee members and safety council organize the TDC to put all the attention on the driver which only adds to its effectiveness. To see the enthusiasm and support for this event is really gratifying and an important reminder that the professional truck driver is truly the foundation of this industry.

While I know many of us within this Association and industry try to recognize our drivers on a regular basis, I suspect we all can do a lot more to really show them our appreciation. At our DMTC office, every driver’s picture is on our front wall. We also have a free hot lunch daily along with free coffee, pop, lemonade and iced tea as well as various donuts, rolls, croissants and toast available in the morning (really all day). For the more health conscious, bananas, apples, grapes, grapefruit, cuties and carrots are on hand. Unfortunately, I gravitate towards the dessert table with the two large candy bowls or our freezer full of Blue Bunny ice cream treats. In addition, our drivers participate in a safety webinar and quiz every month.

After successfully completing the quiz, they receive the monthly DMTC safety award. For the past few months, it has been a sweatshirt, golf shirt, knife, flashlight, t-shirt, all emblazoned with our company name, of course. While these activities are appreciated and enjoyed by our drivers, we are constantly looking for ways to do even more and I would encourage you to do the same thing.

While we are on the topic of drivers, our IMTA is constantly looking at ways to attract drivers into the industry.

Our driver workforce is aging, and the baby boomers are retiring faster than ever! For several years now, it has been a top priority to attract a more diverse and younger group of drivers to our industry. With that in mind, the IMTA purchased a new show trailer. A committee of dedicated IMTA volunteers have spent the last year working with numerous innovative vendors to create an interior complete with a state-of-the-art driving simulator. I look forward to honing my rusty truck driving skills with the aid of the simulator and claiming the TDC CEO Challenge next year from that upstart Brian Kohlwes from Hirschbach Trucking.

Besides the simulator being very cool and helping my lofty trophy goals, we are hopeful the driving simulator will give people an up close and personal look at the JACK SAWYER trucking industry while also 2019 IMTA Chairman of the Board wetting the appetite of potential driver recruits. Additionally, when the show trailer is completed it will be out on the road on a regular basis. We intend to have a strong statewide presence and will be implementing a campaign unlike anything we have done in the past.

The simulator and the other bells and whistles weren’t cheap, so we are now shifting our focus to raising funds for this great public relations and recruiting tool. I hope you will consider contributing to this visible display that allows people to really experience our industry. Once the show trailer is on the road, each of us will benefit from this project that helps attract people to our industry.

If you are interested in contributing, please go to page 35 of this magazine and you will find information related to our show trailer fundraising efforts.

ISSUE 3, 2019

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I was raised on a farm in North Central Iowa and while I had dreams of leaving the State and moving to a big city somewhere, my plans changed dramatically when I met a boy in my final months of college. Not only did he steal my heart, but he also had a powerful argument as to why Iowa should be our home.

Things seemed to fall into place, and we settled into our life in Iowa. When I secured employment at an association that focused on trucking, I convinced myself that there were better jobs out there and my time at IMTA would merely be a steppingstone to something else much more exciting and impactful.

I mean really – how exciting could trucking be?

Before I knew it, I had five years in at the association and once again, I heard many powerful arguments as to why association work was my calling, but more importantly, why the trucking industry was where I needed to be.

What I had characterized in my mind early in my career regarding the trucking industry (despite hearing nothing but good things about the industry from many people that clearly knew more about trucking than I did) couldn’t have been more incorrect.

In a very short time, I gained an appreciation and respect for the trucking industry that was a direct contrast to what my naive and narrow-minded opinion had been even when I sent my resume to an association that I vaguely knew anything about. My objective was to merely get a job, collect a paycheck, and continue my job search in a field that was far more glamourous and sexier.

Does any of this sound familiar?

In my role, I have the opportunity, almost daily, to meet and speak with people that don’t understand or even appreciate our industry. I especially enjoy talking with young people that have just graduated, or folks that are looking for a job change, and the trucking industry isn’t even on their radar.

I get where they are coming from, because I was once that same 24-year-old that didn’t have trucking on my radar and really didn’t have an appreciation or an understanding of the industry and its tremendous potential as a future employer.

I thoroughly enjoy dismantling their arguments or objections that the trucking industry doesn’t have enough to offer, or the industry is “boring”.

Given that the trucking industry touches every single person, every single day, and because of trucks we all enjoy an unprecedented quality of life, I will argue that “boring” is not an appropriate way to describe the industry.

But that is what we are up against and we all have a stake in keeping the industry viable and strong….and we can only achieve that by attracting good people into our industry. And I mean employees at all levels within a trucking company, not just drivers and maintenance technicians.

Many IMTA members continue to report challenges in attracting folks in safety, operations, accounting, and even sales. In an informal poll of IMTA members, the average age of their senior management (not including drivers and maintenance technicians) was 48.

We will all agree that promoting our industry has continued to fall short of what it needs to be and while many programs are now focusing on improving our image and telling the great story of trucking, BRENDA NEVILLE perhaps we need to refine that IMTA President & CEO story even further and promote the variety of good jobs that exist in the industry.

I recently met with a group of about 30 soon to be college graduates. Before I even began my presentation, I asked the group if any of them had considered the trucking industry for employment after their college graduation. These students had degrees in business management, public relations, finance, accounting, HR, and even industrial psychology. Not one hand came up and while I commended them for their honesty, I couldn’t help but feel some frustration and disappointment.

I don’t blame those students; the blame falls solely on all of us in the industry. We have not done an adequate job in highlighting just how special and rewarding a career in trucking would be.

That’s on us and we need to make this a priority as we continue to ensure that the trucking industry will continue to dominate, impact, and serve this state and country in a manner that is unprecedented.

And yes, by the end of my presentation, three students did express an interest in the trucking industry, and I am proud to say, two of them are now in the final stage of securing a job in the trucking industry.

ISSUE 3, 2019

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UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

2019 TDC CHAIRMAN ALLISON MEINERS, RUAN TRANSPORTATION

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What year was your first TDC and why did you get involved with this event initially?

I f you were granted three wishes for the TDC, what would those three wishes be?

I believe I’ve been volunteering for five years or so.

I initially got involved because Ruan was looking for volunteers and I heard it was a fun time – after year one, I was hooked!

1.) More drivers/companies compete.

2.) More CEOs/board members compete.

3.) M ore people from the outside in attendance to recognize the important of the industry.

2

s the Chairman of the 2019 event, what A is your number one priority?

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3

hat did you look forward to the most W as the chair of the 2019 TDC?

Making the Professional Drivers know this event is 100% about them is my number one priority.

etting to know all the drivers – and rookie drivers – is G always my favorite part of the event.

4

hat is the most misunderstood W element of the TDC and does this impact participation in your opinion?

Participating is the first way to win. Rookies can win their class; veteran competitors can win their class. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been competing, you have as good of a shot as the next driver – as long as you participate.

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hat makes the W Iowa TDC special and unique?

I’m not sure how many states roll out the red carpet for their professional drivers – literally, we roll out the red carpet.

ALLISON MEINERS Ruan Transportation 2019 TDC Chairman

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ow will the TDC H look in 3 years? 5 years?

Hopefully bigger, better, and with perfect weather.

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

hat is your favorite aspect of the W TDC?

Getting to know the drivers. There was a rookie driver last year that gave me a dollar bill folded into a person as a thank you at the end of the event. He told me thanks for all I had done and that he had a blast. All of the thanks actually goes to him and his peers.

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hat do you hope the drivers and their W spouses/guests take away from this event?

During the TDC we strive to make sure the drivers know they’re the reason the industry moves forward.

This event really is about the drivers and spouses – no one else.

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I n your recruitment efforts to get drivers to participate in the TDC, what would you tell a driver that has never participated?

Do it…I double dog dare you. Seriously though, once you participate once, you’ll be hooked.

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hat would you tell a CEO that has W never had a driver participate, in an effort to get him to have his company represented at the TDC?

What are you waiting for? This is a perfect way to let your drivers show off their talents. In the years to come, each driver will remember the couple days spent at the TDC, they won’t look back and remember the couple days of loads they otherwise would have hauled that day.

2019 TDC Chairman Allison Meiners addressing the attendees at the Banquet of Champions.

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hy do you think the TDC is so W important to Iowa’s trucking industry?

Allison congratulating one of the Ruan drivers at the recognition ceremony during the Parade of Champions event.

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hat motivates you to come to work W every day?

The people and the mission.

These drivers are the best of the best. They step forward and volunteer to compete, these are the drivers I want to drive next to on the highways with my family. The industry is full of top notch Professional Drivers and I enjoy watching these drivers showcase just that.

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What is your favorite part of your job?

Company and industry events are my favorite part of my job.

