2023 Lifeliner Magazine --- Issue 3

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

With this legislation now signed into law, a chapter is closed on this legislative priority but our work on this important effort continues.

Issue 3, 2023

Landmark Legislation for Trucking in Iowa p6

The legislation went into effect as of July 1, 2023, and marked the end of a multiyear effort to get this historic lawsuit abuse legislation passed in the state of Iowa.

Others See Risk. We See Opportunity. p18

Those who have been predicting an imminent recession for over a year and a half, continue to spew ‘doom & gloom.’ But they were wrong when they first made the prediction, and they continue to be wrong.

FEATURES

THOMPSON TRUCK & TRAILER

Doing whatever it takes to help deliver what matters.

It doesn’t seem possible that my year as the IMTA Chairman of the Board is already ending. It feels like it was only yesterday that I was addressing the IMTA members at the management conference in Coralville. I recall conversations with many previous IMTA Chairman, and they have shared the same reality of this role. As I ponder this revelation, I have concluded that this is a much better scenario than counting down the days until I would be able to pass over the gavel and a testament to the value of serving as a volunteer leader for the association.

I have had a very rewarding and fulfilling year as the chairman of the board for IMTA and I am grateful to all of you for making my year so positive.

While it seems as though the time has gone by all too quickly, I remember many days at the state capitol when we were trying to make progress on our lawsuit abuse legislation and the minutes, hours and days seemed to drag on forever before we finally got to celebrate a historic victory.

Getting the lawsuit abuse legislation over the finish line will certainly be one of the highlights of my year as the Chairman. As a state senator, I had a front row seat to the action as well as an important supporting role in developing strategies and gathering support from my fellow Senate and House colleagues. I will forever savor the role I played in securing legislation that challenges the unscrupulous trial attorneys that prey on our industry.

Welcoming Governor Reynolds to our offices in May to officially sign this important legislation into law was the culmination of many years of hard work. This special day at the IMTA office helped take the sting out of the battle wounds that I and other IMTA members endured from the trial bar who placed ads full of lies and mistruths. But in the end, good public policy prevailed and the litigious environment in Iowa has been permanently tempered by this important legislation.

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

time and energy, there were many other special highlights of my year as Chairman. The outpouring of support by IMTA members throughout the year and especially when the press came after me again this summer will forever remind me of the special bond that is built through these important association ties.

Our association is a very strong and special organization. People like my grandfather and father were very intent on creating an organization that is not only effective at the statehouse but equally effective in unifying and strengthening an industry. That is what I saw time and time again over this last year, tons of members stepping up and helping the cause whether it was at the Capitol, at an IMTA event, in the show trailer, at the board meetings or simply reaching out and offering me support and feedback as the chairman of the board.

You did GREAT grandpa and dad!

While I have always been a strong supporter and champion of the association, this last year further reinforced my desire to continue to give back to the industry through my involvement and support of OUR association.

WHILE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER AND CHAMPION OF THE ASSOCIATION, THIS LAST YEAR FURTHER REINFORCED MY DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO THE INDUSTRY THROUGH MY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT OF OUR ASSOCIATION.

There is always work to do and we have a lot of exciting things on the horizon for the Iowa Motor Truck Association and the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation. So, let’s keep the momentum going.

Thank you for your support and more importantly, I hope you continue to be involved, engaged and active in our efforts. We need everyone to continue on this path of success and victory.

While the 2023 legislative session consumed a lot of my

ADRIAN DICKEY IMTA’s Chairman of the Board

My column is always the last one to be submitted to the design team. To say that I test the patience of the designers and the IMTA staff with this procrastination is an understatement. But even after writing hundreds of columns over 30+ years at IMTA, the struggle is real.

This struggle is purely self-inflicted. I put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to write something that will be impactful and meaningful. While I have no illusions that every person that receives the magazine is taking the time to read this column, I do feel a sense of responsibility to write something that the readers will find valuable and worth their time.

As a young child, I loved writing poems. I quickly developed a knack for creating poems anchored in rhyming couplets. As I grew older, I learned about other aspects of poetry and was introduced to terms such as anaphora, assonance, onomatopoeia, and consonance. While my style of writing poems changed over the years, my appreciation of the written word only grew deeper. I saw how words can move a person to tears, create anger, or spark an emotional debate. Words are powerful and written words are even more powerful given their shelf life. Now you understand my anxiety, right?

As I continue to deal with writer’s block, I distract myself. On my desk is a copy of the historic lawsuit abuse legislation that we passed earlier this year. Governor Reynolds signed the legislation on May 12th at the IMTA office with a group of over 60 IMTA members in attendance. As we waged this battle over the last several years, I think of the many different drafts of legislative language we pored over as we tried to secure the votes. The addition or the elimination of even one word could change the intent of the legislation dramatically. Throw lawyers in the mix and the battle over that one word could go on for hours and many times it did. But in the end, we reached agreement on all the words in SF2338 that will provide significant protection to Iowa’s trucking industry for decades.

GAINING SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS IS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR BUT GAINING TRACTION DURING THIS NATIONAL WEEK OF RECOGNITION IS JOB NUMBER ONE OF THIS ASSOCIATION

As part of the Iowa Truck Driving Championships, every driver is asked to share answers to a series of questions. This information is used by the announcer to provide narration during the driving portion of the competition. It is always nice to have this personal insight into the drivers. This year the driver announcer form was especially meaningful to the family of a driver who passed away shortly after competing due to a heart attack. The words he wrote about his passion for driving, his love for his family and the value of living each day to the fullest, brought tremendous comfort to his family as they struggled with this sudden and unexpected loss. Another example of how important it is to get it right when it comes to putting something in writing is the editorials that we distribute during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. A sample of what we will be distributing is featured on page 40 in the “Final Word” article. Highlighting the importance of the hard-working men and women who proudly have the job title of professional truck driver is some of the most valuable work we do. Gaining support and appreciation for professional truck drivers is needed throughout the entire year but gaining traction during this national week of recognition is job number one of this association. Getting it right in these editorials is important.

Well it seems my writers block disappeared. And once again it wasn’t as bad as I had feared. The word count is exactly where it should be. How impactful was this article? I guess we wait and see.

BRENDA NEVILLE IMTA President & CEO

IMTA Passes Landmark Legislation after Four Year Effort

May 12, 2023 will forever be an important date in the history of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. This is the day when Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Gregg Adams joined IMTA board members, state legislators and other special guests in the official bill signing for SF 2338 at the IMTA/IMCF headquarters.

“This legislation symbolizes many years of hard work and yet another important step in ensuring that Iowa is a great place to live and work. This session was monumental with the passage of two important tort reform legislative initiatives: med malpractice and the trucker tort. Leveling the playing field and sending the trial bar a strong message of how we do business in this state is critically important in our ongoing efforts to ensure a pro-business environment,” said the Governor as she addressed the group in May.

The legislation went into effect as of July 1, 2023 and marked the end of a multi-year effort to get this historic lawsuit abuse legislation passed. The bill places a $5 million cap on noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium by a spouse, parent, or children. The parties injured and the party’s family jury awards are capped at a maximum of $5 million regardless of the number of plaintiffs in the family.

The legislation also protects trucking companies against charges of negligent hiring of a driver. The bill states specifically, “there

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND SENDING

BAR

shall not be a civil liability for an employer’s hiring of an employee.” Supporters of the bill believe this is a significant improvement to the current legal landscape, where trial lawyers often accuse the trucking company of failing to uncover past information on their new hires.

“First and foremost, this legislation protects the interests of the injured party. If a commercial vehicle acts wrongfully and causes a crash or injury, it should and will be held accountable and those injured should be compensated. This was never an attempt to give a pass to the industry, anyone in this industry accepts responsibility when they are at fault. But we needed to level the playing field and that is why IMTA made lawsuit abuse a top priority in our legislative efforts. Every state should be pursuing legislation that provides trucking companies with predictability, certainty and frankly bankruptcy protection,” said Brenda Neville, President & CEO of the Iowa Motor Truck Association.

THE TRIAL

A STRONG MESSAGE OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENSURE A PRO-BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

May 12, 2023. Governor Reynolds signs lawsuit abuse legislation into law at IMTA headquarters.

The bill allows for some exceptions to the cap, such as drunk driving, excessive speed, or the use of a commercial motor vehicle in a felony. Throughout this fight, supporters of this bill have touted the industry’s commitment to safety and in the end, concessions were made to further show the industry’s commitment to safety.

“Good public policy also protects the public and adding provisions that would not allow cap protection was important. Why would we advocate for something that would protect the bad actors in the trucking industry,” said Brenda Neville.

IMTA volunteer leaders made the decision in the spring of 2019 to make lawsuit abuse a legislative priority. After spending considerable time and energy gathering feedback from the membership and gaining support from legislative leaders and the Governor, IMTA introduced its first lawsuit abuse legislative initiative in the 2020 legislative session.

