Inside Simplex 4th Edition

JULY 2020
NEWSLETTER
E
D
I
T
I
O
N
4
HIGHLIGHTS
Leisure & Health
10 BEST QUICK AND
EASY AT-HOME
WORKOUT
MOVES
Page 4
Growing our business
WELCOME TO ASPIRE:
A NEW ERA FOR
SIMPLEX GROUP
By Inely Baez
Page 8
Security corner
6 ADVANTAGES
OF USING
MICROSOFT
TEAMS
Page 12

Management corner
A message from our CEO
Over the last few weeks, we have spoken plenty
about the ASPIRE 2025 Strategic Plan. Across
the entire organization, several meetings and
presentations have taken place with the
purpose of releasing this crucial business plan.
Corporate leadership, together with front line
managers, have discussed the message of “The
New Simplex” in group sessions to ensure that
each executive, manager, supervisor, and
associate understands the importance of what
is expected of each us going into the future.
In order to succeed, we must understand and
commit to always have our clients’ interest in
mind. We must have the dedication to assist
our clients in managing their operations and
support their dreams of building a healthy and
strong business, despite the challenges they
face. Simplex must offer unwavering support
for our clients who are leaving their families
behind for days, while they go on the open
road to deliver the goods that maintain the
economy going.
2
JULY 2020

presentations, no matter the division you work for,
or the department you have been assigned to, feel
proud of being a member of the Simplex Family.
Even in times of despair, our organization has
continued to grow. We have propelled our
products nationwide, creating a presence in
markets that we only dreamed of being part of.
Each product division continues to perform with
unprecedented results, surprising us all of how well
we have continued to bypass this worldwide crisis.
Plenty of career growth opportunities will be
coming your way, as our some departments
consolidate themselves, and additional offices
open in the US. Our sales team grows stronger and
more experienced and new marketing technology
is being introduced within our sales operations.
Our clients at the same time are responsible not
only for a driving job, but for administering their
own business. We must be there for those small,
and medium size trucking companies, that have
entrusted us to assist them overcome any
challenges like government regulations, insurance
management, freight procurement, fuel and
financial services that are essential in keeping their
business running.
As I have mentioned during the ASPIRE 2025
Each of us plays an essential role within the ASPIRE
2025 Strategic Plan. We are all committed to
over-performing in delivering our products to each
and every one of our client companies. We are all
enthusiastic to service our clients’ needs, as well as
those of the company we proudly represent.
Challenges are plenty, and easily seen on the
horizon, but the commitment of the Simplex
Family is resilient as we will continue to improve
our products and processes. ASPIRE 2025 is our
plan, the plan that is needed to be part of each of
us because, at the end, we will have performed
with excellency, making our organization a true
success as we also make our clients succeed in
building their dreams.
RIGO
DÍAZ
CEO
JULY 2020 3

A beginner-style
pushup, this move will help you build strength before attempting
a standard pushup.
Directions:
QUICK & EASY
1. Get into a high plank position
from your knees.
2. Maintaining a straight line
from your head to your knees,
bend your elbows to lower
yourself down to the ground.
Keep your elbows at a
45-degree angle.
3. Push back up to start.
Squat to strengthen
your legs and core, which will make everyday movements easier.
Starting with a chair underneath you will help you master proper
form.
Directions:
Leisure & Health
AT-HOME
WORKOUT MOVES
If the idea of a home workout makes you yawn, think again!
When executed correctly, using just your body weight can give you great results.
So, clear out a space in the living room and prepare to sweat, because these bodyweight exercises will provide
a full-body workout.
Complete 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps of each exercise, with 1 minute of rest between each move.
This circuit should take about 15 minutes.
READY? SET, GO!
1. BRIDGE Activate your core and posterior chain 2. CHAIR SQUAT
(a fancy term for the backside of your body) with a bridge. This is
a great exercise to use as a warmup.
Directions:
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor,
and your arms extended by your sides.
2. Pushing through your feet
and bracing your core, raise
your bottom off the ground
until your hips are fully
extended, squeezing your
glutes at the top.
3. Slowly return to the starting
position and repeat.
1. Stand in front of the chair with your feet shoulder-width apart,
toes pointed slightly out.
2. Hinging at your hips and bending
your knees, lower back and down until
your bottom touches the chair, allowing
your arms to extend out in front of you.
3. Push up through your heels and
return to the starting position.
3. KNEE PUSHUP 4. STATIONARY LUNGE
Hit your quads, hamstrings, and glutes with a stationary lunge.
Directions:
1. Split your stance with your right leg in front. Your right foot
should be flat on the ground, and your left foot should be up on
its toes.
2. Bend your knees and lunge,
stopping when your right thigh is
parallel to the ground.
3. Push up through your right foot
to return to the starting position.
Repeat for desired number of reps,
then switch legs.
4
JULY 2020