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ow did you get started in the H trucking industry?

hy does you company allow you to W be involved in the TDC?

We’re proud of our drivers and we want to be a part of their accomplishments and cheer them on. We cannot do that behind a desk.

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What are your guiding principles not only as a safety director at your company but in this important leadership role?

Our first guiding principal at Ruan is safety focus – I like it, so I’ll take it for my personal leadership role as well. Without the safety focus in all areas, whether it’s regulatory, on the road, or at the customer, this industry wouldn’t be near what it is today.

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hat motivates you to be involved W with IMTA?

It doesn’t matter the size of the carrier, whether you’re a competitor or not, everyone collaborates and works together for the betterment of the industry. The relationships are irreplaceable.

My brother is part of the trade field and encouraged me to get involved with the trucking industry. I’m so glad I took his advice!

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I f you have to describe your job and the company you work for in one word, what would it be?

One word…that’s a tough one. I’d have to say family.

As cliché as it may sound, we all work together for the common goal and my coworkers are like family.

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ell us one thing about yourself that T most people don’t know?

I’m normally an open book, but one thing I focus on outside of my professional life is awareness about congenital heart defects. My son was born with a heart defect and had open heart surgery at 6 days old.

Providing awareness and support to other families walking similar journeys, through a nonprofit called HelpA-Heart, is a passion of mine.

ISSUE 3, 2019

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CORNERSTONE SPONSORS THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 CORNERSTONE SPONSORS As of July 1, 2019 $25,000

PLATINUM

$12,000

SIGNATURE

$8,000

Harrison Truck Centers

Midwest Peterbilt Group

Interstate PowerSystems

PATRON

MHC Kenworth

McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith, P.C.

Midwest Wheel Companies

O’Halloran International, Inc. / Quality Services Corp.

Thompson Truck & Trailer, Inc.

PrePass

Truck Country

$5,000

ASSOCIATE

$2,500

BMO Transportation Finance

Allied Oil & Tire Company

Renewable Energy Group

Cornhusker International Trucks

Bauer Built Tire

Reynolds & Reynolds, Inc.

Gatr Truck Center

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions

RSM US LLP

Housby

Dave Syverson Truck Centers

Thermo King Christensen

Kwik Trip / Kwik Star Inc.

Donaghy - Kempton Insurors

Truck Center Companies

Lube-Tech & Partners, LLC

Engles, Ketcham, Olson & Keith, P.C.

Truckers Insurance

Mid-States Utility Trailer Sales, Inc. /

Hanifen Company, Inc.

US Cargo Control

Keizer Refrigeration

Majestic Truck Center

Valley Distribution Corp

Ottsen Oil Company

Northland Insurance Co.

COLLEAGUE

Thermo King Sales & Service TrueNorth Companies Wilson Trailer Company Want to see your company listed as an IMTA Cornerstone Sponsor?

Contact the IMTA at 515-244-5193 or visit www.iowamotortruck.com

ASK THE MEMBERS

Q: W hat are Your Thoughts on the Upcoming Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse?

“I like that there will be a centralized location to view a driver’s drug & alcohol violations without having to rely on a VOE from a previous employer. My biggest concern is the driver has to provide consent for employers to access the details.”

LEXI WEIDEMANN Simon’s Trucking, Inc.

“The Clearinghouse is said to be ready for implementation on targeted timelines, yet there is a cloud of uncertainty amongst many end users. Apprehension is with the interface functionality, user support systems and communication mechanisms, most notably with positive result notifications.”

“Very glad to see this long overdue program get implemented. It will be a great tool to assist with the recruiting process and eliminate wasted resources that may have been used to bring in a driver who did not reveal a prior, positive alcohol/drug test.”

CURT THAYER Florilli Transportation LLC

TERRY PUMP CRST Expedited, Dedicated & Pegasus

“The Clearinghouse seems like a good idea. However, if I’m reading the requirements correctly, there seems to be a lot of steps for the program to work properly. This just seems like one more regulation for the trucking industry.”

“The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will be a useful tool in the future when hiring safe and competent drivers. Which will ultimately lower carrier risk and provide safer roadways. Which from my standpoint is the goal.”

DALLAS WILLIAMS Casey’s General Stores

DAVE STEIN Ennis Corp.

“I believe the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a positive step forward from an employer compliance and visibility standpoint.

Requiring a driver to grant employer access to their profile could be a painful bottleneck but a necessary safeguard for driver privacy.”

DAN NIECE Niece Trucking

ISSUE 3, 2019

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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Casey’s General Stores Names New CEO Casey’s General Stores has appointed former IHOP President Darren Rebelez as its new President and CEO. DARREN REBELEZ

Rebelez previously served as President of IHOP Restaurants where he oversaw operational performance and segment earnings growth, developed and implemented digital strategies to connect guests via mobile platforms and online channels, and grown the brand to become the largest full-service restaurant concept in the U.S. by unit count.

Chris, Don & Andrew Hummer (Don Hummer Trucking)

Don Hummer Trucking Moves Corporate Office to Cedar Rapids Don Hummer Trucking has moved its corporate office to a newly renovated space in Cedar Rapids.

The new ers and driver terminals in Homestead, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb., will continue operations in their current locations.

“It was a difficult decision to leave our longtime home in Oxford where my family got started in the business,” said Don Hummer Trucking President Chris Hummer. “However, it became clear that a move was necessary to protect the legacy and to better position the company to build on a great heritage of leadership and outstanding customer service. We are proud to be part of ICR Iowa and look forward to continued growth here.”

He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to the chain, including nearly eight years as executive vice president and COO of 7-Eleven Inc. He succeeds Casey’s President and CEO Terry Handley.

‘Convoy for a Cure’: West Side Transport Raises Money for Eastern Iowa Cancer Groups West Side Transport has been turning heads with its specially wrapped pink trailer with multiple colored ribbons declaring “Convoy for a Cure.”

West Side sets aside 10 percent of revenue from deliveries made using the “Convoy for a Cure” trailer to donate to cancer-related charities. The contributions are not made on an annual basis but when the revenue total reaches a substantial amount to make a meaningful impact to organizations.

West Side presented a check for $10,000 to The American Cancer Society — Hope Lodge in Iowa City. It is the organization’s second major contribution through the initiative, which began in 2016.

SOURCE: The Gazette

Bauer Built, Inc. Announces the Acquisition of the Tire Division of Allied Oil & Tire Bauer Built, Inc. announces the acquisition of the commercial tire division of Allied Oil & Tire Company effective April 1, 2019. The acquisition includes commercial tire centers in Omaha, NE; Kansas City and Joplin, MO; Wichita, KS; Des Moines, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; and Sioux City, IA. It also includes a Michelin Retread Technologies (MRTI) retread plant and a wheel-refinishing operation both in Omaha. Allied Oil will focus on expansion of their lubricants business and Industrial Services division.

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

With the Allied acquisition, Bauer Built now has 40 Tire and Service Centers, 8 MRTI plants, and 3 wheel-refinishing operations, spread across 10 Midwest states.

They also continue to operate the bulk petroleum business referred to as Bauer Built Oil out of their headquarters in Durand.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS DMACC’s Diesel Technology Program Receives Donated Vehicles The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) recently received two donated vehicles for their Diesel Technology Program.

The first vehicle is a 2007 Freightliner Columbia truck donated by Vander Haag’s, Inc. of Des Moines. Tyler Theune, General Manager of Vander Haag’s, Inc., joined DMACC Associate Dean of Industry and Technology, Dr. Jennifer Foster at the donation ceremony along with various DMACC faculty.

The donated vehicle has a day cab tandem axle with a Detroit 60 Series engine. It will be used by DMACC Diesel Technology students to learn about the technology on today’s diesel trucks.

A second cab was donated to DMACC on the same day. O’Halloran International President Jim O’Halloran, two O’Halloran Managers, and various DMACC faculty were present when donating the 2010 International Prostar. The 2010 International Prostar with the day cab tandem axle equipped with an International Maxxforce 13 engine will be also used as a learning tool by DMACC Diesel Technology students.

President & CEO Don Vogt, Senior Vice President & CFO John Dalrymple, COO Ron Joseph

West Side Transport Breaks Ground on New Headquarters in Cedar Rapids West Side Transport plans an $8 million expansion for a corporate headquarters in Cedar Rapids, slated to wrap up around May 2020.

The 50-year company announced plans for a new 50,000-square-foot building with office space and a maintenance shop on Sixth Street SW, just north of Tharp Road, east of Eastern Iowa Airport. Under the project, about 3,000 feet in turning lanes will be built from Highway 965 to West Side Transport using a RISE grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Cedar Rapids City Council also approved funding — through tax increment funds generated by area projects — for the additional lanes.