This language was specific to phantom damages and gained widespread support. It passed in the same session and was signed into law on June 18, 2020. Work continued for more hard-hitting legislation and in summer of 2020, IMTA gathered support for legislation specific to caps on non-economic damages. Over the next three years this legislation was the focus of IMTA’s advocacy efforts.

“Our objective in pursuing legislative solutions to address this issue was to simply restore fairness. Over the last decade unfair litigation tactics had destabilized the tort system transforming commercial vehicle accident lawsuits into a profit center for plaintiff attorneys. The stories from IMTA members were very impactful and while we weren’t making headlines in Iowa with large nuclear verdicts, our members were paying settlements that were nuclear in their minds and far too often, they were not at fault in the accident,” said Neville.

IMTA volunteer leaders and members were unwavering in their support of this effort. IMTA’s grassroots work was in action for four years and this personal involvement from the membership was critical in getting the legislation passed.

“This legislation would not have been passed if it weren’t for the members and their commitment to talking to their legislators as often as needed. IMTA members never gave up and their unrelenting involvement was as historic as the legislation that was passed,” said Adrian Dickey, 2023 IMTA Chairman of the Board.

“This is important legislation that is truly based on fairness and common sense, and it is the result of many years of hard work and ultimately determined negotiations by all parties involved with this legislation. Most importantly, this legislation, created in Iowa, will become the architecture upon which all states can build laws that protect with balanced impartiality,” said Dan Van Alstine, COO of Ruan Transportation and current Chairman of the Board for the American Trucking Association. Dan was Chairman of the Board for

“OUR OBJECTIVE IN PURSUING LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WAS TO SIMPLY RESTORE FAIRNESS. OVER THE LAST DECADE UNFAIR LITIGATION TACTICS HAD DESTABILIZED THE TORT SYSTEM TRANSFORMING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ACCIDENT LAWSUITS INTO A PROFIT CENTER FOR PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS.”

BRENDA NEVILLE, IMTA

the Iowa Motor Truck Association when the decision was made to make lawsuit abuse a top priority.

“This was a long journey but the perseverance, determination, and hard work of the IMTA members prevailed and now we are one step closer in removing a target off the back of the trucking industry. I have tremendous gratitude and appreciation for all the folks that truly made this happen, especially the IMTA members, coalition members and of course our lobbying team,” said Brenda Neville.

This year, An initial bill was passed out of the Senate in late February and then amendments were added in the House when it was passed in late March so it had to bounce back to the Senate for a second vote which took place on Monday, April 16th.

“I am so very proud of my Iowa Republican Senate colleagues. Iowa Republicans passed the most comprehensive commercial motor vehicle tort reform legislation in the history of our GREAT country! This legislation will be looked at as the pillar for all tort legislation to come. Not just commercial motor vehicle tort legislation, but all tort legislation. I am so proud of our caucus and look forward to doing even more to continue to make our state the leader, that all others aspire to become,” said Senator Adrian Dickey who also serves as the 2023 IMTA Chairman of the Board.

ATRI’s Newest Operational Costs Research Details Spikes in Equipment, Wage, and Total Costs in Trucking

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the findings of its 2023 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking. A record number of motor carriers participated in this year’s research, which analyzes a wide variety of line-item costs, operating efficiencies, and revenue benchmarks by fleet size and sector.

Total marginal costs climbed to a new high in 2022 for the second year in a row, increasing by 21.3 percent over 2021 to $2.251 per mile. Though fuel was the largest driver of this spike (53.7% higher than in 2021), multiple other line-items also rose by double digits. Driver wages increased by 15.5 percent, to $0.724 per mile, reflecting the ongoing industry effort to attract and retain drivers. Driver benefits, however, remained stable in 2022.

Atypical market conditions posed unique challenges for acquiring and maintaining equipment in 2022. Truck and trailer payments increased by 18.6 percent to $0.331 per mile as carriers paid higher prices, largely due to equipment impediments in the supply chains. Closely related, parts shortages and rising technician labor rates pushed repair and maintenance costs up 12 percent to $0.196 per mile.

In response to rising costs, motor carriers initiated improvements in key operational efficiencies. For example, driver turnover, detention times, and equipment utilization each improved across nearly every fleet size and sector during 2022. This year’s report includes new metrics such

as mileage between breakdowns and the ratio of truck drivers to non-driving employees. Despite falling rates throughout the year, average operating margins were at least six percent in all sectors. While larger fleets’ average operating margins improved from 2021 to 2022, smaller fleets saw operating margins decline.

“In a softening market with costs rising at an unparalleled pace, carrier benchmarking becomes more critical than ever,” said Dave Broering, President of NFI Integrated Logistics. “ATRI’s newest Operational Costs report provides the reliable data and analysis we need to better understand our partners’ underlying costs in a volatile economy and decelerating rate marketplace.”

Since 2008, ATRI has received over 31,000 requests for Operational Costs reports.

A copy of the full report is available at truckingresearch.org

ATRI Research Documents Critical Role of Association Membership in Motor Carrier Safety

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released foundational new research that statistically corroborates that motor carriers who are active in state and national membership associations are safer than both former association members and carriers who have never been association members.

It has always been anecdotally assumed that association membership supports safety through a variety of association services and resources, but the necessary industry safety data and methodology had never before been assessed. This new empirical research processed public safety data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) through a series of statistical tools to confirm the relationship between association membership and safety performance.

More specifically, the research compared motor carrier MCMIS crash and violation data for trucking fleets that held a membership status of either Current, Former or Never members. Carrier status data came from a geographically representative sample of state trucking associations as well as from the American Trucking Associations.

The Welch’s Two-Sample T-Test outputs confirm that among the three carrier groups, Current members have fewer overall crashes

and violations than Former members, who also had fewer crashes and violations than Never members. Almost all results were significant at the 95 percent or 99 percent confidence levels. Due to the rarity of fatal truck crashes among all carriers, this specific crash type was not significant for either state or national membership.

“All safety stakeholders in the trucking industry are looking for strategies and solutions for improving large-truck safety,” noted Dr. Brenda Lantz, Associate Director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. “This new ATRI research confirms that association membership is another important and proven safety tool for trucking companies.”

The ATRI association safety research also provides some guidance on how the findings might be applicable to commercial transportation insurers, enforcement agencies and academic researchers.

A copy of the full report is available at truckingresearch.org

ATRI Releases New Research that Evaluates the Impacts of Marijuana Legalization on the Trucking Industry and its Workforce

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released a new report that assesses the impacts of marijuana legalization on the trucking industry. The analysis, which was a 2022 top priority of ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC), covers several critical topics related to state-level marijuana legalization, including:

• a review of the latest demographic trends in marijuana legalization;

• an overview of research and data related to highway safety and marijuana use;

• a summary of workforce and hiring implications for the trucking industry; and

• an analysis of publicly available CDL driver drug test data. Additionally, the report includes industry surveys that provide insight into motor carrier and truck driver perspectives on the consequences of marijuana legalization and current drug screening regulations. The data collected show that drivers and carriers are equally frustrated with current drug testing limitations, in particular the lack of a test for marijuana impairment.

“Minnesota recently joined the growing list of states legalizing recreational marijuana. This action underscores the critical need for tools to effectively determine marijuana impairment by current and prospective employees. As an industry committed to workplace and roadway safety, we owe it to ourselves and our families to make

sure we can screen to maintain a clean and sober workforce,” said Minnesota Trucking Association President John Hausladen

The ATRI study documents the strategies and implications of the two pathways the federal government can take in response to advancing legalization efforts.

The first pathway, maintaining the current prohibition policy where marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, would continue the trend of removing thousands of drivers annually from the industry through positive tests for past marijuana use.

The second pathway, a scenario where the federal government eases restrictions and possibly removes marijuana from the Schedule I designation, has significant challenges as well. Prior to any federal legalization action, the report identifies several protections that must be in place for employers in safety-sensitive industries. These include the development of a nationally recognized marijuana impairment test and impairment standards, as well as provisions that protect a carrier’s ability to screen employees for drug use.

A copy of the full report is available at truckingresearch.org

SUPERTRUCK II

ITS EVOLUTION WAS SHAPED BY THE WINDS

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE FUTURE, IT’S ABOUT TOMORROW.

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Iowa AG Brenna Bird Leads the Charge Against EPA

Attorney General Bird is leading a coalition of 19 states challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) decision to allow California to illegally ban trucks. That ban forces truckers to buy electric trucks and regulates trucking out of existence through mandating net-zero emissions standards.

deliver our food, clothes and other necessities. But rather than support our hard-working truckers, Biden continues to empty their wallets and force them to drive electric trucks for his radical climate change agenda. Iowa isn’t going to take a backseat as the EPA and California try to regulate truckers out of business. We’re pushing back.”

