As spring winds down and we look forward to summer in Maine, I thought it would be a good idea to share with our members some of the mid-year happenings at the Maine Motor Transport Association. As you would expect, a lot has been going on at MMTA and we expect a busy fall and winter to follow.
Let me start by saying that member support and engagement has been nothing short of amazing during my term as MMTA Chairwoman. And to find evidence of this, you need to look no further than the Championship Saturday results that you will find in the upcoming edition of the magazine. All four competitions, the TDC, PTSC, Future Trucker and FutureTech competitions were extremely well attended by competitors, volunteers and judges, and it goes without saying that the generosity of our sponsors make our events so successful. Shortly following Championship Saturday was a strong showing at the MMTA’s Safety Management Council visit to the Pittsfield weigh station where we were hosted by our partners in highway safety, Troop K of the Maine State Police. Also in this edition of the magazine are the results of our Truck PAC golf tournament held at Natanis, where we had a tremendous turnout to support trucking’s political future in Augusta.
Speaking of the future, there is a lot that MMTA is working on right now. From an events perspective, the agenda is all set for us to host our counterparts from the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association at the Samoset Resort on September 29th and 30th for the MMTA/APTA Transportation Safety Conference. Registration is currently open and a room block has been set aside but due to Canadian travel concerns, we blocked off fewer rooms this year so we suggest you book early to take advantage of the special pricing. We are also thinking through the fall and into the winter by announcing our Annual Banquet Keynote Speaker (sponsored by Maine Commercial Tire) as Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney. A decorated F-16 Fighter Pilot, Dan is best known for founding the Folds of Honor, a leading non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Make plans to join us on January 8, 2026 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor for a great night of safety recognition, trucking industry camaraderie, and inspiration.
Last, but certainly not least, we are really excited about MMTA’s workforce development plan for the coming year, which will take multiple forms. As you might have already seen, our Career Exploration Trailer has arrived and it has been traveling the state promoting careers in Maine’s trucking industry. It has had middle/high school students experience the simulator, it has been to safety days hosted by members and it is scheduled for much more this summer – including three featured appearances at the Oxford Plains Speedway. While still being built up, you can visit its web page (mmta.com/tonka/) that has an appearance calendar so you can see where it will be next. If you like what you see and want it to show up to your event or in your community to promote the trucking industry, give Derek a call at (207)623-4128!
Our industry image and workforce development campaign, Go Your Way Maine, is still going strong in year five with another season planned for the video series featuring our very own “influencer” in Rob Nixon. If you haven’t seen Rob’s work showcasing real people in real trucking jobs, check him out on the campaign’s YouTube channel. Recently the campaign has added a custom trailer wrap component where your company can help spread the word by choosing from different images that depict how you can PLAY your way, WORK your way and GO your way with an in-demand career in trucking – whether that is as a driver, a technician, office support, or as an equipment operator working on the docks or in the warehouse.
There is also a focus on financial assistance for those pursuing credentials and/or training relative to trucking. The John Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund has been around for decades and this year we were proud to deliver scholarships to ten deserving graduating high school seniors, totaling over $25,000 which is amazing! Given the success (and support) for this scholarship program, we have decided to embark on a new venture to help people of all ages attain their trucking dreams and it too will honor the memory of former MMTA Chairman and trucking leader, John Austin. In the coming months, you will see the rollout of the John Austin Trucking Foundation that, similar to the scholarship program, will deliver financial awards to successful applicants who meet the predetermined criteria. Details are still being worked out, but the plan is to eventually replace the scholarship program with the foundation and include a wider audience to receive awards for training, education, credentialing, etc. that are directly related to trucking. Funding for this new philanthropic effort will come from the consistent generosity of our members through sponsorships and membership, but it will also come from MMTA’s for-profit trailer registration business that services customers from all over the country. This important source of non-dues revenue has grown over the years without any meaningful advertising, but we can always benefit from our members promoting this service. And remember, MMTA is the only authorized Maine trailer registration agent whose sole purpose is to find ways to benefit the trucking industry – so why wouldn’t they want to register their trailers through the MMTA? Please consider helping us grow this business by telling everyone you run across about the great service and low prices offered by MMTA to register their trailers.
As you can see, a lot of good things are happening and are in the works for the future. But none of this happens without our members so I offer a sincere ‘thank-you’ to all 1,918 companies and individuals who find value in what the MMTA does and what we will do into the future.
Hope you have a great Maine summer!
Chelsea Demmons, Bison USA
MMTA Chairwoman