Dave Schaer, Ty Hill & Jim O’Halloran (O’Halloran International) with Jennifer Foster, Shea Parsons, Mike Gooch, Mike Holloway & Lon Moffitt (DMACC Diesel Technology Program)

“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to expand our headquarter footprint here in Cedar Rapids as we update our currently dated facility and work to grow our business opportunities,” said Don Vogt, owner and chief executive officer of West Side Transport, in the release.

Want to get noticed in the Lifeliner Magazine?

Email Janelle Stevens at janelle@iowamotortruck.com with your company’s special announcements, recognitions and press releases.

ISSUE 3, 2019

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2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION SUMMARY

Another Legislative Session in the Books I dream of a day when 150 legislators convene in the Capitol on that fateful second Monday in January and they look at one another and collectively agree Iowa has enough laws and they decide to just go home.

However, like most dreams…that’s not likely to happen.

In the 2019 Iowa Legislature there were 640 bills introduced in the Senate and another 786 in the House, then you throw in 520 study bills and add in the hundreds of amendments that were filed

DAVE SCOTT IMTA lobbyist

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

to these bills and you can see why the pages and volumes of Iowa Code books continue to grow.

We can expect similar numbers in 2020 because 2019 was the first year of a twoyear session. So many of the bills from this past session will carry over into the 2020 session.

If there is any good news to take from all those who think “there ought to be a law”, IMTA was actively lobbying on only 44 of these “good ideas” but monitoring over 100 bills and amendments that could have an impact on the membership.

There’s an old axiom that says every time the legislature passes a new law to solve a problem, said new law creates three new problems of equal or greater magnitude than the original problems. And that is precisely why IMTA works at the Capitol to protect the interests of the members.

I want to again thank the many IMTA members who get involved with the process by providing feedback, insight, facts, data, and support. The support and engagement of the membership on our state legislative priorities is extremely valuable and because of the strong grassroots support that prevails within the IMTA membership, your association and Iowa’s trucking industry is highly respected and recognized at the State Capitol.

Another Victory with Workers Compensation: Two More Fraud Investigators Two years ago, IMTA worked with other business groups to reform Iowa’s worker compensation laws.

A provision calling for the addition of fraud investigators was stripped out at that time. This year however, on the last day of the session, an amendment was added to an appropriations bill requiring two new investigators that will focus solely on fraud. The bill passed and was signed by the Governor. The Insurance Division has been understaffed for many years and reported they were only able to investigate 10 or less cases per year. Those numbers should go up now that two more investigators have been added.

2019 IOWA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Legislation Passed to Allow IMTA to Provide CDL Skills Testing Services The Iowa Motor Truck Association will now be able to provide skills testing for CDL holders across the state. Under legislation that was passed and ultimately signed by the Governor, IMTA will be able to offer a valuable service to Iowa’s trucking industry.

Under the legislation, IMTA will be able to provide the driving skills test with folks that will be certified by the Iowa DOT on a course that is also approved by the Iowa DOT. After hearing that there were delays of up to 4 weeks for skills testing, the Iowa DOT and IMTA collaborated on the idea of allowing IMTA to become a third-party tester. In this capacity, IMTA could offer the skills testing any day of the week and

Repeal of 300-foot Following Distance Passes IMTA introduced legislation this year to repeal a rule that has been on the books since the 1940s requiring trucks to maintain a 300-foot following distance.

IMTA members have urged IMTA to address this issue for several years and after discussion with legislative leaders and transportation committee chairs, the legislation was drafted and ultimately passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor. The 300-foot language was replaced with the words “reasonable and prudent” which is the same requirement for other vehicles on the road. The legislative language is like language that has been passed in over 25 other states and now opens the door for platooning in the State of Iowa. The bill became law on July 1, 2019.

intends to offer this service throughout the state. A provision of this bill also requires the Iowa DOT to conduct a study to assess and identify the areas within the State of Iowa that are underserved for CDL testing.

IMTA will be working closely with the DOT to get folks certified to conduct the testing and get a business model in place that will fill this need across the state.

“We view this as a very positive development for the trucking industry and will further enhance our ability to serve the industry. Members and non-members will be welcome to use this service. We have a number of former drivers that have already approached us about getting involved with

this new service, so we are anxious to move forward and get something in place as soon as possible,” said IMTA President and CEO, Brenda Neville.

While there will be charge for this service, the ability of IMTA to be more flexible in offering services on weekends and in different locations is appealing on many levels.

“Many companies have already reached out to us and are interested in talking with us about this service which is further testament that this could and should be a win-win proposition for everyone involved,” said Neville.

Electric Vehicles Will Pay Their Fair Share As more and more electric vehicles hit the road legislators made it a priority to develop a way to have these vehicles help pay for the roads. Legislation was passed that increased registration fees and created a kilowatt hour excise tax for non-residential charging stations. The tax will be 0.026 per kWh. The registration fee will be $130 per year for battery powered vehicles and $65 per year for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The bill also added a fuel excise tax to hydrogen fuel of $0.65 per diesel gallon equivalent or 2.49 pound of hydrogen. There was also a provision added that will phase in the registration fees for vehicles that have already been purchased.

IMTA has met with Iowa Highway Patrol and Iowa DOT and both agencies said they will continue to monitor and enforce following distance laws in an effort to ensure Iowa’s roads are safe for everyone.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Automation Will Not Wipe Out Truck-Driving Jobs In a recent article published by ScienceDaily, shared data compiled by researchers Maury Gittleman and Kristen Monaco regarding the impact of automation and the fear that automation will eliminate jobs, find that employment loss among US truck drivers will be significantly less than the 2 to 3 million reported by some media. They found that three factors attributed to the inflation of this report: »» The count of truck drivers is increased due to a misunderstanding of its occupational classification used in federal statistics »» Truck drivers do more than drive and these nondriving tasks will continue to be in demand »» Some segments of trucking will be easier to automate than others Expanding off this last point, their research suggests that while autonomous trucks will change how goods travel through the nation’s transportation system and impact how trucks and cars interact on major freight corridors, not all trucking will be easily automated.

While technology will transform existing design of the trucking industry it will not eliminate the need for truck drivers. Long-haul trucking will be easier to automate than shorthaul trucking.

SOURCE: ScienceDaily & ATA

More Drivers Than Ever, But Driver Shortage Still an Issue?

The US Census Bureau data shows the number of truckers is at an alltime high. The agency said in early June that the number of truck drivers surpassed 3.5 million in 2017. In 2007, there was approximately 3.4 million drivers but when the recession ended, there were fewer than 3 million.

ATA estimates that the industry is short at least 50,000 drivers.

“It’s not that the number of truck drivers has been in constant decline, it’s just that it’s not growing enough to match up with what has been needed with demand,” said Bob Costello, Chief Economist with the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

As for trucking companies, the Census Bureau reports the number of employer and self-employed trucking businesses reached 711,000 in 2016,

Ray Martinez, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, appeared in front of a Senate Commerce RAY MARTINEZ Committee on June 19 and said a new rule would be released very soon.

“We are in the final stages, as you know, it is a process, but I really do believe we are in the very final stages of the process and I’m hopeful that it will be in short order. I hesitate to put a date certain on it,” said Martinez. The rule is now being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

FMCSA received more than 5,200 comments and regulators also sought

IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

Costello said the increase in truckers and trucking businesses may be the result of pay increase and widespread media coverage on the driver shortage.

Costello also added that the Census Bureau’s report reflects all truck-driving jobs, while the driver shortage pertains to a specific sector of the industry; overthe-road, for-hire truckload carriers.

The Census Bureau’s data showed other details about truckers; generally, belowaverage education, but less likely to be unemployed than other workers, and they are less likely to have health insurance.

Additionally, they tend to be older than the average worker, with a median age of 46 (compared with 41 for all other workers).

SOURCE: ATA

Updated Rules for Hours of Service Guidelines Will Be Announced Soon

The long-anticipated proposed rule had a release date of June 7.

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an increase from 666,928 in 2007.

Data for 2017 is not yet available.

input on the shorthaul HOS limit, the HOS exception to adverse driving conditions and the 30-minute rest-break provision.

The agency also collected input on its split sleeper-berth rule.

There has been a lot of speculation as to what the changes will include but FMCSA has not given any indication as to what the final rule will look like.

“We get feedback and concerns almost daily from IMTA members regarding HOS and the common message is that changes need to be made because many believe that the current rules are actually forcing drivers to drive when they are fatigued. We remain cautiously optimistic that the new rules will include some valuable changes based on scientific data and will further promote safety on our highways,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

SOURCE: ATA

INDUSTRY NEWS Two US Senators Want to Limit the Speed of Trucks to 65 mph In late June, US Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware) introduced legislation that would require all new commercial trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiters set at a maximum speed of 65 mph. Existing trucks that already have the technology would also be required to set the 65 mph limit. Trucks that don’t have the technology would not be required to install the technology retroactively.

