Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025:
Harbor Trucking Association names new leader
The Harbor Trucking Association, a coalition of intermodal carriers serving America’s West Coast Ports, announced Aug. 1 that it has named Robert Loya as its new CEO following the departure of current CEO Matt Schrap on Aug. 22.
HTA announced Schrap’s departure after four years as the organization’s CEO in May.
"Matt's dedication and uncanny ability to diplomatically maneuver very controversial issues has been instrumental in elevating the Harbor Trucking Association," Loya said at the time in his role as HTA Board President. "He has tirelessly advocated for our members, navigating complex challenges with intelligence and a unique ability to connect with stakeholders across the spectrum. We are deeply grateful for his commitment and the significant strides the HTA has made under his leadership."
Loya has held numerous positions in the trucking and maritime industries, most recently as Chief Operations Officer at T.G.S., which closed its doors on July 31. He was former Board President of the California Trucking Association and has worked with several other organizations across the United States in promoting and supporting trucking issues on local, state and federal levels, HTA noted.
Fleet owner gets prison sentence for bribery scheme
A trucking company owner who was previously charged in a commercial bribery scheme has been sentenced to prison and ordered to forfeit money and pay restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Aug. 4 that Edward Joseph Chmiel, 50, Henry Lozano, 43, and Sabino Loera, 51, were each sentenced this week for their roles in a conspiracy to commit money laundering that arose out of a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to a contractor providing services for a Colorado electrical utility.
Chmiel was sentenced to prison for 30 months. Loera was sentenced to 25 months in prison. Lozano, the trucking company owner, was sentenced to 23 months in prison. Forfeiture money judgments in the amount of $1,495,781.51 were imposed on each of the defendants, who were also ordered to pay that same amount in restitution.
According to their plea agreements and other court documents, Chmiel and Loera worked for a company providing electrical contracting services to a utility company in Colorado. Lozano owned a company providing trucking and hauling services. In August 2018, the three agreed that Lozano’s company would provide those services in exchange for kickback payments to Chmiel and Loera.
To generate the money that would pay the kickbacks, the three schemed to submit false invoices from Lozano’s company to Chmiel and Loera’s. Once Lozano was paid for those invoices, Loera would direct Lozano to issue checks to a network of 15 other people. Those people cashed the checks and then gave the cash to Chmiel and Loera.
Between August 2018 and June 2020, the false invoices generated approximately $1,495,781.51 in kickback proceeds.
“We are proud to pursue people who enrich themselves by stealing money which was supposed to provide important services for Coloradans,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Our office appreciates the hard work of our investigative colleagues at the IRS and FBI which held these three accountable for their corrupt scheme.”
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service -- Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
[Related: Trucking company owner, others charged in bribery scheme]
Nonprofit health org’s acquisition aims to improve truckers’ health
Project 61, a nonprofit with the goal of addressing the trucking industry’s driver health crisis, has acquired Offshift, a digital health platform built exclusively for truck drivers. The acquisition marks a major leap forward in Project 61’s mission to give every truck driver the chance to live a longer, healthier life, the organization said.
Project 61 was started in an effort to raise awareness and provide education, resources and tools that truck drivers need to confront a crisis that has cut truck drivers’ life expectancy to just 61 years.
The organization noted that truck drivers have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes of any occupation in the U.S., adding that the crisis is worsening as chronic disease continues to skyrocket.
Offshift’s technology will now power the mobile platform delivering Project 61’s mission -- putting free, practical tools and a driver-led community directly into the hands of America’s trucking workforce. The platform helps drivers build healthier habits around nutrition, movement, and sleep -- three critical areas directly tied to longevity, energy, and safety.
"This is a game-changer for the movement,” said Jeremy Reymer, founder of Project 61. “If we’re going to address this industry-wide health crisis at scale, technology has to lead the way. With the acquisition of Offshift, we're turning awareness into action through a proven solution that empowers drivers to take daily steps toward a longer, healthier life."
Whether it’s a five-minute workout from within their cab, healthier options at truck stops, or tracking sleep with a wearable, every feature is designed for the realities of life on the road, the organization said.
“Offshift was born out of frustration. As a physical therapist, I saw what 20 to 30 years behind the wheel can do to a person's body -- and how none of the available health solutions actually worked in the real world of trucking,” said Dr. Mark Manera, founder of Offshift. “We built Offshift to change that. Now, joining forces with Project 61 lets us turn that vision into reality for the entire trucking industry. Together, we’re not just raising awareness about this health crisis -- we’re putting a proven solution into the hands of every driver in North America at no cost.”
Manera will serve as President and Chief Health Officer of Project 61, working alongside founder and CEO Jeremy Reymer to lead the effort forward. Industry-wide health challenges will be a cornerstone of the initiative, designed to foster community between drivers, companies, and families around shared health goals. The first challenge will launch Oct. 1.
