Dear Members,
It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the Maine Motor Transport Association, and I want to begin by thanking you for your confidence and support. I am excited about the direction of our Association and the opportunities ahead as we continue to strengthen and elevate Maine’s trucking industry.
Over the next two years, my focus will be on building upon the strong foundation laid by past leadership while introducing new ideas that bring meaningful value to our members.
One of those priorities is continuing the emphasis on positivity that Chelsea helped establish. As part of that effort, we are pleased to welcome Sarah Stewart to our October 14 membership meeting. Sarah will spend approximately 45 minutes discussing the importance of weight management, particularly for those in sedentary roles such as drivers and office professionals, and how insulin resistance and a healthy diet play a critical role in overall wellness. Both Chelsea and I have had the opportunity to hear Sarah speak, and her ability to connect with audiences is truly impactful. We’re excited to bring this kind of engaging, practical content to our meetings as we look to expand beyond traditional industry updates and networking.
Another key goal is to grow our membership beyond 2,000 members, which is attainable as we sit at 1,962 members. Reaching this milestone would be a powerful testament to the strength of our Association and the vital role trucking plays in Maine’s economy. Achieving this will require all of us – your engagement and outreach to your business contacts are essential. The broader and more diverse our membership, the stronger and more effective we become.
Safety remains at the core of everything we do. I strongly encourage increased participation in our Safety Management Council. Safety should be every company’s top priority, and involvement in the SMC not only reinforces best practices but also provides an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and connect with others who share responsibility for safety within their organizations. If you want to learn more, reach out to Tim at MMTA.
Workforce development will also remain a central focus. While our efforts targeting Gen-Z have been both consistent and effective, it is time to expand that focus. We will continue to engage young people, but we also want to reach career-changers and members of the military. This is a natural and necessary step as we work to build a diverse and sustainable pipeline of truckers to replace our aging workforce.
In addition, I am pleased to announce an upcoming webinar on cargo fraud and theft, scheduled for May 20th at 9am. Registration will be required for those who wish to attend live and ask questions, but the session will also be recorded and made available on the MMTA website once concluded. I’d like to extend our thanks to Jonathan Stringer from Great West Casualty for leading this session and Ed Therrien from United Insurance for helping us set this up. They will share real-world experiences, provide examples of cargo theft and fraud, and offer best practices to help protect your company. To register for the webinar, go to www.mmta.com/theft.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Chelsea for her outstanding leadership as Chairwoman over the past two years. Her vision and dedication have helped position MMTA for continued success. I am also deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Chairman, and also to the many individuals who dedicate their time as Directors and committee volunteers. This Association is only as strong as the people who support it, and we are fortunate to have such an engaged and committed membership moving our industry forward.
Thank you for all that you do for Maine’s trucking industry.
Sincerely,
Marcus
President & CEO
Sibley Transportation