“The majority of trucks on our roads already have speedlimiting technology built in, and the rest of the technologically advanced world has already put them to use to ensure drivers follow safe speeds,” Isakson said. “This legislation would officially enforce a long-awaited speed limit of 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the number of preventable fatalities on our busy roadways.”

Previous attempts at addressing this issue have failed in Congress despite efforts by many different groups to set a mandatory national speed limit.

The Trucking Alliance, whose members include several major truckload carriers such as JB Hunt, US Xpress and KnightSwift Transportation are also a proponent of speed limiters and supports the legislation.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA, has supported speed limiters for both cars and trucks, and continues to review details of the proposed legislation.

A speed limiter mandate has been delayed by the federal government more than 20 times since it was first proposed in 2011. A comment period on a proposed rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – which as written would only apply to new trucks – ended in November 2016, but no final action has been taken.

David Young Hopes to Regain his Seat in D.C. David Young is back in the ring and has officially announced his intentions to regain his seat in Congress and represent Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. David Young will challenge Democrat Cindy Axne who is serving her first term in D.C. DAVID YOUNG There had been speculation that she may be challenging Senator Joni Ernst who is running for re-election. But in late May, Axne announced she would not be challenging Senator Ernst and instead would focus on serving the people of the 3rd District.

Young had served two terms in Congress before he was defeated by Axne in the 2018 election. While in office, Young had a seat on the Transportation & Infrastructure (T & I) Committee and had taken a strong interest in trucking and transportation issues.

“The residents of the 3rd District deserve better than the partisan politics overshadowing and taking precedence over the priorities of Iowans in Congress right now. Iowans deserve better and that is why I am announcing my candidacy for Congress,” said Young.

Young is a graduate of Johnston High School and Drake University. He grew up in Van Meter and still resides there. Prior to running for office, he was Chief of Staff for Senator Grassley.

State Representative Ashley Hinson Announces Run for 1st Congressional District Representative Ashley Hinson will be challenging Representative Abby Finkenauer for a seat in Congress. Ashley, a Republican from Marion is the first to challenge Representative Abby Finkenauer, the Democrat that defeated incumbent Rod Blum in 2018. Many political insiders believe that no other Republicans will get in the race at this point.

Ashley began her career as a state legislator in 2016 winning a seat vacated

by Kraig Paulson in Iowa House District 67. Prior to running for public office,

Ashley was a reporter and morning news anchor at KCRG-TV from 2005 to 2015. In this most recent legislative session, she was House Transportation ASHLEY Chair and has been HINSON recognized for her strong communication and leadership skills and her ability to build consensus.

about the industry and challenges that truckers are facing. Ashley’s husband Matt has been involved with the industry and IMTA for many years through his job with Elliott-Hartman Insurance in Waterloo.

“When I watch TV today, I’m outraged by the chaos and dysfunction I see in Washington.

Socialism is not the answer and it is time for new leaders in Washington, who know how to build consensus and solve problems and that is why I am running for Congress,” said Ashley.

As House Transportation Chair she reached out to many IMTA members to learn more

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INDUSTRY NEWS Cyber-Security Threats Are a Real Concern for the Trucking Industry on their own but after two days, called in a team of experts and fortunately had purchased insurance a few months earlier.

Matt Evans (TrueNorth Companies), Brian Kohlwes (Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc.), Aaron Voss (TrueNorth Companies), Rich Eckstein (BerganKDV), Matt Butler (CRST, Inc.)

“Trucking companies of all sizes need to be concerned with the threat of Cyber-security, it is a very real threat that will have a far-reaching impact on your operation,” said Brian Kohlwes, Vice President of Safety and General Counsel for Hirschbach Motor Lines in Dubuque. Brian shared the experience that his company faced late last year when their company faced a major breach and a large ransom was demanded. The company tried to deal with the problem

“We learned a great deal from the experience and urge all trucking companies to make this topic a priority discussion,” said Brian as he kicked off IMTA’s first ever legal symposium in late June. The morning general session was dedicated to a discussion on Cyber Security and included a panel of experts ranging from insurance executives, certified hackers, attorneys and trucking company executives that have had first-hand experience with cyber-security issues.

“Being prepared, training all your employees and having an awareness that this is a very real threat is an important first step,” said panelist Aaron Voss, Director of Infrastructure & Security, TrueNorth Insurance Companies.

First IMTA Legal Symposium Held in June IMTA held a Legal Symposium in June with over 30 participants in attendance. The conference was created after continued requests from the membership to have a conference that focused on legal issues added to its annual schedule of events.

Topics for the conference were identified based on member feedback and a full agenda was quickly created.

Cyber-security was featured in the opening general session followed by breakout sessions on helping motor carriers assess their own digital, cyber exposure and workers compensation. The afternoon was dedicated to EEOC and employment issues and navigating the American with Disabilities Act and reasonable accommodation in the world of trucking.

“This was an excellent conference, the speakers were really informative and knowledgeable, and the topics were spot on for anyone in the trucking industry

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regardless of the size of the company,” wrote one of the attendees in their post event evaluation. Several participants suggested that in the future the conference could easily be expanded to a two-day format.

Lisa Stephenson, CRST, Inc., and Brian Kohlwes, Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc., were the two volunteers that spearheaded the planning effort and secured the speakers.

A special thanks to the following speakers that contributed to the success of the 2019 IMTA Legal Symposium: Rick Eckstein (BerganKDV); Matt Butler (CRST, Inc.); Megan Howard (Pratum, Inc.); Charles Blades (Smith, Mills & Schrock Law); Randy Armentrout (Nyemaster); Thomas Wolle (Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman); Matt Evans (TrueNorth Companies); Aaron Voss (TrueNorth Companies); Brandon Besong (TrueNorth Companies).

Congressman Steve King Will Face a Primary with Several Vowing To Unseat Him

RANDY FEENSTRA

Steve King is the longtime incumbent in the 4th District and will be facing several opponents in a Republican primary. Since 2002, Congressman King has retained his seat.

There are now several Republican candidates that have thrown their hat in the ring in hopes of taking the seat from King.

Randy Feenstra, an Iowa State Senator from Hull, is considered the frontrunner according to many Republican insiders.

Feenstra has been serving in the Iowa legislature since 2009 and has held several leadership positions including the Transportation Committee and Ways and Means Committee. He is recognized for his expertise in tax policy.

A former county treasurer, Randy is well versed in state finances and was a key figure in the development of 2018 tax reform legislation.

“We don’t need any more sideshows or distractions, we need a seat at the table and need to start winning for Iowa families,” said Feenstra when he announced his run for Congress.

Bret Richards of Irwin, an Army veteran, educator and former business owner and Jeremy Taylor, a Woodbury County Supervisor as well as a former state legislator from Sioux City are the other two candidates in the race.

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DRUG & ALCOHOL CLEARINGHOUSE:

Creating Concerns Within the Trucking Industry

The Winds of Change are Blowing Again as the Trucking Industry Prepares for Significant Changes in the Way Drivers are Hired

By January 2020, the trucking industry will once again be facing some major changes in the way they are hiring their drivers. While everyone in the trucking industry has had many years to prepare for this change, there are still some concerns and questions regarding its implementation as well as the short- and long-term impact it will have on the industry.

“We (IMTA) have been communicating regularly with the membership regarding these changes and urging everyone to begin the education process immediately because this is a pretty significant change to the hiring procedures. The key to making this transition is to begin NOW in getting processes in place to be in compliance,” said Don Egli, IMTA’s Director of Safety & Compliance.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse was first ordered

by MAP-21, back in 2012, when Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a National program where all violations

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

of the CDL drug and alcohol testing program could be found.

The Clearinghouse is scheduled to be operational by January 6, 2020.

“The Clearinghouse is something our industry has wanted for many years. It will close a current loophole that allows drivers who have testing violations, such as failing a drug test, to go undetected in some situations,” said Dan Horvath, Vice President of Safety and Compliance for the American Trucking Associations.

The Clearinghouse will allow employers to see if a driver has had a previous positive or refusal test, and also check the status on completion of the mandatory RTD (Return to Duty) process with an SAP (Substance Abuse Program). Essentially, drivers will no longer be able to hide violations as their records will be visible regardless if they change employers or apply for a CMV (Commercial Motor Vehicle) License in another state.