5. PLANK TO DOWNWARD DOG
This move will test your upper body, especially your shoulders.
Who says you need weights for a shoulder workout?
Directions:
1. Get into a high plank position, with your hands stacked
underneath your shoulders and your feet close together.
2. Keeping your core engaged and
your hands and feet stationary, pike
your hips up and back into the
Downward Dog pose. Your body
should form a triangle with the
ground. Keep your neck neutral. Your
gaze should be directed toward your
feet.
3. Hold here for a second, then return
to the plank. Repeat.
A full-body move that requires balance
and stability, the Bird Dog pose is easily scalable to your ability
level. Start with this version if you’re a beginner.
Directions:
1. Get on all fours, ensuring your hands are directly underneath
your shoulders and your knees are underneath your hips.
2. Keeping your neck neutral,
simultaneously extend your left
arm and right leg, keeping your
hips square to the ground. Pause
here for 2 seconds.
3. Return to the start position.
Repeat with your right arm and
left leg.
6. STRAIGHT-LEG DONKEY KICK
Build those glutes with donkey kicks.
Directions:
1. Get on all fours, with your hands aligned with your shoulders
and your knees aligned with your hips.
2. Keeping your back straight, push your right foot out to the
imaginary wall behind you while keeping your leg straight.
7. BIRD DOG 8. FOREARM PLANK
3. Your foot should remain flexed
(toes pointing down to the floor)
throughout. Take care to keep your
hips square to the ground. Squeeze
your buttocks at the top.
4. Return to the starting position.
Repeat for the desired number of
reps. Repeat on the other leg.
A full-body exercise
that requires strength and balance, planks put the core into
overdrive.
Directions:
1. Assume a plank
position on your
forearms. Your body
should form a straight
line from head to feet.
2. Ensure your lower
back and hips don’t sag.
Hold the position for 30
seconds to 1 minute.
9. SIDE-LYING HIP ABDUCTION 10. BICYCLE CRUNCH
You may not think about strengthening your hip muscles until
they start to bother you, but please reconsider!
This is especially the case if you sit all day. Counteracting that with
hip-targeting movements will be very beneficial.
Directions:
1. Lie on your left side, with your left leg straight, right leg
straight, and right foot resting on the ground.
2. Lift your right leg up,
maintaining the position of your
body. Make sure your hips don’t
open up.
3. Return to the start position.
Repeat for the desired number of
reps, then do the other side.
Although you’ll work
your core with almost all of these strength exercises, a targeted
ab move doesn’t hurt.
Directions:
1. Lie on your back and bring your legs to a tabletop position.
Bend your elbows, and put your hands behind your head.
2. Crunch up and bring your right elbow to your left knee,
straightening your right leg.
3. Release the crunch slightly.
Bend your right leg and straighten
your left leg, then bring your left
elbow to your right knee.
4. Repeat for the desired number
of reps.
JULY 2020 5

FAVORITE
WORLD
SITES
GREECE
PLACES TO VISIT
Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With over sixty inhabited
islands, historic sites, idyllic beaches and towering mountain ranges there is a wide variety of
tourist attractions to explore.
The country of Greece conjures in one’s
mind images of azure seas, ancient
ruins, white churches with blue domes,
Mediterranean breezes, and islands. It
also brings to mind the beginning of
democracy, Plato, Socrates, and biblical
characters.
To get to the many islands that are a
part of Greece, use of the ferry system is
standard practice even for the Greeks.
There are shops all over Athens where
ferry tickets can be purchased. The
ferries themselves can be like cruise
ships with cabins for overnight accommodations.
MOUNT ATHOS
A mountain and a peninsula in northern
Greece. The peninsula, the easternmost
“leg” of the larger Halkidiki peninsula
houses some 1,400 monks in 20 Eastern
Orthodox monasteries.
LINDOS
A medieval village on the island of Rhodes
that is made up of a network of cobbled
streets amid whitewashed houses. It offers
spectacular views of the surrounding
harbors and coastline.
The Greek people are proud. They are
also very helpful and like it when one
tries to speak their language. A simple
"efharisto" (thank you) or "parakalo"
(please) go a long way when dealing
with Greeks.
DELPHI THEATRE
One of the most important sites in ancient
times and Greek religion, home to the
sanctuary and oracle of Apollo. The ancient
theatre of Delphi was built on a hill giving
spectators a view of the entire sanctuary.
METÉORA
Metéora is located in central Greece. It is
one of six spectacular monasteries situated
on top of several rock pillars. The first
monastery in Metéora was founded in the
14th century.
PARTHENON
The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis is one of the most famous Greece tourist attractions
and a visit to Athens.
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JULY 2020