AG BRENNA BIRD

The Biden Administration gave California the authority to force most buses, vans, trucks, and tractor-trailers be electric by 2035. Currently, just 2% of heavy trucks sold in the United States are electric.

The ban on traditional trucks is part of the Biden Administration’s aggressive climate change agenda, which hikes prices for businesses and consumers. Costs for electric trucks already start at about $100,000 and can reach the high six figures. And even worse—California’s new regulations are setting the standard for the rest of the country. Eight other states have already adopted California’s truck ban, and more are considering it. That makes California a major decision-maker for the future of the national trucking industry. California’s truck ban will not only increase costs, but it will devastate the demand for liquid fuels, such as biodiesel, and cut trucking jobs across the nation. Iowa’s trucking industry currently provides almost 100,000 jobs—that is almost one in thirteen jobs in the state.

“The EPA and California have no right or legal justification to force truckers to follow their radical climate agenda,” said Attorney General Bird. “America would grind to a halt without truckers who

California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation is in violation of the Clean Air Act and other federal laws.

Iowa led the lawsuit joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia.

THE EPA AND CALIFORNIA HAVE NO RIGHT OR LEGAL JUSTIFICATION TO FORCE TRUCKERS TO FOLLOW THEIR RADICAL CLIMATE AGENDA

CURRENTLY, JUST 2% OF HEAVY TRUCKS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ELECTRIC.

Gov. Reynolds Calls for Less Government

Governor Reynolds announced that her administration successfully implemented the alignment bill passed by the legislature last session. Senate File 514, which became effective on July 1, reduces the number of cabinet-level departments from 37 to 16 by consolidating agencies with similar functions and centralizing programs that serve similar needs. The legislation also eliminated more than 500 unfilled positions and is projected to save the state $214 million over four years.

“It was about a year ago that we began a comprehensive assessment of state government to identify ways to operate more efficiently and effectively,” Governor Reynolds stated. “Together with leaders from all state agencies, we identified opportunities to align operations, resources, and services to better meet the needs of Iowans.”

More than 100 state employees were directly involved in alignment planning, preparation, and implementation over the last year. When the bill was signed into law on April 4, enterprise and department teams had three months in which to implement the changes by the July 1 effective date.

“It’s difficult to grasp the size and scope of this undertaking, especially with such an aggressive timeline. Most people would say it couldn’t be done,” said Governor Reynolds. “But our team was fully committed, and I am deeply grateful for their exceptional work that made it possible.”

The governor also introduced a new state logo that will be adopted by executive branch departments and used to market Iowa to attract businesses and workforce and grow the state’s population.

“Iowa’s national profile is on the rise, our reputation is strong, and Americans all around the country have taken notice. We are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this point in time by building Iowa’s brand,” Gov. Reynolds said. “A strong brand will sharpen our competitive edge and help us stand out from other states.”

To develop the logo and brand strategy, the state worked with , Iowa Economic Development Authority’s marketing agency and creator of This is Iowa, the state’s tourism campaign, which has aired nationally the last two years.

The new state logo features a familiar landscape scene with a road to the horizon representing opportunity. The tagline, Freedom to Flourish, communicates a motivating message that in Iowa, there are unlimited opportunities to succeed.

The new logo will first be used across state government websites, making them more consistent and recognizable to Iowans and others.

Plans are also underway to update welcome signs along Iowa’s primary entry points on Interstates 80 and 35 and other roadways.

The brand implementation will be a phased, months-long approach using existing budgets to replenish or refresh materials as necessary.

Following is an overview of alignment changes by department:

• Iowa Department of Administrative Services has assumed operational management of the State Historical Society of Iowa programs, research centers and attractions, including the State Historical Museum and historic sites; and the State Library of Iowa.

• Iowa Department of Corrections now has oversight of Community Based Corrections.

• Iowa Department of Education now includes Iowa College Aid, the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

• Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which was created with the earlier alignment of the Departments of Human Services and Public Health, now also includes the Department of Aging, Department of Human Rights, Early Childhood Iowa, Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services, Child Advocacy Board, and consumable hemp registration.

• Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing now includes a number of licensing and regulatory functions from other state departments, including Division of Banking, Health and Human Services, Public Safety, and Workforce Development. The Division of Labor, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and Civil Rights Commission have also become a part of DIAL.

• Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, a newlyformed department, includes the Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa Division of Banking, and Iowa Division of Credit Unions.

• Iowa Department of Public Safety now includes the Office of Drug Control Policy and Motor Vehicle Enforcement.

• Iowa Department of Revenue now includes the Iowa Lottery and Alcoholic Beverages Divisions.

• Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs will now include the Iowa Veterans Home as part of the continuum of services it manages for Iowa veterans.

• Iowa Economic Development Authority now includes the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa, and the State Historic Preservation Office programs.

• Iowa Workforce Development now includes Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Adult Education and Literacy Programs.

GOV. KIM REYNOLDS

Iowa Expands Support for CDL Training with New Infrastructure Grants for Community Colleges

Governor Kim Reynolds has announced a new funding opportunity targeted to support CDL programs at Iowa Community Colleges. The Iowa CDL Infrastructure Grant will provide $5 million in grants to support the infrastructure of programs that train individuals working to receive their commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Today’s announcement represents a further expansion of Iowa’s work to widen the pathway to obtaining a CDL. Earlier this spring, Governor Reynolds announced $2.94 million in grants to support 46 employer programs that prepare drivers for meeting CDL requirements. This new opportunity focuses on Community College programs by assisting them with building, purchasing, or remodeling CDL training infrastructure.

“Here in Iowa, we need to do everything we can to help get more skilled, qualified drivers on the road – and that work has to include easing the pathway to a CDL,” said Governor Reynolds. “With this unique grant program, Community Colleges will have the opportunity to upgrade facilities, find more space, or purchase newer equipment to keep their program competitive while attracting the Iowans who can help meet the demand for drivers.”

Funding is open to Iowa’s Community Colleges, with priority given to applicants who have the ability to train and certify truck drivers continuously and in higher volumes. IWD will also consider location to

Funds will be administered as reimbursement and may be used for building, purchasing, or remodeling CDL training infrastructure, which includes:

• Construction and remodeling provided by third-party vendors.

• Purchasing of space for training.

• Equipment (Trucks for training purposes, Simulators, Monitoring Devices, etc.).

Programs that apply for funding must offer competency-based training courses and/or a training course that would allow someone to complete training and take the licensing exam within a 30-day window. Training must also meet the minimum federal standards required of ELDT drivers to take the CDL skills/knowledge tests.

“We had a great reception with our initial CDL grant program, which is now helping Iowa employers advance their own pipeline of new drivers in the state,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “Today, we’re expanding that same focus to the programs that make this valuable training possible all across Iowa.”

Grant applications will be accepted at IowaGrants.gov and are due on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 2:00 PM.

Iowa Made Record Investment in Transportation Last Year

Warm weather means construction season and you may wonder what all those orange cones mean for you, your family, and the state of Iowa. The fiscal year ending June 30 signaled a record level of investment in roads and bridges based on projects awarded through the Iowa Department of Transportation. Since July 1, 2022, over $1.47 billion across 839 projects was awarded to contractors through the Iowa DOT to improve mobility for you and others who travel throughout the state and to increase the safety of our roads and bridges at the city, county, and state levels.

Fiscal year 2023 investments awarded through the Iowa DOT include:

$274.5 million in the farm-to-market system which helps assure the goods we produce in our state seamlessly get to a global marketplace

$358 million in the interstate system essential to keep products flowing through our state

$26.8 million in the secondary system which provides smoother pavements and better roadway markings that help you have a more comfortable and safer commute

$136.8 million in urban roads and bridges which assure you can quickly and efficiently get your family to activities, medical appointments, shopping, and more.

“A safe and reliable transportation system enhances the quality of life for all Iowans and is essential for keeping our nation’s economy moving and getting products to market – especially at a time of record high inflation,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“The need for investment in Iowa’s roadways grows. Traffic volumes have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In addition, the cost to construct roads and bridges has continued to increase significantly over the last year,” explained Iowa DOT Director, Scott Marler. “I applaud the cities, counties, and Iowa’s road and bridge contractors for their amazing work to strengthen our state’s economy and improve our transportation system.”

Significant investments in bridges have been made across all levels of government. Looking at DOT-owned bridges alone, over the last 17 years, the number of poor-condition bridges has dropped from 256 in 2006 to 26 in 2023. While progress has been made in reducing the number of poor-condition bridges across Iowa, there are still many poor-condition bridges, especially on Iowa’s county road system. Iowa’s counties continue to invest and prioritize funds for bridge repair and replacement and to seek new opportunities for additional funding. In fact, just last month, through a nine-county cooperative application, a federal discretionary grant of almost $25 million was awarded to replace nine bridges.