“All indications from FMCSA are that the Clearinghouse will be ready to go by the compliance date. As we get closer to January 2020,

“OUR INDUSTRY’S DESIRE FOR A DRUG AND ALCOHOL CLEARINGHOUSE REITERATES OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY – ENSURING THAT ONLY THE SAFEST DRIVERS ARE OPERATING ON AMERICA’S HIGHWAYS” DAN HORVATH Vice President of Safety and Compliance for the American Trucking Associations

I think carriers may be surprised when they really begin digging into the rules and discover the level of effort required to be compliant. Beyond requesting a record from the Clearinghouse, motor carriers will need to register with the Clearinghouse and update that registration annually, use it to obtain driver consent, upload some test results and refusals to test and more. Carriers will need to add new operational policies and update old ones. It’s going to be a big deal,” said Sean Garney, Vice President with Scopelitis Transportation Consulting.

Given that safety always has been and always will be a top priority in the trucking industry, the implementation of the Clearinghouse has been lauded as one more important step in ensuring only the safest drivers are on the road.

“Our industry’s desire for a drug and alcohol clearinghouse reiterates our collective commitment to safety – ensuring that only the safest drivers are operating on America’s highways,” continued Dan Horvath.

The Clearinghouse is long overdue according to many in the trucking industry. Trucking CEOs to safety personnel to regulatory leaders have been strong proponents of the Clearinghouse. The implementation date has been on the calendar for many years so the hope is that everyone potentially impacted by these changes should be ready for it. However, concerns as to if FMCSA is ready for this major change continue to surface.

“FMCSA is on track to implement the Clearinghouse final rule as scheduled,” said Jim Mullen, General Counsel with FMCSA. “The initial website has been launched and provides outreach information to everyone that will be impacted by the rule. Registration will be available in October of 2019 in preparation for the Clearinghouse becoming fully operational in January 2020. On that date, all positive test results will be reported to the Clearinghouse, and employers will be required to check the Clearinghouse before hiring a new driver, as well as annual checks on existing drivers,” said Mullen.

“There are always concerns when something new is implemented.

The most common concern we are hearing about is centered around the requirement that all drivers must get registered on their own.

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“ FMCSA is on track to implement the Clearinghouse final rule as scheduled.”

JIM MULLEN General Counsel with FMCSA

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Registration is scheduled to open in October and we (ATA) have continued to reiterate to FMCSA over and over that they need to meet this obligation so that by January all drivers will be registered in the system,” said Dan Horvath.

But skepticism and uncertainty continue to surface in conversations with Iowa carriers.

“The biggest concern we continue to hear from IMTA members is with the driver registration process. Carriers are concerned that FMCSA will not be ready for the drivers to get registered online.

Some carriers are equally concerned that even if registration begins in October, is a 3-month period enough time to get millions of drivers in the system?” said Don Egli, IMTA. The Clearinghouse rule also requires FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review Officers (MROs), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs), consortiums and third-party administrators (C/ TPAs), and other service agents to report information related to violations of the drug and alcohol regulations by current and prospective employees to the Clearinghouse.

By implementing the Clearinghouse, FMCSA believes that employers will have the necessary tools to identify drivers who are prohibited from operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle due to drug and alcohol program violations. The database will also help to ensure that these same drivers receive the evaluation and treatment required before they can operate a CMV on public highways.

In the past, this information has often been hidden or overlooked in the current process, which was problematic. Today, if a driver fails to tell a prospective employer about a job where they failed a drug or alcohol test, or the previous employer fails to respond to the request for the driver’s background information, there is a high likelihood that the driver could end up behind the wheel of a truck because the prospective employer is not able to verify the driver’s safety history with the previous employer. Many times, a driver who fails a drug or alcohol test under the current process could be driving again within a few days if the test results are not shared with the new employer.

“The driver registration process is going to be a revelation to the drivers that may have had testing violations. Before, I think, some drivers may have simply said “I quit” when a bad result came back.

They can still do that with the new rule, but those results will be reported to the system,” said Dan Horvath.

Reporting data into the Clearinghouse will be the responsibility

of Medical Review Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals, employers, and service agents acting on behalf of employers. This includes positive tests, test refusals, and all other violations of the drug and alcohol testing regulations.

Medical Review Officers will be required to report verified positive tests, adulterated tests, or substituted drug test results, as well as refusals to test, which requires a determination by the MRO as specified in 49 CFR 40.191.

Prospective and current employers, as well as service agents acting on their behalf, will be required to report an alcohol result with a concentration of 0.04 or higher; refusal to test for drugs or alcohol; actual knowledge that a driver has used alcohol on duty, within 4 hours of coming on duty, prior to a post-accident test, or has used a controlled substance; negative return-to-duty test results; and completion of follow-up testing requirements.

Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) reporting will be limited due to privacy issues. SAPs will be required to report the identification of drivers and the date that the initial assessment was initiated, as well as the successful completion of treatment and/or education and the determination of eligibility for return-to-duty testing.

Each time information is added, modified, or removed from the Clearinghouse, FMCSA will notify the affected driver. The driver will receive this information by mail at the address listed on their current CDL. There will be an option to receive electronic notification, but drivers will have to register on the Clearinghouse to take advantage of that option.

One part of the Clearinghouse rule that came as a surprise, and is understandably causing the most concern, is the fact that all authorized users will be required to register on the Clearinghouse.

To access the Clearinghouse database, all authorized users will be required to register on the Clearinghouse website, including individual drivers. Carriers will not be able to register their driver employees nor will they be able to access information relative to their drivers. The driver must do it on their own.

“This requirement by far is the one that is causing the most concern among IMTA members. While most drivers are very responsible, and a vast majority of the drivers are very computer savvy, there is still the important step of getting on the site and getting registered. Company personnel has no control over this and that is worrisome,” said Don Egli.

Enforcement agencies, such as State Driver’s Licensing Agencies

“ The Clearinghouse is something our industry has wanted for many years. It will close a current loophole that allows drivers who have testing violations, such as failing a drug test, to go undetected in some situations.”

DAN HORVATH Vice President of Safety and Compliance for the American Trucking Associations

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and State Law Enforcement Agencies, will only receive information that driver fails to grant the carrier access to their Clearinghouse concerning whether the driver is eligible to drive or not. records, FMCSA replied that the carrier will not be able to hire the “There will be no room for technical issues, this is a site that driver, since gathering the driver’s drug and alcohol testing history will need to be operating 24/7 and, for obvious reasons, people is a requirement of the hiring process. are always concerned when a computer program is involved,” said Employers are also required to query the system for violations that would prohibit the driver or prospective driver from perDan Horvath, ATA. forming safety-sensitive functions such as Another part of the Clearinghouse rule that came as a surprise is the fact that driving. This will be required during the drivers will be able to protect their own pre-employment process for prospective information. drivers and annually for existing employee “IF A CARRIER DOESN’T drivers.

A prospective driver will be required to REGISTER OR USE THE grant specific consent for each full informaFor existing employees, carriers will be tion query, which will be provided electronrequired to perform an annual “limited CLEARINGHOUSE, THEY ically within the Clearinghouse, before the query”, which will verify presence of driver WILL NOT BE ABLE employer will be able to view the driver’s information within the Clearinghouse. If TO CONDUCT THE DRIVER information is discovered, then a full query history. Drivers will be able to access their QUERIES AND WILL BE own information, but any other authorized will be required. State driver’s licensing SUBJECT TO user of the Clearinghouse will be required agencies will also be required to query CIVIL PENALTIES.” the Clearinghouse when a driver obtains, to obtain the driver’s permission prior to renews, upgrades, or transfers their CDL. being able to see their record.

JIM MULLEN Many are concerned this too could really For pre-employer queries, prospective General Counsel with FMCSA hamper the process. employers will be required to request drug “If a carrier doesn’t register or use the and alcohol testing information from preClearinghouse, they will not be able to convious employers for an additional three duct the driver queries and will be subject years after the Clearinghouse implementation date, in the same way that it is requested today. The reason to civil penalties,” said Jim Mullen with FMCSA. FMCSA is committed to keeping the driver information secure, for this is that it will take three years for the Clearinghouse to conbut this could create some issues for employers if a driver fails to tain the required three years of violation history that is required give them permission to access his or her record. When asked the in the hiring regulations. question of what happens when a carrier wants to hire a driver and The information is reportedly going to be just about as close to

POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE CLEARINGHOUSE »» All users, including drivers, employers, Third Party Administrators (TPAs) must register in the Clearinghouse, beginning Fall of 2019. (This could be a problem if drivers, or employers do not register.) »» There will be a three-day time limit for information to be entered. (If carriers don’t enter the information in a timely manner, the database will not have current information.) »» D rivers “own” their information, so they must give consent to employers and prospective

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employers prior to the employer being able to gain access to the information. »» P rospective employers must query the Clearinghouse prior to hiring a driver. »» C urrent employers must query the Clearinghouse at least one time per year. »» Reporting into the Clearinghouse will be the responsibility of MROs, SAPs, Employers, and service agents of employers (TPAs) »» Prospective and current employers will be required to report positive test results,

refusals, actual knowledge of use, negative return-to-duty test results, and competition of follow-up testing into the database. »» Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) reporting will be limited due to driver privacy issues. Their information will just show completion of the SAP program. »» FMCSA will notify the affected driver any time information is added, modified, or removed from the Clearinghouse.