CULTURE
Greek culture in the present day is a
glorious mix of great classical and maritime
heritage, music and dance, myth and
legend, and a lifestyle that has developed
over centuries.
Greek Orthodox Christianity’s and joyful
festivals are linked strongly with the culture
as the religion is very important. Greeks are
proud of their country’s amazing past and
its heritage is celebrated in the
modern-day.
Greece is a country of great interests
influenced by its location, it is a land filled
with history and archaeology, and as such
is a perfect place to travel on a cultural
holiday.
The sights of Ancient, Medieval, and
Modern Greece are simply world-class.
One of Greek’s Traditional Dances, Sirtaki
Greek Orthodox Church
ACTIVITIES
TOUR THE ACROPOLIS
This is probably the number one attraction
in Greece not to miss, made from glittering
marble, used to be the site of the famous
statue of Athena who was also the
goddess of Athens.
CLIMB MOUNT OLYMPUS
Mount Olympus is probably one of the
most famous mountains in the world and if
you are a fan of Greek mythology then this
is not be missed off your itinerary.
UNCOVER LAKE PLASTIRA
A very unusual lake in Greece which is
known for being blessed with a plethora of
natural beauty. You can also go canoeing
or rafting, as well as horse riding or hiking
along the trails around the lake.
WHAT DOES A TRIP TO GREECE COST?
Based on a two week trip to Greece (14 days and 13 nights).
VISIT THE MONASTERIES OF METEORA
Meteora is known for its monasteries that sit
on top of towering rock formations. There
are 6 monasteries conforming Meteora. The
monks that live in the area are Eastern
Orthodox and fled to Meteora as a result of
the invasion of the Turkish army.
AIRFARE
ACCOMMODATIONS
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
ATTRACTIONS
FOOD AND DRINK
RANDOM SPENDING
TOTAL
$ 800-$ 1,200
$ 1,600
$ 300
$ 200
$ 300
$ 100
$ 3,300
JULY 2020 7

WELCOME TO ASPIRE:
A NEW ERA FOR SIMPLEX GROUP
The Simplex Group is embarking on a
journey which began this summer to
grow seven times our current size by
becoming one customer facing organization.
Our number one priority is to enhance the
experience our clients have by doing business
with us. We want to make it easy for our clients
to do business with us so they take care of all
their trucking needs with us. Therefore, instead
of buying just one product from us, we want to
turn that into them buying every product from
us since we are their one-stop shop. As you all
have started to see, changes have begun to take
place to achieve this strategic plan. We have
started re-branding, re-organizing our structure,
and revealing our new vision as part of ASPIRE.
This is just the beginning and we want to give
you a sneak peak of all that our organization is
currently working on to meet our goals and our
client’s goals. Simplex is fully committed and
“ON THE ROAD” to make it happen.
A New
Website
Along with the new Simplex Group comes a bit
of a makeover for our website! With an
expected debut in August, our new website will
be simple and it will share our message of why
we exist with any carrier who visits the site. The
fact that we are here to support them will be
very evident and they will be able to truly see we
are a one stop shop. Our clients will be able to
chat with us and even make online purchases
right on the spot for some of our products.
Through a dynamic webpage, we will be able to
increase sales and boost our customer
experience.
8
JULY 2020