Others see Risk. We see Opportunity.

Thosewhohavebeenpredictinganimminentrecessionforoverayearandahalf,continuetospew‘doom&gloom.’But,theywere wrong when they first made the prediction andtheycontinuetobewrong.Wewonder, “Why is anyone still listening to their fearmongering?”

a per capita basis) once again surged compellingly. May’s DPI increased 7.4% on a YOY basis, and with the equally strong YOY results of Jan, Feb, March, Apr (+7.4%, +7.4%, +7.3%, & +7.5% respectively) the 12MMA has swung from -0.7% (Dec ’22) to +4.5%!

DONALD BROUGHTON Managing Partner, Broughton Capital LLC

Demand is being driven by strong consumer spending, new household formation, and the ongoing explosion in e-commerce, all made possible by robust growth in consumer income. We expect the strength in consumer spending to continue as new household formation has reached a frenetic pace and, even after the pull-back last year when mortgage rates spiked up, housing starts are still at levels not seen since 2006 (before the ‘08 housing crash).

US Consumer Disposable Personal Income

(on a per capita basis), after growing at a very healthy rate of 7.0% in ’20 and expanding another 5.7% in ’21 (despite the first half of the year spent still emerging from the quarantines, ’21 per capita DPI was 13.1% higher than it was in pre-Covid ’19), plateaued in ’22 (contracting a very faint -0.5%). Through the first 5 months of ’23, it appears to be reaccelerating like an Indy race car coming out of the pits. In the most recently reported month (May ’22), Disposable Personal Income (on

An Opposing Signal is Coming from ImportContainerVolume– For years, we have closely tracked the volume of import containers, and grown to respect it as an early and fairly reliable indicator. We have found multiple uses for it, ranging from predicting Retail Sales (not including Foodservice) to using it as one of the inputs for our shortterm Dry Van demand forecasts. Historically, tracking import container volume has helped predict consumer spending because it reflects the behavior of buyers/ purchasing professionals across all types of merchandising (e-tailers, brick & mortar, direct marketing, et.al.). We know that it is not infallible, because sometimes as a group they get it wrong (underestimate or overestimate consumer demand). We also know that they fail to judge what the consumer will, and will not, spend money on (i.e., there are never enough Tickle Me Elmo dolls, Pet Rocks, or bottles of hand sanitizer, until there were too many). However collectively, they do tend to get it right far more often and far more

accurately than they get it wrong, and are far more reliable than economists or academics.

Normally, the YOY declines in total import container volumes, of -31.1% in March, -21.4% in April, and -21.3 in May would prompt us to grow bear claws, sell everything, and begin building an underground shelter. And, we should be transparent about our intent to pray, light candles, and watch import container volumes far more closely than we normally do, until they improve.

That said, there are several reasons why recent volume declines might prove to be egregiously false negatives. First, we should state the obvious:

1. despite the quarantines and complete shutdown of the world’s major economies for months on end, import container volumes in ’20 were +2.3% higher than they were in ’19;

2. +17.1% higher in ’21 than in ’20;

3. and while ’22 was lower by -1.0% than ’21, it was still +15.9% higher than ’20 and +18.6% higher than ’19.

Even the unsophisticated observer taking a causal glance at a 10-year chart of container volumes will notice that over time it ebbs and flows, but generally, it correlates with retail sales. Sometimes it gets behind and has to catch up, sometimes it gets ahead of itself and has to ease up until demand catches up with it.

One of the disconnects has been inventory. After oscillating in a fairly tight range between 1.4 and 1.5, inventory-to-sales ratios plummeted at the beginning of the Covid quarantines. Lack of inventory, from the simple (store shelves with no toilet paper) to the sophisticated (a severe shortage of semiconductor chips that halted automotive production), became such a serious problem that the term ‘supply chain’ entered the common vernacular.

Inventory-to-sales ratios may never return to pre-Covid levels,

but the volumes of import containers shipped to rebuild them was extraordinary.

A little perspective:

1. In a 28-month period (July ’20 – Oct ’22) more than 65.5 million loaded containers were imported into the US. an annual run rate of >28 million.

2. in the 28-month period just prior (July ’17 – Oct ’19), a period in which the average rate of GDP growth was 4.8% (even topping 6.0% for one quarter in ’18) 54.7 million loaded containers were imported into the US. an annual run rate of 23 million

3. In the July ’20 – Oct ’22 period, 10.8 million more loaded containers were imported than during July ’17 – Oct ’19.

Expectations of sustained loaded import container volumes, at an annual run rate of 28 million, is not only unrealistic, as congestion issues in ’22 demonstrated, it’s also unsustainable.

Currently,thereareseveralcrosscurrentsotherthan‘tough comparisons’whichwebelieveareproducingexcessunduenoise, orevenfalsenegatives,inthecontainerdata.

Another possible explanation is that 7 of the top 10 ports in the world (handling the highest container volumes) are in China. Of the remaining 3, 2 of them (Singapore and Busan/South Korea) are highly dependent upon Chinese trade flows. Last but not least, coming in at #9, LA/Long Beach gets more volume from China than from any other part of the world. Is it possible that a significant part of the recent negative container volumes is simply a hangover from the Chinese mass shutdowns?

OnshoringisReal&it’sGainingMomentum

The insane magnitude of the price surge, in late ’20 through early ’22, of the cost of shipping a container (climbing by 6X to 10X the normal rate in many cases); and China’s draconian shut-down of

OurFreightOmeter™RetailSalesRiskIndicatorhasturnednegativeasaresultofthedeclines inimportcontainervolume.

entire cities last year both have served, as compelling catalysts, for manufactures/assemblers of all types of products and motivation for buyers of all types of retailers and manufacturers, to hunt for alternatives.

China has reopened its cities and borders, and most container shipping rates have fallen back to pre-Covid levels. Nevertheless, over the last 12 to 18 months, many have discovered alternative US, or at least North American, suppliers/sources. Another incentive often occurs after finding an onshore or near-shore source (potentially making each switch more permanent) - reduced lead-times/enhanced ability to respond to the “I want it now!” mentality of ever more consumers. FurtherComplexity–ThewideningofthePanamaCanal

Completed in 2016, it has led to an ever larger share of the import container destination shifting; being delivered to East Coast or Gulf Coast ports, instead of to the West Coast ports. While Long Beach/ LA is still the largest in North America, in the last 6 years the West Coast’s share of the inbound container flow has fallen from >62% to <47%. The East Coast has gained significant market share and Newark, NJ (after expanding to 1.8X its pre-Panama size) is still the largest of them, but the growth of some of the other eastern ports of

call has been notably astounding: Houston +3.1X, Savannah +2.7X, Baltimore +2.1X, Norfolk +2.0X, Charleston +1.8X. Recent volumes suggest that the East Coast is still gaining market share, primarily as a result of continued outsized growth in ports (of all sizes) other than Newark.

There is also an ongoing trend toward diversifyingportuse. A decade ago, once you knew the Long Beach/LA and NJ volumes, you knew what the volumes were for the month, as more than 55% of the total inbound volume came through those ports. With the explosion in volumes, handled by the mid-size ports and the emergence of dozens of small, but significant ports, interpreting a negative number from one of the big boys as an economic ‘warning flare’ can quickly burn down the reputation of the prognosticator making the call. Negative volume in Long Beach/LA might be a warning signal; it might also be the result of concerns about their never-ending struggles with organized labor, or simply the result of more containers being routed through Prince Rupert and Lazaro Cardenas.

New Household Formation - the purchase of a new home drives a significant amount of Dry Van initial demand, and it continues to drive demand for years to come. Purchasing a new house is only the first step for a young couple. More than a decade of spending follows the house purchase, as they fill it with the furnishings and possessions that make the house their home.

Thetotalamountofconstructionmaterialsbeingshippedhas just turned positive on a YOY basis, even though it’s against a toughcomparison.

We believe the Chinese shift away from selling US Treasuries (as they did last year in an attempt to defend their currency), and their resumption of buying US Treasuries, along with continued declines in reported inflation, will push the 10 year yield lower. If we are correct, and the 10 year’s next significant move is below 3%, instead of above 4%, then mortgage rates will also migrate lower, and this segment could reignite.

While there are other uses for Crushed Stone & Sand, the shipping volume of materials used to pour foundations/basements is strong and getting increasingly stronger. If it is a result of increased foundation pouring, lumber volumes will soon follow.

HouseholdGoodsandTechnology

We are recreating our living spaces to accommodate working from home. That includes increased spending on furnishings such as desks and bookcases, as well as significant upgrades in technology.

Everything from high-speed wireless routers and HD cameras, to food dehydrators and air fryers, to home fitness equipment, to bicycles – yes, and puppies -- are in short supply or back-ordered for wks or months. This spending will continue in the short and medium-term, as we evolve and discover what we need for this ‘new lifestyle.’ Meanwhile, home remodeling or additions have already overwhelmed local contractors in every community.