To access the Clearinghouse database, all authorized users will be required to register on the Clearinghouse website, including individual drivers. Carriers will not be able to register their driver employees nor will they be able to access information relative to their drivers. The driver must do it on their own.

“real-time” as you can get since employers will be required to submit a report of a drug or alcohol violation into the Clearinghouse within three business days. But what happens if they don’t? Obviously, the carrier will be in violation of the regulation, but we could see a problem in this process if an employer fails to report, or has a delay in reporting, the information into the database.

“The best advice to everyone in the industry as we prepare for this major change is educate, educate, educate. It is important that everyone, especially drivers, understand what the Clearinghouse is all about. This is not just a compliance “check” that carriers have to perform nor is it just a “registration” process. Understanding the system, all the requirements of this rule and making sure that accurate and correct information about the Clearinghouse is being shared is critically important,” said Dan Horvath, ATA. So what can you do to be ready for the Clearinghouse?

You can visit the Clearinghouse website at https://clearinghouse. fmcsa.dot.gov to subscribe for email updates. FMCSA will send you an alert when things are added or changed.

The website has a wealth of information from “Frequently Asked Questions”, fact sheets, slide presentations and much more. IMTA will also continue to closely monitor this ongoing process and will communicate regularly with Iowa carriers. Additionally, IMTA has hosted informational sessions and webinars on the Clearinghouse and will continue to offer guidance and counsel to the membership.

“This has been a priority and will continue to be a priority as this process evolves and we will continue to communicate regularly with the IMTA membership and do whatever we can to make this a smooth process. While there are some concerns with the implementation, we all know that this is one more way we can ramp up our commitment to safety, and once we get through the initial issues, we believe this will one of the best things we can do to further promote safety,” said Don Egli.

“ All indications from FMCSA are that the Clearinghouse will be ready to go by the compliance date.”

SEAN GARNEY Vice President with Scopelitis Transportation Consulting

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • IOWA MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE TUESDAY

09.24.19

& 09.25.19 WEDNESDAY

CELEBRATING. NETWORKING. LEARNING. The annual IMTA Management Conference provides every attendee with the tools, knowledge and expertise needed to always be the leader of the pack in responding to a constantly changing environment.

Educational sessions, networking opportunities and exceptional speakers will be found at this annual event.

In addition we celebrate this great industry of ours, and properly acknowledge those making an impact each and every day.

So what are you waiting for, get registered today!

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • HILTON DES MOINES DOWNTOWN

A MESSAGE FROM THE 2019 EVENT CHAIRMAN DUSTIN PETERSEN

Harrison Truck Centers “There is nothing that brings together the variety of IMTA members better than the annual Management Conference. Vendors and carriers alike gain just as much out of this conference as they would anywhere else, even on a national level. This event is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, yet an even better opportunity to become engaged in discussions relevant to the industry. As your event Chairman, I look forward to welcoming each and every one of you to Des Moines this year and making this year’s event the best one yet!”

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HILTON ROOM BLOCK INFORMATION Hilton Des Moines Downtown 435 Park Street • Des Moines, Iowa

••••••••••••••••••••••••• Available Dates Discounted Rate Reservations Deadline Date

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September 23 - 25 Starting at $179

(515) 241-1456 iowamotortruck.com

Wednesday, August 21 IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

registration materials iowamotortruck.com

@

NEXT GENERATION SPEAKS

LEAD IMTA Event a Smashing Good Time TOP LEFT: Blake Grolmus (Ruan Transportation), Jeff Martin (Green Products Company), Brian Pyle (Pyle Transportation) TOP RIGHT: Bryan Herbold (Motor-Ways, Inc.) IMTA President Brenda Neville, Phil Kennedy (Motor-Ways, Inc.), Kayla Kennedy BOTTOM LEFT: Dave Weber (Harrison Truck Centers), Brad Bailey (Central Trailer Service), Eric Long (Hanifen Co., Inc.) BOTTOM RIGHT: Grace Jensen & Matt Hurd (Hanifen Co., Inc)

IMTA’s 2019 LEAD IMTA Council Mike Bash Britton Transport

The LEAD IMTA Council was established in 2016 to further strengthen the foundation of support by the next generation.

In doing this, events and activities specifically targeting the future leaders of the Association were planned and executed, including the annual LEAD IMTA Conference. While the conference is extremely valuable, Council members wanted a more informal atmosphere for attendees to come and just have fun while networking with other IMTA members. Thus, the first LEAD IMTA Happy Hour & Networking Social was created and it far exceeded all expectations.

The LEAD IMTA Happy Hour & Networking Social was not only an outstanding event, it had an equally outstanding turnout with almost 70 IMTA members in attendance, representing 26 different companies --- both carriers and vendors.

There was also an impressive amount of new faces in the crowd as well, which gives a very positive

glimpse into the future of IMTA and the trucking industry in Iowa.in August.

The “less is more”, no agenda event format was a strong testament to the power of networking and with a great venue such as Smash Park, in West Des Moines, the fun and conversation was a plenty.

“There was not one person who didn’t feel welcome, who didn’t engage in conversation, nor who didn’t share laughs with everyone else. By having such a casual event such at this, everyone really came out of their shells and walked away with a great, new network of IMTA acquaintances,” said LEAD IMTA Council member Blake Grolmus, Ruan Transportation.

Because of the popularity and initial feedback of this Happy Hour & Networking Social, serious consideration will be given to organizing similar events in both Eastern and Western Iowa.

SAVE THE DATE! 2019 LEAD IMTA CONFERENCE

Kelli Boyle Ruan Transportation Jennifer Brim Decker Truck Line Adam Clark Midwest Wheel Companies Ben Couch Reynolds & Reynolds, Inc. Blake Grolmus Ruan Transportation Lindsay Kearse Hanifen Co. Phil Kennedy Motor-Ways, Inc. Jeff Martin Green Products Company Brian Pyle Pyle Transportation Justin Walters West Side Transport, Inc.

Wednesday, August 7 & Thursday, August 8, Des Moines, Iowa Visit iowamotortruck.com for more information & to register online!

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Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation

Continued Investments in the Headquarters Building LEFT: Two Rivers Glass replacing the windows throughout the building.

RIGHT: Before & after images.

NEW WINDOWS INSTALLED A major project was just completed at the headquarters with the replacement of all new windows.

“When you have a building that is 90% glass, the windows are pretty important. Unfortunately, over time some of the windows had become compromised and we determined the best course of action was to replace them all,” said Foundation Co-Chairman Steve Schuster with Schuster Company, Le Mars.

In addition to the aesthetic element of new windows, the Foundation Board also wanted to install windows that were more energy

efficient too. Both goals were accomplished, and the Board contracted with Two Rivers out of Des Moines to take on this big project. Over a period of three weeks all the windows have been replaced and the impact has been noticeable.

“We had some windows that were cracked and damaged and others that were fogged up and very unattractive. Making investments into our headquarters building must always be a priority so we were happy to get this project completed. It has been on our priority list for quite some time,” said Schuster.

SHARED VISIONS, ONE JOURNEY

PLEASE MAKE YOUR GIFT TO THE IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND A COPY TO IMTA brenda@iowamotortruck.com • Fax (515) 244-2204 NAME COMPANY MAILING ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP EMAIL PHONE A representative from the IMCF will reach out upon receipt of this form to finalize your contribution.

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

PLEDGE DETAILS PLEDGE AMOUNT Your contribution to the IMCF qualifies you to receive the ENDOW IOWA state tax credit. You will receive the required paperwork directly from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines to finalize the process to receive this credit once you have made the contribution. The paperwork required to receive your ENDOW IOWA credit is very easy to complete but is required in order to receive your state tax credit.

We agree to the parameters as outlined above. The Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation will be responsible to provide regular updates on their efforts/progress in raising the funds needed to secure the contribution mentioned above.

Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation

New Signage on the Building

A photo rendering of the new building signage

The Foundation Board also recently approved funding to add signage to the building. The lighted signage will match what is currently on the building and it will say “Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation”. The new signage will be located on the west end of the building and will be very visible from Court Avenue.