CRM
For Simplex to truly become one both internally
and also externally to our clients, we must all be
able to speak the same language and know all
aspects of our clients. Without having access to
the data of one client feeding from all products,
it will be difficult to improve the customer
experience. With one single view for all business
units, we will be able to see all the transactions
the customer does with us, create a customer
loyalty program, and increase sales. Through
CRM we also want to automate processes so
that we can spend more time serving our clients
versus processing clients. This is a large
commitment, but it is critical for us to have a
common system for all products. Data and its
visibility will sky rocket our service so we can
support our clients and help them succeed!
Phone
Application
& Portal
CRM will be useful
internally, but to take us to
the next level, we must
think about how our clients
will communicate with us. We both want it to be
easy. Thus, we will be creating a Simplex phone
application and portal that is interactive and
informative. The client will be able to send up
paperwork, see a summary of their account, and
even purchase a product. We will be able to
push notifications to them as well so they know
the latest happening at Simplex. We want our
clients to have us in the palm of their hands.
Inbound
Marketing
One thing we have always focused on for our
success is sales. Sales and penetrating the
market is key to grow 7 times our current size.
We have always pounded the phones and
dialed to bring in business. Inbound marketing
will change the way we sell in the future.
Through our website, campaigns, geographic
targeting and other methods, we are going to
have our clients come to us. We are going to
showcase Simplex so sales come in through
reaching our audience in different ways. This
together with the initiatives above, will spur our
growth rapidly.
This is just the tip of the iceberg coming your
way. Optimized processes, a better way to serve
customers, and new opportunities at Simplex.
We have over 50 ongoing projects to ensure
that our vision is met. Together as one
organization we will make this vision a reality.
Stay tuned for other developments and major
initiatives! #Keepontrucking
INELY BAEZ
CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER
JULY 2020 9

T
CLEARINGHOUSE:
NEW RUGULATIONS
IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR
he Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century (MAP-21) highway bill of 2012, went into effect on January 6, 2020. The
purpose of the clearinghouse is to increase safety on our nation’s roadway.
WHAT IS THE DRUG &
ALCOHOL CLEARINGHOUSE?
The Clearinghouse is a secure online database
that gives employers, the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA), State Driver
Licensing Agencies (SDLA’s) and State law
enforcement personnel real-time information
about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and
commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug
and alcohol violations. This includes any positive
drug results, any alcohol results with a blood
alcohol content greater than 0.04, refusals to
test, and any other non-test violations of
FMCSA’s drug and alcohol regulation.
Employers will have to submit a report of a drug
or alcohol program violation by the close of the
third business day following the date on which
the employer obtained the information.
WHO IS REQUIRED TO USE
THE CLEARINGHOUSE?
The Clearinghouse rule requires
FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review
Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals,
consortiums’/third-party administrators and
other service agents to report to the
Clearinghouse information related to violations
of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations
by current and prospective employees. In
addition, drivers who hold a Commercial
Driver’s License (CDL) or Commercial Learner’s
Permit (CLP) and Employers of CDL drivers who
operated commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
Records will remain in the clearinghouse until
return-to-duty is complete and five years have
passed since the violation. (After that, they
won’t be in the database, but FMSCA will keep
them archived.) Similarly, a fleet (or your
third-party service agent) must keep records for
a minimum of five years.
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JULY 2020

WHAT ACTIONS MUST USERS
TAKE IN THE CLEARINGHOUSE?
1. Record – drivers’ drug and alcohol
violations and other information related in
the clearinghouse
2. Consent – authorization to conduct Query
• Requested by employers or C/TPA’s
• Approved or refused by Drivers
3. Query – Determine of the Clearinghouse
contains any records for the queried driver
WHAT IS A QUERY?
There are two types of queries motor carriers
must make:
1. Full queries must be done for all
pre-employment drug tests. When a query is ran,
the information returned by the clearinghouse
will show any violation of the drug-testing
regulations found in Part 382, as well as
return-to-duty status once driver has completed
a follow-up program.
2. Limited queries are done at a minimum, once
a year on each driver contracted or employed by
a carrier. It will only let you know if there is a
record for the driver. If something comes back,
the carrier will then need to run a Full Query for
that specific driver to obtain information on the
violation.
A driver’s permission is required for all full
queries, thus requiring them to register for the
clearinghouse as well. All companies must run a
query on every driver hired, to avoid penalties
with the FMCSA.
Simplex is committed to seeing that our clients
are complying with all regulations and also that
they are enrolled in Clearinghouse. We currently
have a minority of our clients enrolled in the
Clearinghouse, as CTPA we have reported
violations such as refusal and return to duty for
our drivers that are in a substance abuse
program. So far in 6 month there have been
25,168 of drug violations and 593 BAT violations
reported to the Clearinghouse (Figure 1). Our
MRO has reported at least 89 positive drivers
since this new rule was implemented and our
enrolled clients have run queries for their new
employees. As part of the drug testing team I
encourage all our client service representatives
to follow-up with your clients to ensure they are
enrolled in the clearinghouse.
VIOLATIONS
Total
Drug
Actual knowledge of drug violation
841
Monthly Trend
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
134
Drug test refusal
3,550
610
Positive drug test
20,777
3,843
Total
25,168
4,587
Alcohol
Actual knowledge of an alcohol violation
89
14
Alcohol test refusal
142
25
Concentration of 0.04 or greater
362
68
Total
593
107
Grand Total
25,761
4,694
Figure 1. National statistics form Clearinghouse portal
Now that we know more about the
clearinghouse, it is our opportunity to pass
along our knowledge to our clients to maintain
our mission and vision to keep on trucking,
while ensuring compliance.
LESLY ISCOA
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
JULY 2020 11