E-commerce plays an equally powerful role

Distribution centers for e-commerce are not the traditional balanced model which Walmart perfected (i.e., homogenous loads inbound are matched at a ratio of 1 to 1 with outbound loads of mixed goods that are exactly what each store needs).

Outbound loads fully utilize each trailer’s capacity and depending on the retailer and the season, may weigh out before they cube out. In the land of e-commerce fulfillment, inbound loads are less optimized (goods mixed to meet immediate and volatile demand). Then, after each item is bubble wrapped and placed in a cardboard box that is often too large, the outbound loads always cube out and run a ratio as high as 8 to 1 when compared to the number of inbound loads. This expands the number of loads inbound and explodes the number of outbound loads. Over-the-road truckers might dismissively point out that, “All of the outbound loads are very short lengths of haul.” While they would be correct in their assessment, we believe that the sheer magnitude of additional drivers needed, combined with the ability

to offer drivers the luxury of being “home every night,” will thwart most over-the-road Dry Van carriers’ ability to attract and retain enough drivers to grow their fleets. Instead, most will struggle to keep their current fleets seated.

Bottom Line – What consumers choose to spend their money on will oscillate from goods to services to experiences to technology and back to goods. As long as there is continued growth in consumer income, over time the volume of goods that need to be shipped will also continue to grow. The correlation of >80%, between Consumer Income and Dry Van loads is not an accident or coincidence. As long as Consumer Income continues to expand at a pace anywhere near the pace it has over the last 3 years, we will continue to be amused by all the chicken littles that have been calling for a recession for over a year now. Instead of emotion, hyperbole, and fear, we prefer hard data such as verifiable income and freight flows, as our investment guides.

Donald Broughton

It is our long-held belief, backed up by years of experience and tons of data, that the most reliable and earliest indicator of economic conditions is the trucking industry. Long before the wizards of Wall Street, or those big brains with PHDs in economics, become aware of a trend, the men and women of the trucking industry know. Not only do you know whether the consumer economy or the industrial economy is getting better or getting worse, based on the volume of loads and the rates being paid, but you know about specific companies (i.e., Wal-Mart may be sticklers about appointment times but they get me unloaded quickly; K-Mart is very disorganized, take forever to unload me, I can’t understand how they stay in business). Our ongoing mission with this column will be to: highlight trends in other parts of the freight market that you might not be aware of, but could end up affecting you; as well as trying to explain what we believe are the reasons behind the trends you are experiencing in trucking.

After spending over two decades as one of Wall Street’s top Analysts and one of its leading Market Strategists, Donald Broughton founded Broughton Capital in 2017. Broughton is notorious as a hard-hitting forensic accountant, using Sell ratings more often than any other analyst. He is highly regarded for translating goods flow data into economic forecasts that have proven to be highly prophetic. Additionally, Broughton is convinced that most individuals know much more about the economy than they realize and believes that economists are only boring because they are lazy or choose to be.

GTG Peterbilt - Cedar Rapids Celebrates 50 Years in 2023

We are proud to have been serving Iowa’s trucking industry for over 50 years! An open house will be held on August 4th to celebrate this milestone and showcase our newly remodeled facility. RSVP at gtgpeterbilt.com/anniversary-signup.htm. www.gtgpeterbilt.com

NOT CONVINCED YET?

 Combine your engine rebuild with eligible limited-time offers to increase the savings.

 Ask us about our ability to repower Cummins or Detroit engines too!

 Contact our designated On-Highway Truck Customer Service team to learn more about the benefits of the new Cat engine.

Reducing Information Overload in Your Organization

Cundick

Despite company efforts to update their information flows with sophisticated new messaging and collaboration platforms, high volumes of information are increasingly the norm for most of the workforce. To understand information overload’s costs, causes and potential cures, Gartner surveyed nearly 1000 employees and managers – and found that 38% of employees say they receive an “excessive” volume of communications at their organization. Only 13% say they received less information in 2022 than they did in 2021.

In the same survey, 27% of employees reported that they feel at least somewhat overloaded by information. This means that employees report they are overwhelmed by the number of information sources available at the organization, feel there is no point in keeping track of the information they receive, and spend their day attending so many meetings that they have no energy left for their actual job.

It can be tempting to view this simply as the cost of doing business in a knowledge economy, but feelings of overload come with real productivity costs. For example, the number of employees who understand and are aligned to company strategy drops by more than half when they feel overloaded by information. Further, only 6% of those who feel overloaded by information report they are highly likely to stay with their current company. It is easy to imagine that an overload-induced energy drain could compound pre-existing problems with staff disengagement such as burnout, fatigue, and distrust in leadership.

BURDEN, NOT VOLUME, DRIVES INFORMATION OVERLOAD

Consider a typical day for your average employee. They start with an inbox already brimming with threaded conversations with colleagues, cascaded internal news via large distributions, meeting invitations of all types, solicitations from external vendors, phishing attempts from bad actors, and some stray messages from their intermingled personal life — and then it’s all downhill from there.

Periods of concentration and productivity are derailed by interruptions, and time is wasted searching for critical information among the various platforms.

Information volume, as it turns out, is only a partial driver of information overload. Rather, the real culprit is the information itself — and specifically the degree to which the accessing and interpreting of the information imposes extra “work” on its recipient. This is what we call information burden.

Information burden is defined as a set of information that is: Duplicative: 57% of employees and managers say they often receive multiple communications about the same or similar topics at the same time.

Irrelevant: 47% say that the company communications they receive are unrelated to their day-to-day responsibilities.

27%

of employees reported that they feel at least somewhat overloaded by information

LK Klein, Emily Earl and Dorian

Information volume, as it turns out, is only a partial driver of information overload. Rather, the real culprit is the information itself — and specifically the degree to which the accessing and interpreting of the information imposes extra “work” on its recipient. This is what we call information burden.

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

Effort Intensive: 38% say they have to do extra work to keep up with the amount of information they receive at their organization.

Inconsistent: 33% say that the company communications they receive are often inconsistent or internally conflicting.

Conservatively, an employee wastes 3 hours and 27 minutes per week dealing with information burden. Executive leaders should regard this as unacceptable, especially because they’re impacted too.

MANAGEMENT IS AT GREATEST RISK OF FEELING OVERLOADED

Complex work situations — like those featuring high levels of change or hybrid work — put employees at a heightened risk of facing information burden. But one population of employees stands out: executive management.

Our research shows that 40% of leaders and 30% of managers report high levels of burden. This is not to be taken lightly: Those that report high burden are 7.4 times more likely to report high decision regret, and 2.6 times more likely to have avoidant or negative responses to change.

The stakes are clearly high: An inability to get control of information at your organization cuts to the heart of your ability to set and deliver on strategy. The current approach to managing information results in many managers being questionably aligned to strategy, avoiding critical business changes, and making bad decisions.

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

Chalk it up to urgent transformation needs or bad habits, but burden is a tragedy of the commons. There are two actions that organizational leadership can take right now that will help alleviate the suffering that all functions are facing.

Step 1: Create a low-burden culture.

Unspoken communication norms prevail in today’s workplace, leaving employees unsure of what good behavior looks like. We establish our own habits for communicating in both our personal and professional lives, and these preferences for email vs. text vs. call vs. apps travel with us.

Constant change only compounds confusion about good behavior. Employees that find themselves collaborating with a new team arrive unsure of whether it’s protocol to chat with leadership over Teams, during office hours, or only through email. Without a mutual under-

An employee wastes 3 hours and 27 minutes per week dealing with information burden.

HUMAN RESOURCES INSIGHT

standing of how information should be shared at the organization, employees tolerate dysfunction and feel disempowered to surface dysfunction — and so the cycle of burden continues.

To some degree, allowing personal preferences to reign has enabled systemic dysfunction. Organizations should instead establish clear expectations for how information flows. Shared norms are beneficial for a variety of reasons — they improve psychological safety on teams and empower employees to surface and address instances of channel abuse.

Your organization already does plenty of norm-setting. (Just think of your latest customer-centricity or safety campaign.) There is now good reason to think that information sharing is a behavior that warrants more than our current “anything goes” approach.

One example of signposting for communication norms comes from Dropbox’s Virtual-First Toolkit, which catalogs their recommended use of a mix of synchronous and asynchronous tools. For each channel, Dropbox establishes clear boundaries for what to use each channel for, and conversely, what each channel is not so great for. The guidance includes why an employee would make the choice of email over Slack (e.g., “Slack can be noisy, so it’s easy to miss important things and forget to respond. If something is critically important, try email”) as well as which types of activities should be resolved over a meeting.