Because of the very visible location of the building next to the Capitol complex and the Foundation Board’s desire to gain more exposure for the Foundation, signage on the building, was the next logical step.

“We have talked about adding the Foundation name to the building for a few years now and then recently, some donors inquired about it, so we determined it was time to move forward with this project,” said IMCF President Brenda Neville.

“The Foundation is continuing to broaden its scope and the Foundation also owns the building so it only makes sense that its

name should be on the building,” continued Brenda.

“Having both names on the building now will really allow the public to gain a greater appreciation of who we are,” said Jack Sawyer, IMTA Chairman of the Board and a member of the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation Board.

IMTA moved into its headquarters building in April of 1996 and was one of the first tenants in this area by the Capitol and one of the first state trucking associations to build its own building. The building has served the Association and the industry well with on average over 100 events and meetings held at the building. Many of which are outside groups and legislators.

“Every time we have an outside group in our building, they gain a greater appreciation for the trucking industry,” said Brenda.

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ATRI UPDATE Industry Leaders Appointed to ATRI Board of Directors The American Transportation Research Institute has announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: »» Clifton Parker, G&P Trucking Company, Inc. President and General Manager, Gaston, South Carolina; »» John A. Smith, FedEx Freight President and Chief Executive Officer, Memphis, Tennessee.

REBECCA BREWSTER ATRI President & COO

Want to get more involved with ATRI? There are a number of ways you can be part of this vital industry organization: »» P articipate 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. »» C ontribute 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 https://truckingresearch.org..

Mr. Parker has served as President and General Manager of G&P Trucking Company since 1986. During his tenure at G&P, the company has grown from $5 million to sales of over $150 million in 2017.

He has been active in the South Carolina Trucking Association where he served as Chairman for two years, and currently serves as SCTA’s representative to the American Trucking Associations.

Mr. Smith has 32 years of experience in the transportation industry. He has been with FedEx since 2000 where he currently provides strategic direction for the lessthan-truckload (LTL) FedEx companies throughout North America. He also serves

CLIFTON PARKER

JOHN A. SMITH

on the Strategic Management Committee of FedEx Corp., which sets the strategic direction for the FedEx enterprise.

“Our board plays a critical role in guiding and shaping ATRI’s research priorities,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster.

“We are fortunate to have a very engaged Board of Directors and look forward to working with Clifton and John.”

Ben McLean, CEO of Ruan Companies also sits on the ATRI board.

»» S uggest a research topic. ATRI is always looking for new research ideas for the RAC to evaluate. »» J oin 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.

Dan Murray Promoted to Senior Vice President “Dan’s contributions to ATRI’s success over the years are immeasurable and this promotion is a fitting reflection of his leadership in all areas of our work on behalf of the trucking industry,” said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster in announcing the promotion earlier this month.

»» S pread 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.

DAN MURRAY

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

Dan has been with ATRI since 1994 and works out of ATRI’s Minnesota office. Prior to the promotion, Dan had served as ATRI’s Vice President. As Senior Vice President, Dan will continue to lead ATRI’s portfolio of sponsored research as well as provide strategic direction and management to ATRI’s top research priorities.

ATA UPDATE ATA President & CEO Chris Spear Urges Funding for Infrastructure because of the result of the lack of infrastructure investment in this country. And we’re still out there moving freight,” said Spear. “We have to find a way to be safer given the current decaying infrastructure that we’re being dealt.”

In June, ATA President & CEO Chris Spear called on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee to adopt a sustainable funding plan for the country’s infrastructure system, noting a report linking an underinvestment in highway safety programs to more than half of the highway fatalities.

“Quite frankly, the federal government is not investing in infrastructure. There’s less room.

There’s a lot more accidents out there happening

105 100 95

JUL

OCT

APR

2018

JUL

OCT

APR

OCT

2017

JUL

APR

2016

OCT

JUL

APR

90 2015

“As expected, tonnage corrected in May from the surprising surge in April,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The economy is still growing, but the recent volatility in truck tonnage fits with a broader economy that is showing more mixed signals. The good news is if you ignore recent highs and lows, tonnage appears to be leveling off, albeit at a high level.”

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American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 6.1% in May after jumping 7% in April. In May, the index equaled 114 (2015=100) compared with 121.4 in April.

115

OCT

Index 0.9% Higher than May 2018

120

APR

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Fell 6.1% in May

2014

CHRIS SPEAR

ATA has proposed the Build America Fund which calls for the adoption of a 20-cents-per gallon fee on motor fuels, which would be collected at the wholesale rack and phased in over four years at 5 cents per year. If enacted the fund would generate about $340 billion in about a decade.

ATA’S TRUCK TONNAGE INDEX (Seasonally Adjusted; 2015 = 100)

April’s reading was revised down compared with the May press release.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 119.1 in May; 1.5% above April level (117.4). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.

Compared with May 2018, the SA index increased 0.9%, the smallest year-over-year gain since April 2017.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a

preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes monthto-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

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37

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Embracing the Change During the life cycle of a business, goals can be drastically different. Early on the goal may be just to survive. After a while, the focus may shift to items like growth, efficiency, and better financial performance. Then one day the business owner may realize they aren’t going to be around forever, so the goal becomes a successful transition of the business. Often, this goal is somewhat reluctantly undertaken. An owner may be uncomfortable with no longer owning and managing the business they have spent years growing. However, not embracing change can prevent the business from a successful transition and may also limit financial benefits to the owner. with respect as many of them have worked with him from the beginning. Lou has been married to Mary for 40 years and together have three children, Nate, Olivia Demographically, according and Peggy. Growing up, the kids to Guidant Financials’ 2019 have worked in the business during Small Business Trends and summers to help earn money for Statistics, 57 percent of small school. As an adult, Olivia still business owners are over works in the business. Her siblings the age of 50 with 18 percent are no longer involved, but Lou over the age of 60. These keeps them informed with how owners have spent their the business is doing. Over the last lives building their business 30 years, Lou has experienced the and focusing on day-to-day highs and lows of transportation. operations. Most owners He has been fortunate to have never transitioned a accumulate some wealth outside business before and are faced of the business but LMNOP still DAN SCHWARZ, CPA/ABV with the monumental task McGowen Hurst Clark Smith represents the biggest asset of and pressure of transitioning Lou and Mary’s wealth. Lou still the business successfully. has good health and enjoys going Many are unsure where to to work every day but recently after having a couple of even start. This article will discuss the various steps of extremely successful years, he thinks now is the time to transitioning a business and typical practices needed transition the business. But many questions arise. How for success. We will use a fictitious company, LMNOP and to whom? Olivia is a natural choice but then what Transportation (LMNOP), to illustrate common scenarios does he do for the other children? What is the business we see in our advisory practice. even worth and if so, how does Olivia pay for it? Lou has heard of other transportation companies selling to third Lou started LMNOP 30 year ago. During that time, parties for seemingly high values but how would he even Lou has taken a hands-on approach to the day-to-day go about finding an interested party in LMNOP? Lou operations, ranging from driving to calling on customers faces several of the same obstacles and questions many to negotiating with lenders to secure financing on new owners have in transitioning a business. equipment. Lou’s management style has been to keep overhead low, wear many hats, and treat his employees Lou needs a plan. He decides to assemble a team As accountants and advisors, clients ask us daily about transition and it is easy to understand why.

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

the value, Lou is going to need to take including his CPA, attorney, and banker to time to adequately prepare the company help determine and implement the best to be sold. Lou’s management style has route for his business and family. After a been successful for several years given his few months, Lou realizes that while Olivia goals of keeping enjoys what she overhead low does, she isn’t and wearing prepared financially many hats. to buy the company Under 50 Now that he at full value or % has different willing to take on goals in place the leadership role AGE OF for the future he currently has.

Over 50 SMALL of the company, % Lou gathers the BUSINESS he realizes he team to discuss OWNERS Over 60 needs to look at how to prepare % certain aspects the company for a of the business potential sale to an differently to outside party. The move as much team advises Lou value as possible to hire a business SOURCE: Guidant Financials’ 2019 from himself to valuation expert to SMALL Business Trends and Statistics the company. determine a range This will not only take time but several of value of the company. Lou hesitates at tough decisions. first. He thinks he can figure out the value just by making a few calls to his friends in After 18 months, LMNOP has changed the industry that have sold. After further dramatically. Lou has hired a sales manager discussions with the team, he realizes to help diversify the customer base. He there are several factors that go into worked with an accounting firm to prepare valuing a business. He decides to rely on audited financial statements so potential the expertise of a valuation company with buyers have assurance on getting an experience with transportation companies. accurate financial picture. Technology The valuator shows Lou that the value of has been updated where needed. Longthe company can vary a great deal based on term employees have been trained to take the company’s structure, customer base, on new tasks and if unable to do so, have cash flows, employees, and equipment. been treated fairly with a reassignment His biggest realization is that to maximize

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of duties. While some of these items have added additional costs, they have also increased the value of LMNOP because it has transferred value and knowledge from Lou to the organization.