Teamwork & collaboration:
6
ADVANTAGES OF USING
MICROSOFT TEAMS
It’s no secret that ‘teamwork’ is key; whether it be at
work or at school, without it we wouldn’t be able to
accomplish our tasks. It not only helps teams get
properly together, but it also increases morale in the
workplace and enhances productivity too. In the time of
COVID-19, when millions of workers are under lockdown,
collaboration tools must be mastered to elevate
productivity and overall success.
Throughout the last few years, collaboration and
teamwork have undergone significant change,
impacting the way we work. With the development of
new collaboration software, we are now able to
communicate efficiently with team members regardless
of their geographical location. And for its particularly
useful solution, we are a implementing Microsoft Teams
at Simplex Group.
1. Project management
Microsoft Teams makes it a lot easier to focus on specific
projects, which helps teams work more efficiently when
collaborating on high-priority tasks.
It can be very time-consuming when you have to wade
through a “high volume” of unfiltered inboxes from many
different senders.
Microsoft Teams helps make it easier for users to find the
information that they are looking for. It divides
information into selected channels, so you’ll only be able
to view messages, documents, and meetings pertaining
to that particular channel. As a result, there’s less chance
of you being distracted by unimportant conversations,
and you’ll spend less time cleaning up a messy or
unorganized inbox, which as we all know, can be
extremely time-consuming to organize.
Microsoft Teams makes it possible for you to focus on
your tasks at hand, only giving you information relating
to the work that you are currently doing.
2. Communicating on channels
Microsoft Teams makes it easy for team members to
communicate, removing the need for users to use
email.
Instead, Teams gives users the ability to post their
messages in channels. To get your colleagues’
attention in a channel conversation or chat, all you
have to do is @mention them, and that’s all – it’s
incredibly easy to use, and it saves you the hassle of
switching between email accounts.
12
JULY 2020

3. Intuitive interface
Besides integrating seamlessly with Office 365 apps, the
Microsoft team has done a great job on the interface of
their product. Microsoft Teams interface is intuitive and
easy-to-use. In just a few clicks, you’re able to get access to
corporate data and team group chats, as well as third-party
applications and services.
Even novices, or those who are not yet familiar with Teams,
can successfully learn the ins and outs of the app in a
matter of hours.
4. Enhanced teamwork
Unlike email, Microsoft Teams improves employee
communication, productivity, and teamwork by integrating all
forms of collaboration into one single user interface – this
includes, chats, documents, shared files, meetings, etc. It even
allows team members to communicate with popular features
like emoticons and GIFs. It’s a great platform to express your
emotions and it adds some fun to your daily interactions.
5. Integration with third-party apps
Microsoft understands that customers that use Microsoft products might
need to use other apps as well. Teams makes it easier for users to integrate
with apps like Outlook, SharePoint Online, Office Online, Onenote, which
means users don’t have to exit the app in order to complete their tasks.
Besides integrating seamlessly with office 365 apps, Microsoft Teams
allows users to integrate with other third-party apps. There are hundreds of
third-party apps on offer, from SurveyMonkey to Hootsuite.
6. Security features prevent data leaks
If you’re concerned about your data leaking, then Microsoft Teams
is the best solution for that. It has an in-built initial security feature
set up.
Microsoft Teams has a variety of authentication protocols making
it more difficult for any unauthorized users to gain access to your
data. These include organization-wide two-factor authentication
or a single sign-on through Active Directory.
USE IT NOW
As you can see, Microsoft Teams is an excellent collaboration software tool for businesses simply because it is great for
teamwork and the learning curve is quite small.
There are many ways to enhance teamwork, but using collaboration software like Microsoft Teams can engage and
empower you and your team, so take advantage of your new Simplex work tool!
JULY 2020 13

OBC survivors
Pam and Efra
Jackie, Kenneth and Melissa
Farewell to Shakira an outstanding team player
who is going to pursue a carrier as an optometrist
Hellen and Alan
Los Ángeles team: Osmara Arteta,
Alexis Mejia, and Hayde Jarquín
Ontario team: Barbara Norwood, Jason
Quintanilla, Angel Reyes and Blanca Ulloa
14
JULY 2020

