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History of the Iowa Motor Truck Association

1942 - 1943 - 1944 - 1945 - 1946 - 1947 - 1949 - 1951 - 1961 - 1964 - 1967 - 1968 - 1971 - 1973 - 1975 - 1981 - 1981 - 1983 - 1984 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989 - 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1995 - 1996

IMTA PAST CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD

December 11, 1942 – First meeting of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. A group of 12 trucking executives gathered to discuss the merging of three organizations that were attempting to represent the interests of the trucking industry; Independent Truckers of Iowa, the Iowa Motor Carriers Conference and Northwest Truckers, Inc., by the conclusion of the meeting the Iowa Motor Truck Association had been formed.

December 17, 1942 – The first meeting of the IMTA executive committee convened and the first Secretary/Manager of the association was named. His name was James Brockway and his salary of $50 per week was approved.

The quote at the end of the minutes read, “A united effort will enable us to protect and advance the motor carrier industry in the State of Iowa for a very long time.”

January 22, 1943 – IMTA held its first Board of Directors meeting at the Hotel Kirkwood in downtown Des Moines. The purpose of the meeting was to lay out legislative plans. The weight bill was determined to be the most important. The Governor had issued a proclamation in support of the 18,000 lb. Axle weight law and the IMTA was in full support.

July 9, 1943 – IMTA held its first convention/annual meeting. Governor B.B. Hickenlooper was the guest of honor.

September 1943 – IMTA Manager Jim Brockway passed away suddenly.

October 8, 1943 – Executive committee named John Gillespie the Executive Secretary/Manager of the Iowa Motor Truck Association

June 29, 1944 – The IMTA Board of Directors purchased Truckers Insurance, Inc. and the association was instructed to operate the agency.

March 20, 1945 – Governor Blue signed HF 243 which modernized limitations on truck size and weights

July 6, 1946 – The First Iowa Truck Roadeo was held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the event was held in conjunction with the state’s 100th birthday celebration. It is estimated that over 5,000 people were in attendance and 75 drivers were entered into the competition. The two winners of the event were Waldo Lawson, Merchants Motor Freight, Inc. and Don Lyall, Brady Transfer & Storage.

October 10, 1947 – A special weather reporting and forecasting service was made available to IMTA members through the US Weather Bureau.

June 1, 1949 – L.E. Roy Crowley Takes Office as the new Executive Secretary for the IMTA. Crowley had 25 years experience in civic leadership and business administration. John Gillespie resigned from the office so he could go into business for himself, he and a partner opened up Hawkeye Truck Equipment Company. John was elected as President of the association upon his resignation.

July 15, 1951 – Iowa Council of Safety Supervisors Organized – the group was organized to promote attendance and interest from the safety professionals that were serving the industry. The group was to meet monthly to exchange ideas and information.

November 1961 – IMTA Board of Directors learn about an Iowa Road Study Committee Report that recommends that Iowa needs a 2000 mile freeway type highway network. The study recommended controlled access superhighways to be built, truckers braced for fuel tax increases.

March 1964 – IMTA Manager Roy Crowley announced that Iowa Motor Truck Association will be offering low-cost health insurance to the members. The plan provided life insurance and accidental death insurance coverage to the membership. The membership responded enthusiastically to the plan and many members got on board within the first six months.

September 1967 – IMTA celebrates its 25th Anniversary in Cedar Rapids at its annual convention.

May 1968 – IMTA’s Allied Division announces a scholarship contest to IMTA members. The contest was open to the daughters of current IMTA members. Each entrant had to submit a 500 word essay on what the trucking industry mean’t to them. The winner was to be crowned Miss Iowa Motor Truck Association. Judy Umthun, daughter of Joe and Betty Umthun was the winner of the first contest.

July 1971 – IMTA Manager, Roy Crowley retires from the Iowa Motor Truck Association. Roy served in this capacity for 21 years and was respected by many. R.G. Dick Hileman was hired to succeed him. The 47 year old Hileman came to the IMTA from the Iowa Optometric Association.

September 1973 – IMTA published its last edition of the Motor Truck News and launched the Iowa Trucking Lifeliner. The Lifeliner was hailed as a magazine that would bring the industry together and put an impressive “face” on the IMTA.