By taking the necessary time and steps, Lou has secured his retirement, provided his family financial comfort, and structured the company for future success, so his legacy can live on.

Transitioning a business can be a difficult and overwhelming idea. The right team of advisors and a shift in goals is key to making it a successful transition. McGowen Hurst Clark Smith has teamed with many business owners to smoothly transition businesses and accomplish the goals of the business owners. We welcome the opportunity to discuss and help you accomplish your goals.

Dan joined McGowen Hurst Clark Smith in October 1990. In addition to his daily client and firm responsibilities, Dan leads the firms’ transportation vertical market and specializes in business valuation, consulting, and tax services. He is originally from Maynard, IA, and attended Hawkeye Institute of Technology, where he received his associate of applied science degree. Dan holds board of director positions with the Iowa Motor Truck Association Allied Division and the Blank Park Zoo. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants.

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IMTA EVENTS IMTA Leadership Class Completes April Sessions

FRONT ROW: Mike Bash (Britton Transport), Carlisle Wheeler (Ruan Transportation), Scott Rutman (Olson Explosives), Andy Schmitt (Sukup Manufacturing), Adam Loutsch (Heyl Truck Lines, Inc.), Brian Moore (Warren Transport, Inc.), Chris Gaster (Keystone Trucking) MIDDLE ROW: John Peters (Schuster Company), Robert Sullivan (Warren Transport, Inc.), Jesse Houseman (Ruan Transportation), Will Kenny (Decker Truck Line, Inc.), Brad Burnett (Great West Casualty Company), Tim Steel (Thompson Truck & Trailer), Rob Harris (Harrison Truck Centers) BACK ROW: Tracy Petrak (CJ Cooper & Associates), Tim Modlin (Thermo King Sales & Service), Shane Hanley (Midwest Wheel Companies), Andrew Hummer (Don Hummer Trucking), Mike Garreans (Truck Center Companies – Council Bluffs), Kailey Kaestner (Don Hummer Trucking), Cory Richmond (West Side Transport)

40

The 2019 Leadership Class wrapped up in April as the 21 participants concluded their final two sessions of curriculum.

making and identifying their personal leadership style. The group also had a meeting with Lt. Governor Adam Gregg.

The group first met in March for two days and had two more days of activities and training in mid-April. In March the focus was on professional development with activities and sessions centering around IMTA’s advocacy efforts. The group traveled to the Capitol, met with regulatory officials and even spent time with an Iowa Supreme Court Justice.

The final two days were dedicated to personal development with sessions on communications, ethical decision

“Once again, IMTA has another great group of participants in their leadership program. Everyone is very enthusiastic, engaged, and happy to be a part of the program. Iowa’s trucking industry is in very good hands with the many great leaders that are being developed,” said Scott Pope with Pope Communications. Scott and his wife Alison have been involved with the IMTA leadership program for over 20 years and they do the “Communication with Confidence” training session.

IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

The Leadership Class participants will continue to be involved with IMTA through special projects and other IMTA events.

As part of the leadership class fees, participants will attend the LEAD IMTA Conference in August. The 2019 Leadership Class will then be recognized at the 2019 Management Conference in September.

IMTA EVENTS IMTA Board of Directors Meet in May for Spring Meeting

Rich Clair (Solar Transport), IMTA President Brenda Neville, Dan Van Alstine (Ruan Transportation), Jack Sawyer (Des Moines Transportation Co.)

IMTA President Brenda Neville, John Smith (CRST International), Jason Smith (TrueNorth Companies)

Dave Riggan (TanTara Transportation Corp.), Travis Thompson (Thompson Truck & Trailer)

The IMTA Board of Directors annual Spring Board Meeting took place with well over 50 board members and invited guests in attendance at the IMTA/IMCF building. A full, informative agenda of speakers highlighted the meeting, which included the always popular John Larkin from STIFEL Investment Banking who provided attendees with an economic update as well his predictions for “The Future of Freight”. Also presenting was Mark Doughty with HELP Inc./Prepass who provided the group with an overview of HELP Inc./Prepass services and the trends to watch for in the future.

Other speakers included Iowa Department of Transportation Director Mark Lowe, IMTA lobbyist Dave Scott and John Smith with CRST International. IMTA President Brenda Neville and Dan Van Alstine, Ruan Transportation, concluded the meeting with their “Hot Topics & Heads Up” discussion.

The day before the meeting board members and guests were invited to tour the Traffic Management Center at the Iowa DOT in Ankeny prior to attending the networking dinner at the Des Moines Embassy Club on the 34th floor of the Ruan building.

2019 Safety Professionals Conference Attracts Record Numbers Safety Professionals from around the state gathered in Des Moines for two days of education and networking. An array of relevant safety and compliance topics were covered in general sessions and breakout session.

associated with expanding legalization of marijuana, and the importance of monitoring driving records. State and Federal regulators were on a panel and covered a number of topics and also allowed time for Q & A from the group.

Dan Horvath, Vice President of Safety Policy for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), was one of the keynote speakers and highlighted the many changes that are on the horizon.

“I always find this conference to be of value, not only because of the great speakers and topics that are covered, but also for opportunity to network and get better acquainted with other safety professionals from around the state,” said Keith Lamfers with Schuster Company. The conference is hosted by the Iowa Council of Safety Management and the Iowa Motor Truck Association and continues to grow in popularity every year. This year over 70 people attended the conference and set a new record for participation.

“These kinds of conferences are extremely valuable because staying informed and on top of what is being discussed within the regulatory and compliance world is essential in today’s trucking industry,” said Dan Horvath.

The group also received updates on Sleep Apnea, ELD transition, issues

Bret Smith (Johnsrud Transport, Inc.), Terry Pump (CRST International), Jeff Martin (Green Products Company), Steven Garrish (SleepSafe)

Rick McIntosh, Dallas Williams, Dan Noe & Brian Cahoe (Casey’s General Stores)

ISSUE 3, 2019

41

FINAL THOUGHT

You Know It Is Summer in Iowa: ROAD CONSTRUCTION, DELAYS, AND IMPORTANT PROGRESS A sure sign of summer in the heartland is not necessarily the sweltering temperatures and sweet corn sales but rather a marked increase in delays as road construction projects move into the forefront.

Calls continue to come into the IMTA hot spots such as I-35 between Ames and office as motorists and truckers alike share Des Moines, and I-380 between Iowa City their complaints and frustration with all and Cedar Rapids. He was also making trips the road projects that are visible across the to western Iowa from time to time where the detours are even more State of Iowa.

Planned projects couextensive due to flooding. pled with the unplanned He said there are some days WHEN YOU ARE where he feels as though he projects that have surSITTING IN THOSE faced as the spring floods is sitting more than he is washed out major corrimoving in his truck.

CONSTRUCTION dors in western Iowa, has While we are very symZONES DURING made orange cones, road pathetic to these concerns, RUSH HOUR, TRY we are also quick to remind closures, detours, and TO FOCUS ON THE rush hour delays common people that all the road conVALUE OF THESE struction, while frustrating, in a state that is not accusIMPROVEMENTS IN is really some short-term tomed to congestion and THE FUTURE. disruption of this nature. pain for some very longA recent conversation term gains. In 2015, when an 10-cent gas/fuel tax with a truck driver that increase went into effect, travels extensively in the State of Iowa, estimated that all the road over $220 million new dollars were genconstruction was adding an additional 15 erated to reinvest into our infrastructure to 20 hours to his work week and unfortu- – the same infrastructure that is the lifenately, his routes were taking him to all the line to continued progress and economic

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IOWA TRUCKING LIFELINER

prosperity here in Iowa.

When you are sitting in those construction zones during rush hour, try to focus on the value of these improvements in the future. All the road projects in Iowa we are seeing today are centered around areas that needed the most work, had the most traffic and congestion issues and were hampering the smooth and efficient movement of goods and people.

Within a few short years, once the construction is completed, the progress that will have been made by this investment will be very noticeable and Iowa will continue to be on the forefront of efficiency as these major arteries are improved and enhanced.

While it is hard to put this in perspective as you are experiencing stop and go traffic, taking long detours because your exit ramp is closed, and seeing all the bad driving behaviors that surface with impatience, try and focus on the bigger picture, take a deep breath, and maybe find an alternative route.

Switching up the scenery can always be more enjoyable than you think and honestly, these projects illustrate the important progress that is being made through valuable infrastructure investment.

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ISSUE 3, 2019

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