OF
IRMA
BOGRÁN
MICHAEL
CUELLAR
MELISSA
MIDENCE
CAMILO
PINEDA
OUTBOUND SALES
QA
TPTS INBOUND
QA
LAURA
ACOSTA
DOT-OPERATIONS
BELKIS
CUEVA
DOT-OPERATIONS
NUZZLY
CUEVA
DOT-CSR
CONGRATULATIONS!
JULY 2020 15

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JULY 2020

EMAIL
CAMPAIGNS
Take a look at some of the campaigns we are
currently launching:
JULY 2020 17

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JULY 2020

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JULY 2020

JULY 2020 21

Trucking Industry Applauds
COMPREHENSIVE TORT REFORM
in Louisiana
Trade groups praise legislature and governor for enacting common-sense reforms
The American Trucking Associations and the
Louisiana Motor Transport Association are
praising Governor John Bel Edwards for
announcing he will sign into law the Civil
Justice Reform Act of 2020, which cleared the
Louisiana State
Legislature last night
in its final day of
special session.
The trucking industry has
called tort reform its
number one priority at
the federal and state
levels, as a pervasive
climate of lawsuit abuse
has sent insurance rates skyrocketing, forcing
motor carriers out of business and hampering
the industry’s ability to safely and efficiently
move the economy’s freight.
On behalf of our industry
and the trucking
community throughout
Louisiana, I commend the
legislature and Governor
Edwards for their
leadership on this issue
“On behalf of our industry and the trucking
community throughout Louisiana, I commend
the legislature and Governor Edwards for their
leadership on this issue,” said Randy Guillot,
ATA Chairman and president of Triple G
Express and Southeastern
Randy Guillot
Motor Freight, two motor
carriers based in
Jefferson, Louisiana. “This
bill takes concrete steps
to restore balance and
fairness to the system,
helping stabilize
insurance markets for
truckers and the
motoring public alike. By
gaming the system for their own financial gain,
the plaintiffs' bar has been destroying the
business climate here and increasing the cost
of living for everyone across our state.”
22
JULY 2020

On February 19, 2020, Guillot, ATA President
and CEO Chris Spear and LMTA met with
Governor Edwards at the governor’s mansion
in Baton Rouge to discuss the severe impact
that lawsuit abuse is having on the industry,
destroying good-paying trucking jobs and
hampering its ability to invest in new safety
technology. The out-of-control litigious
environment has created fertile ground for
criminal insurance fraud rings, most notably in
Louisiana, as well as an exponential rise in
nuclear verdicts across the country, as
documented in a new study.
“For years, the
plaintiffs’ bar has
perverted the civil
litigation system into
a profit center to line their
own pockets,” said Spear.
“This pursuit of ‘jackpot
justice’ comes with a
heavy price felt far and
wide, punishing anyone who drives a car as
well as every single motor carrier – including
those with excellent safety records. Governor
Edwards deserves a lot of credit for taking this
issue on and seeing it through to completion,
working in good faith with the legislature and
all stakeholders to find common ground and
reach an agreeable, compromise solution.”
“We’ve been on the forefront of this issue from
the early stages—and even sent a truck convoy
to the State Capitol to let our legislators know
how important this is to the livelihood of
trucking in Louisiana,” said David Newman,
For years, the plaintiffs’
bar has perverted the civil
litigation system into a
profit center to line their
own pockets
president of LMTA and owner of Newman
Transport LLC, based out Pearl River,
Louisiana. “Skyrocketing
insurance rates are
putting a lot of trucking
companies out of
business, and many more
are ready to close
their doors. This bill
brings much needed
relief, and I would like to
thank all our members who spent time
advocating for it at the Capitol, the legislators
who supported it, and Governor Edwards for
signing it.”
Among other provisions, the Civil
Justice Reform Act will:
• Decrease the threshold to request a jury
trial from $50,000 to $10,000. The plaintiffs’
bar relied on the higher threshold to “judge
shop” – allowing them to pick venues they
know most likely to produce their desired
outcome.
• Repeal the “seat belt gag rule,” which
prevented the defense from introducing
evidence that the plaintiff was not wearing a
seatbelt and contributed to their own injuries.
• Bring medical damages more in line with
what the plaintiff actually paid—rather than
what was billed.
• Remove evidentiary restriction on the
defense that the plaintiff received
compensation for damages from a source
other than defendant, such as an insurance
payout.
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JULY 2020
NEWSLETTER
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