October 1, 1975 – R.G. “Dick” Hileman resigns as the Manager of the Iowa Motor Truck Association and Charles Ingersoll, Jr., Formerly Chief Executive for the South Dakota Trucking Association becomes IMTA’s new Executive Secretary.

July 1, 1981 – IMTA arranged for a “Safety Group Workers’ Compensation Plan” for the members. The primary purpose of the plan was to help members reduce insurance costs through the payment of dividends.

June 1983 – Iowa had its first female entry in the truck roadeo. Diana Bernal, a Northwestern Bell Driver, was the first woman to compete in the 20-year history of the event. Diana placed fifth in her class.

October 18, 1983 – IMTA held its first Licensing seminar and the greatest benefit of the seminar was the 200 page licensing manual that was given to all the participants.

1983 – More members joined the association in 1983 than at any time previous for which detailed records were kept. There were 226 new members that joined the association. Deregulation and other regulatory issues were credited with attracting members to join.

July 1, 1984 – Thomas Donohue assumed full duties as the President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations.

July 1, 1986 – Chuck Ingersoll, President of the association since 1975 retired from the association. Scott Weiser stepped in as the new President of the association. Scott had been with IMTA since 1979.

March 15, 1987 – Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation Formed – Cummins Great Plains Diesel provided a major contribution to launch the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation. Other companies that followed with sizeable donations were Ziegler, Inc., Great West Casualty Company and Crouse Cartage Company.

June 1987 – First Media Driving Challenge was held in conjunction with the Iowa Truck Driving Championships. The objective was to get media behind the wheel of a truck so they would have a better understanding of the trucking industry. There were 13 media personalities that competed.

February 1988 – Project I.M.T.A. (Investing Money in Tomorrow’s Adults) was launched and a press conference was held at the IMTA offices announcing the program. Over $65,000 was distributed to Iowa High Schools for use in organizing their non-alcoholic post-prom and post-graduation parties.

April 1988 – IMTA opened up for business and began selling safety forms and products to the membership.

May 1988 – Women in Transportation Conference Started – In an effort to recognize the achievements and contributions of women in the trucking industry, IMTA organized the Women in Transportation Conference. Women in management and leadership roles in the trucking industry were identified and recognized. The first group of women honored were Donna Weinrich, Weinrich Trucking, Loretta Van Wyk, Van Wyk Freight Lines, Virginia Nible, Contract Transport, Joe Fitzgerald, Joy Fitzgerald, Inc. and Judy Roorda, Roorda Enterprises.

June 1989 – Iowa Truck Driving Championships celebrates its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, past winners were invited to attend, there were sky divers, live music, an antique truck display, children’s activities and a parade of Champions.

May 1989 – Project I.M.T.A. honored by President Reagan – IMTA Chairman John Smith, traveled to Washington as one of the 100 recipients of the presitigious award from the White House. The President’s Citation Program for Private Sector Initiatives honored organizations for their contributions to their communities in a positive way. IMTA and Project I.M.T.A. received the Presidential citation.

December 21, 1989 – Mandatory drug testing for the trucking industry was started.

February 1990 – “Operation Education” implemented by IMTA – over 200 high school driver education instructors received a teaching module on sharing the road with trucks.

April 1990 – IMTA offers long distance telephone service to the association members. A partnership with AT&T provided IMTA members tremendous savings on their long distance phone bills.

April 1991 – IMTA office moved to 600 East Court which offered more parking and more office space.

September 1992 – IMTA Celebrates it 50th Anniversary – The Iowa Motor Truck Association celebrated its 50th anniversary throughout the entire year but the grand finale of the celebration was held at the annual convention in Des Moines. A book was published about the history of the organization and a video presentation was the hallmark of the celebration.

January 1995 – IMTA purchases the last remaining parcel of land next to the Capitol Complex. The land was purchased in hopes of constructing a headquarters building for the association.

April 1, 1996 – IMTA officially began business at the newly constructed IMTA headquarters building located at 717 East Court Avenue in Des Moines. The building sits at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol and is the tremendous symbol of leadership, confident and pride for the Iowa’s trucking industry.

July 1996 – Official open house for the Iowa Motor Truck Association was held. Contributors were honored and many special guests were in attendance. Over 500 people attended the open house and helped Iowa’s trucking industry celebrate its successful building project. Almost 1 million dollars were raised in contributions from the membership.