For an employee who is new, or who moves across teams, understanding the lay of the internal channel land from the start alleviates so many stressors of where to go and what to expect out of their experience.

Step 2: Reinforce accountability from the top. The phrase “drinking from a fire hose” is a familiar one, but we really should talk more about who’s holding the hose.

In the case of information burden, water is coming from everywhere. Disparate announcements on staffing changes, sales wins, and updated forecasts sent by various department leaders create confusion about what information is most critical or relevant. Communications and digital workplace teams are constantly introducing new collaboration and productivity platforms, and the legacy messages continue to surface to the top of internal searches.

Part of the challenge of understanding where the burden is coming from is a lack of visibility — each function is narrowly focused on their own pages, apps, or microsites. The second part is the drudgery of administration.

Effective information management is ongoing, cumbersome and requires commitment from all involved. Establishing shared governance over the employee information experience is a mechanism to address both challenges at the same time. It allows stakeholders to align on a shared vision of information management and collectively maintain a user-friendly system.

Effective information management is ongoing, cumbersome and requires commitment from all involved. Establishing shared governance over the employee information experience is a mechanism to address both challenges at the same time.

ALIGN ON A SHARED VISION

Establishing shared governance requires getting everyone on the same page about where and how employees receive information in the first place. This can be accomplished through focus groups, surveys or even establishing dummy inboxes to mimic the volume of content employees receive in a day. A shared understanding of what the current experience is actually like is necessary to determine what the experience should look like.

The perfect jumping off point for establishing shared governance is the intranet. The resource is shared — every department has at least one intranet page — and the channel is intended to serve as a self-service portal, which means improvements in functionality will help save employees’ time.

One organization, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Energy (NSW DPE), leveraged their shared understanding to act as the building blocks for a recent intranet redesign. NSW DPE created a content council co-led by senior owners of channels and representatives from groups that produce content to set content standards and uphold those content principles for audits. They established two types of audits for the redesigned intranet: a quarterly accuracy review and a biannual experience review to maintain accurate, accessible content and resolve accessibility and functionality issues quickly. As a result, NSW DPE effectively consolidated more than 2,000 intranet pages into fewer than 500, significantly contributing to a low burden culture.

Organizations can start their own shared governance system by bringing together functions that are most responsible for managing channels and employee experience (e.g., HR, Comms, IT). Also important is to include functions whose employees normally face a high volume of information (e.g., customer service, sales) as the consequences of burden on these groups directly impact the organization’s touchpoints with customers.

Information overload is the inevitable result of the modern organization’s always-on, more-is-better approach to communication. Unfortunately, it is also a driver of employees’ disengagement and poor decision making. While we are all, as employees and leaders, affected by this reality, the onus is on the company communicators themselves to craft a low-burden culture. It will require energy, expertise and coordination to architect and reinforce more human-centric communication practices.

Start with the realities of what information is needed and what information is getting in the way in order to nudge your teams toward a series of behaviors where everyone is jointly committed to reducing the information burden they place on their peers and themselves.

LK Klein is the Senior Research Director for the Gartner Marketing Practice, who leads the research agendas for all Corporate Communications and Executive Communications content.

Emily Earl is a Senior Research Principal for the Gartner Marketing Practice who leads the research agendas for all Employee Communications content.

Dorian Cundick is an Advisory VP for the Gartner Marketing Practice, a leading expert in Corporate Communications and regular speaker at conferences globally, including the annual Gartner Marketing Symposium/Xpo™. c.2023 Harvard Business Review. Distributed by The New York Times Licensing Group.

The perfect jumping off point for establishing shared governance is the intranet.

TrueNorth Companies is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, IA while having a nationally recognized transportation industry focus.

Our mission is to assist transportation companies and their people with protecting and maximizing assets, resources and opportunities. Scan

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Benefits of Eating Seasonally

by Jason Peterson, MSEd, RDN, LD

Anyone living in the Iowa heartland knows about the cycle of four seasons – the winter snow, spring rains, summer heat, and fall foliage. But have you thought about the four seasons in terms of the food you eat? Our ancestors ate food the land around them could provide, in the season it was naturally grown. We can mimic that seasonal eating to benefit our health, our grocery budget, and our taste buds!

Seasonal eating is the practice of eating food, especially produce, at the peak time of harvest and freshness. Studies have shown eating in season provides a nutritional powerhouse. Fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally and are consumed shortly after harvesting contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which protect against cancer and other serious diseases. One study* found that fall broccoli had nearly twice the amount of vitamin C compared with spring broccoli. The natural cycle of crops and produce supports our nutritional needs for the seasons – leafy spring greens help us remove toxins from our bodies and foods like watermelon, berries, and cucumbers keep us hydrated in the summertime heat.

Seasonal food is also full of amazing flavor. There’s nothing like biting into a crunchy, juicy apple in mid-autumn or a plump, sweet strawberry in early summer. When you focus on in-season foods, you’ll experience the highest quality and peak flavor, texture, and color. In-season food is more visually pleasing on the plate for presentation. Picture a bundle of bright green asparagus in spring. It looks and tastes better!

Another great benefit of eating seasonally is saving money. When you purchase seasonal foods, you’ll often find them on sale. When an abundance of certain items are available, grocers will offer a discount and you may be able to buy in bulk. You’ll also find a wider

selection variety with in-season foods. The store may have six to eight varieties of fresh apples in autumn as opposed to just a few in other seasons. You can find seasonal foods at farm-to-table restaurants, local farmer’s markets, roadside stands, or food cooperatives which all aid local economies and encourage sustainable growing practices. Consider growing your own food! Gardening provides light exercise and saves on your overall grocery spend.

What about winter? Some areas of the world have more than one growing season. Even though Iowa doesn’t have a winter growing season, seasonal foods make it to our grocery stores (on trucks!) in the form of citrus fruits, winter squash, beets and sweet potatoes. Winter is an excellent time to incorporate food that was frozen or naturally preserved at its peak harvest.

Seasonal eating extends beyond produce. In the seafood category, both salmon and crab have natural growing seasons based on migration and breeding patterns. Thanks to modern flash freezing technology available on sea vessels, seafood can be harvested and preserved at its peak. And don’t forget about nuts and seeds – these edible byproducts of plants have varietal growing seasons. For example, almonds are harvested with peak flavor in August and September.

Ready to get started with seasonal eating? Begin with small changes and additions to your diet. Each season offers beautiful food. Find your favorites and try some new ones, too. Eating seasonally will bring better flavor, better nutrition, and it will be easier on your wallet. To learn more, check out eatright.org/seasonal food.

*Wunderlich SM, Feldman C, Kane S, Hazhin T. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Feb;59(1):34-45

Jason Peterson is a Licensed, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with an MS in Adult Learning & Leadership Development. He currently works at MercyOne. He has coached patients of all ages in nutrition plans for improved health outcomes. He is passionate about all things food & nutrition!

JASON PETERSON

Join the Virtual Truck Convoy to Support Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America (WAA) has rolled out a revenue generating program for the state trucking associations. The WAA Virtual Convoy program allows our membership to support the yearlong WAA mission, help remember and honor all those laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery and raise funds for the Iowa Motor Truck Association.

What is the WAA Virtual Convoy program?

The program is a nationwide fundraising and awareness campaign where each state trucking association sells wreath sponsorships through a specific state trucking association/WAA webpage for $17 per wreath and the state association in turn receives $5 per wreath sponsorship sold. Each sponsorship ensures a live, balsam veteran’s wreath is placed on the headstone of an American servicemember, and supports the organization’s year-round mission to Remember, Honor, Teach.

The goal for this campaign is two-fold:

• Raise awareness and engage your membership and community in sponsoring wreaths so that nearly all the eligible markers at Arlington National Cemetery where servicemembers from every U.S. conflict and every state are laid to rest have a wreath placed on their headstone; and

• Allow the state trucking associations to earn revenue for their association. For example, one trailer of wreaths is approximately 5,000 wreaths, equating to $25,000 in revenue for the IMTA.

Help us reach our goal!

• Sponsor a wreath(s) now by clicking on our state association group page at www.wreathsacrossamerica. org/iowamotortruck . You must sponsor your wreaths through this site or the IMTA will not receive the credit or the $5 back.

• Send our group page link to your workforce, vendors, family, and friends and encourage them to get involved. If they all sponsored just one wreath, our goal should easily be reached!

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For many years, the continued generosity of the trucking industry has enabled Wreaths Across America to distribute veterans’ wreaths to their final destinations. In 2022, 2.7 million wreaths were delivered by more than 300 companies to over 3,700 participating locations across the continental United States and abroad!

If you are interested in joining the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet to help the hundreds of carriers and professional drivers delivering “truckloads of respect” each year, we could use your help! Please visit https://trucking.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ volunteer to submit your information or contact the team directly at trucking@wreathsacrossamerica.org

Last year, the IMTA staff helped lay wreaths at Iowa’s Veterans Cemetery as their annual Christmas outreach activity.

Corporate Transparency Act Reporting of Beneficial Ownership Information Deadlines Rapidly Approaching1

by John F. Fatino, Attorney, Whitfield & Eddy, PLC

In an effort to combat crime, Congress passed into law the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. President Trump vetoed the Act and the veto was overridden by both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.2 The CTA (31 U.S.C. § 5336) requires certain businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This article will attempt to summarize these new obligations.

Existing entities must report by January 1, 2025; new entities must report 30 days after their creation effective January 1, 2024. The final regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2022.3 This article is intended to acquaint the reader with the issues. Specific issues should be addressed to counsel or your tax professional. The issue is an important one as there are civil and criminal penalties for the failure to report.

Businesses Which Must Report

Under the CTA, those entities which qualify as a “reporting company” and which do not qualify for an exemption must report BOI. As defined under the CTA, domestic reporting companies include corporations, limited liability companies, or other entities created by filing with a Secretary of State or a similar office. Foreign companies which were formed under the laws of a different nation also are required to report. Under the CTA, the reporting company must report any changes to previous reports.

Exempt Businesses

The CTA exempts from the reporting requirement several categories of larger, more highly regulated entities (and which are presumably already paying taxes). While there are a number of exemptions, there are three of interest to the readership here: Large Operating Businesses; Inactivate entities; and Subsidiaries of certain exempt entities.

Large Operating Businesses are defined as those having more than 20 full time employees in the United States. The entity must have

JOHN F. FATINO

filed a federal tax return or informational return demonstrating gross receipts in excess of $5,000,000. The regulations should be consulted to determine what qualifies as an inactive business or a subsidiary.

Who Must be Identified in the Report

Beneficial Owners

The reporting company’s BOI report must include the company’s beneficial owners. The regulation specifies the content of the initial report.

Beneficial owners are people who either exercise substantial control over the reporting company or who own or control at least 25% of the ownership interests. Substantial control is an expansive concept under the CTA. Concerning ownership interests, the CTA defines the term broadly. The regulations also define who is exempt from being classified as a beneficial owner.

Company Applicant

Company applicants are individuals who directly file for the creation of a domestic company, first registers a foreign company to do business in the US, or is primarily responsible for the appropriate filing, if more than one person is involved in filing. Until further clarification of the regulation, it would appear that professionals such as attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, and Enrolled Agents would be considered company applicants.

Timing of the Report

Existing reporting companies do not need to report until January 1, 2025. A reporting company created on or after January 1, 2024 is required to report within 30 calendar days. Foreign reporting companies who become registered to do business in a state must report the information within 30 calendar days of January 1, 2024.

Reporting companies that were created or registered before the effective date (January 1, 2024) do not need to report information regarding company applicants but must file an initial report. However, a reporting company created on or after January 1, 2024, shall include information regarding the company applicant in its initial report.

Information to be Reported

Beneficial Owners and Company Applicants

A reporting company’s report must include information about its beneficial owners and in the event an entity was created on or after the effective date, its company applicants, as well as the entity itself. Concerning the beneficial owner and the company applicant, the report needs to provide their full legal names, birth dates, complete current addresses, a unique identifying number (i.e. passport, driver’s license, government document used for identification), and photo copy of the unique identifying number.

Reporting Company

• A reporting company must disclose the following:

• Full legal name of company;

• Any trade or doing business as names, registered or not;

• Complete current address—(it should be noted that the regulation speaks in terms of a “street address”);

• The jurisdiction of formation, and for the foreign company, the jurisdiction where it first registered in the United States; and

• IRS taxpayer identification number (TIN) including the employer identification number (EIN).

Conclusion

Forthoseentitieswhicharenotexemptfromreporting, thedeadlineforthereportofBOIisrapidlyapproaching. Thoseplanningtocreatenewentitieswouldbewell servedtohavethenewentityformedwithaSecretary ofStatebeforeJanuary1,2024. Existingentitieswill needtoreportbyJanuary1,2025. Inanyevent,an entity’sseniorofficerswillwanttotrackcloselythese newreportingobligationsandimplementsystemsto achievecompliance.Further,seniorofficerswillwantto carefullyallocateresponsibilityforreportingaccurate BOItotheindividualwhocreatedthereportingcompany

1John F. Fatino is an attorney in the Des Moines office of Whitfield & Eddy, PLC. The author gratefully acknowledges the research and writing assistance of Nathan Brittan, J.D. 2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._(Mac)_Thornberry_National_Defense_Authorization_Act_ for_Fiscal_Year_2021#:~:text=The%20William%20M.,passed%20annually%20for%2059%20years.

387 Fed. Reg. 59498 (September 30, 2022) (to be codified at 31 C.F.R. section 1010.380). References to the CFR provisions are to the version set forth in the final rule but which have net yet been set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations.

431 C.F.R. § 1010.380(b)(2)(iv).

531 C.F.R. § 1010.380(d)(2)(i).

2023 IMTA Leadership Class

22 Participants

6 Days of Training, Education, Networking, and Unique Learning Experiences

Unlimited Connections made

“The IMTA leadership class was the best experience. I am so grateful that I got to be a part of the longstanding program that recognizes up and coming leaders in Iowa’s trucking industry,” Eric Gemski, Trivista Companies.

2023 IMTA Leadership Conference

50 participants

3 High Level Professional Speakers

3 Group Discussion & Team Building Activities

Laughs to last a lifetime!

“The IMTA Leadership Conference never gets old. Not only am I growing in my personal & professional development, I’m getting to engage with likeminded individuals who can relate to working in the industry,”

LEAD IMTA Council Member

Dominic Julick, Syngenta.

LEAD Council Happy Hour Events

3 Locations Across Iowa

250 IMTA Members & Guests

Absolutely no agenda! Connections & friendships formed

“Being on the LEAD Council we really want to offer opportunities for members to get together and network. By having no agenda we can do just that in a successful, fun way,” LEAD IMTA Council Member Connor Lewis, Truck Center Companies.

Truck PAC Golf Outing

185 Golfers from Across Iowa

New, Split Shotgun Format

$58,000 raised for Truck PAC Iowa!

Safety Professionals Conference

70 Attendees

1.5 Days of Networking, Enhancing Safety Knowledge, and Hearing from Experts in the Safety Realm

“This was my first year helping plan this outing & I commend the IMTA membership for getting out there and supporting PAC. It is crucial we support pro-business, pro-trucking political endeavors and with the money raised at this outing, it’s a phenomenal start,” BlakeGrolmus,RuanTransportation.

“Not only does being a member of ICSM allow me to continually grow as a safety professional, but this conference alone guarantees that I’m updated on trends and looking ahead on what is coming down the pipeline,” Keith Lamfers, Casey’s General Stores.

IMTA Show Trailer Events

“Being involved with the Show Trailer as an IMTA Driver Ambassador is not only a joy, but it makes me proud showing kids and adults what it’s like doing what I do (and love) every single day. Speaking to these folks about the industry and the opportunities it has is a rewarding experience in itself,” IMTA Driver AmbassadorDeanKey,RuanTransportation.

“With this being my first Call on Washington experience it was very eye-opening. Being able to sit down with every Iowa Senator and Representative made me realize just how much they care about the trucking industry and what IMTA is accomplishing at the state level especially when it comes to the passing of our legislation this Spring,”

Sarah Hammond with Hirschbach Motor Lines.

1

“I am thrilled the IMTA brought back a conference specific to maintenance. While the Tech Competition was fantastic, we really need to target the individuals implementing the maintenance programs so I’d say for the 1st kick-off conference it was a tremendous success,” planningcommittee memberJerryBender,MidwestWheelCompanies.

SAVE THE DATE IMTA Announces 2023 - 2024 Schedule of Events

Finance Conference

Thursday, October 26

IMTA Office; Des Moines

Environment & Sustainability Conference

Thursday, December 7 IMTA Office; Des Moines

IMTA Leadership Class, Part 1

February 6 – 8

Hilton Downtown Des Moines; Des Moines

** Information for the 2024 IMTA Leadership Class to be announced in November

IMTA Leadership Class, Part 2

March 26 - 28

Hilton Downtown Des Moines; Des Moines

** Information for the 2024 IMTA Leadership Class to be announced in November

Happy Hour hosted by the LEAD Council

Wednesday, March 27

Des Moines

Safety Professionals Conference

Wednesday, April 10 & Thursday, April 11

Prairie Meadows; Altoona

Truck PAC Iowa Golf Outing

Thursday, May 23

Legacy Golf Club; Norwalk

Iowa Truck Driving Championships

Thursday, June 13 & Friday, June 14

Prairie Meadows; Altoona

Happy Hour hosted by the LEAD Council

Thursday, June 20

Dubuque

Happy Hour hosted by the LEAD Council

Thursday, July 18

Council Bluffs

IMTA at the Iowa State Fair

Thursday, August 8 – Sunday, August 18

Iowa State Fairgrounds; Des Moines

IMTA Management Conference

Wednesday, September 4 & Thursday, September 5

DoubleTree Hotel; Cedar Rapids

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Nationwide there are 4 million professional truck drivers proudly and safely delivering the products that we all depend on. Because of these dedicated men and women, we have a quality of life that is unprecedented, and it is easy to take drivers for granted.

When was the last time you were greeted with empty shelves at the grocery store, or had a medical procedure cancelled because some important supplies had not arrived on time?

We all see the big trucks on the roads at all hours of the day and night. That is testament to the valuable service they provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Professional truck drivers take tremendous pride in the role they play in delivering the products we all count on, and we are the beneficiaries of that pride and dedication.

Every day when they crawl up into their “office” they know they will need to endure a myriad of challenges (weather, traffic, congestion, unrealistic deadlines). Challenges that many of us couldn’t handle for even a few hours.

These same professionals also recognize that the average person doesn’t give a second thought when they reach for a loaf of bread or a pound of hamburger as to how those products arrived safely at the store. Another reason they deserve the recognition, respect, and gratitude.

The men and women who proudly identify as a professional truck driver are confident, reliable, and dependable. Professional truck drivers and their families are accustomed to the sacrifices that are made to accommodate a schedule that is often unpredictable and unyielding to family birthdays, holidays, and other important events. But for most drivers and their families, the satisfaction in knowing the important role they play far outweighs the sacrifices they make to be a professional truck driver.

The passion and dedication that can be found in abundance in the trucking industry is something that we all must be more attentive to. These road warriors are truly the unsung heroes of supporting and strengthening every aspect of our life. Yet sadly the level of respect, appreciation, and gratitude these professionals receive rarely correlates

with the important role they play. We must change our attitude towards truck drivers.

We can start by honoring these men and woman during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) on September 10 - 16.

While these true professionals need to be recognized every day of the year, NTDAW is a valuable springboard that is critical in driving positive change and is an important reminder of the value of the professional truck driver.

Please make the effort during NTDAW to thank professional truck drivers. These honest, hard-working individuals take their job of serving YOU very seriously and while they will never ask for recognition nor do they expect any words of THANKS, I am certain they will appreciate it tremendously. A simple THANK YOU, a friendly wave, or a heartfelt handshake will go long way in recognizing these important and valuable professionals that make our lives easier and more enjoyable, day in and day out.

The below copy was distributed to news outlets across the state of Iowa.

Lifeliner Special Section

The EXTRA MILE

Truck Driving Championships

SERVING UP RECORDS AT THE IOWA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 Iowa Truck Driving Championships (TDC) proved to be a hot one when it came not only to the weather, but also the competition amongst the competing professionals. This year’s event brought 105 professional truck drivers to Prairie Meadows Hotel and Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa, which is the most competing drivers since pre-pandemic years. These drivers represented 23 IMTA member companies, with 2 companies participating for the first time – Contract Transport and Tucker Freight Lines. Most importantly, a record-breaking 45 first year participants registered to compete.

Another first-time occurrence at the Iowa TDC was when Melinda Rathjens from FedEx Freight was announced as the Grand Champion of the event. For at least 40 years, Iowa has always given an award to the driver that walked away with the highest overall score, however, it wasn’t until this year that we officially started a new tradition of naming this award the Grand Champion award. And to top that, not only is Melinda the first “Grand Champion” of the Iowa TDC, but she is the very first female to take home the highest overall score honors.

A special thanks to John Holt with Ruan Transportation who served as the Chairman of the event and Keith Lamfers with Casey’s General Stores serving as the Vice Chair. These two volunteer leaders along with a great committee put on another first-class event. “This event is the culmination of many months of hard work and effort to create a worthwhile event for our finest drivers and their families. All of us on the committee truly love this event so serving in this capacity is always very rewarding and gratifying and it is fun to be at this point in the journey to really celebrate,” said TDC event chairman John Holt with Ruan Transportation.

Additionally, a huge shout out to the many volunteers that play a pivotal role in making this annual event run smoothly. It takes an army of support and each year we are always blessed to have a tremendous outpouring of help from a long list of volunteers.

The eight division winners advanced to the National Truck Driving Championships in Columbus (OH), held in mid-August. Those competing included Melinda Rathjens (FedEx Freight); Jerry Beckman (Walmart Transportation); Walter Freeman (Solar Transport); Willie Lambrix Jr. (Green Products Company); John Egli (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.); Joshua Anderson (XPO Logistics); Steven Iburg (XPO Logistics); and Richard Barre (XPO Logistics).

2023 TDC Committee

JOHN HOLT Chairman Ruan Transportation

KEITH LAMFERS Co-Chairman Casey’s General Stores

CODY MCCLAIN Tucker Freight Lines

BOB MYERS Hy-Vee, Inc.

BRIDGET NIXON Solar Transport

TERRY PUMP CRST the Transportation Solution, Inc.

BRIAN PYLE Pyle Transportation

KRYSTIN SITZMANN TrueNorth Companies

DAVE ZERBE Keane Thummel Trucking Inc.

JUSTIN WALTERS Tenstreet

FRONT L-R: Krystin Sitzmann (TrueNorth Companies); Terry Pump (CRST the Transportation Solution, Inc.); Bob Myers (Hy-Vee, Inc.); John Ho lt (Ruan Transportation); Bridget Nixon (Solar Transport). BACK L TO R: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Lines); Dave Zerbe (Keane Thummel Trucking); Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores); Brian Pyle (Pyle Transportation)

Not pictured: Justin Walters (Tenstreet)

Truck Driving Championships

Event Photos

2023 Truck Driving Championships Winners

1st Place Team

2nd Place Team

3rd Place Team

3 AXLE VAN DIVISION

4 AXLE VAN DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Jimmy Lair (FedEx Freight), 2nd Place: Jeremy Browns (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), 1st Place: Melinda Rathjens (FedEx Freight), Class Coordinator: Jeff Martin (Green Products Company), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Dean Key (Ruan Transportation), 2nd Place: Rhonda Hartman (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), 1st Place: Jerry Beckman (Walmart Transportation), Class Coordinator: Cody McClain (Tucker Freight Line), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

2023 Truck Driving Championships Winners

5 AXLE TANK TRUCK DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Ken Smith (Solar Transport), 2nd Place: Robert Meyer, Jr. (Johnsrud Transport, Inc.)

1st Place: Walter Freeman (Solar Transport), Class Coordinator: Darrell Short (HyVee, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

SLEEPER BERTH DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Mark Brown (Walmart Transportation), 2nd Place: Jason Pavelchick (West Side Transport, Inc.), 1st Place: Willie Lambrix Jr. (Green Products Company), Class Coordinator: Bob Myers (Hy-Vee, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

5 AXLE VAN DIVISION

(From left to right) 3rd Place: Jeff Eisentrager (PDI), 2nd Place: Scott Delaney (Casey’s General Stores), 1st Place: John Egli (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), Class Coordinator: Terry Pump (CRST the Transportation Solution, Inc.)

5 AXLE FLATBED DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation),1st Place: Joshua Anderson (XPO Logistics), 3rd Place: Felix Santiago (Decker Truck Line, Inc.), 2nd Place: David Birch (Walmart Transportation), Class Coordinator: Bridget Nixon (Solar Transport), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

TWIN TRAILERS DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Adam Maas (FedEx Freight), 2nd Place: Frank Pollard (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.)

1st Place: Steven Iburg (XPO Logistics), Class Coordinator: Brian Pyle (Pyle Transportation), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

(From left to right) Melinda Rathjens (FedEx Freight), IMTA President & CEO: Brenda Neville

FIRST YEAR PARTICIPANT AWARD

(From left to right) TDC Committee Member: Dave Zerbe (Keane Thummel Trucking), TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), Walter Freeman (Solar Transport), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

STRAIGHT TRUCK DIVISION

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), 3rd Place: Scott Marnin (XPO Logistics), 2nd Place: Jason Reiter (Casey’s General Stores), 1st Place: Richard Barre (XPO Logistics) , Class Coordinator: Krystin Sitzmann (TrueNorth Companies), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

(From left to right) TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), Mark Dowd (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

TDC Event Chairman: John Holt (Ruan Transportation), Warren Ratliff Jr. (Quest Liner, Inc.), TDC Event Co-Chairman: Keith Lamfers (Casey’s General Stores)

Don Hummer Trucking Contract Transport, Inc.

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

TEAM SPIRIT AWARD

GRAND CHAMPION

BRUCE ARNOLD PRE-TRIP AWARD INDIVIDUAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

2023 Truck Driving Championships Teams

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