Our work is guided by four key pillars that form the foundation of our mission and vision. Supporting & Sustaining ensures we provide lasting value to those we serve. Public Awareness & Outreach amplifies our message and connects us with the broader community. Workforce Development helps us grow a skilled, passionate, and prepared workforce. And Sustainable Funding secures the resources we need to continue making an impact—today and into the future. Together, these pillars keep us focused, grounded, and moving forward.
During the early 2000s, the Foundation Board established that the foundation's endeavors would be governed by four core principles: Supporting & Sustaining the IMTA/IMCF Headquarters, Public Awareness & Outreach, Workforces Development, and Sustainable Funding.
The IMTA/IMCF headquarters is strategically located at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol. As part of the prestigious Capitol Complex, this building is a visible and poignant symbol of the trucking industry’s stature in the State of Iowa. Ensuring that our headquarters is always a first class statement for the industry is a top priority.
Telling the story of Iowa’s trucking industry and educating the public on the value of trucking is at the core of this important pillar, serving as a beacon for fostering understanding and appreciation. Through the lens of this pillar, we've not only highlighted the vital role of trucking but also highlighted the dedicated individuals behind the wheel.
Pillar III's mission is to reshape the future of Iowa's trucking sector by investing in initiatives that highlight the myriad job prospects available within the industry.
Established in 1986, the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation has faced the challenge of securing sustainable funding. Nonetheless, the Foundation's 100% tax-deductible status has consistently attracted contributions, and recent initiatives, like partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and utilizing the Endow Iowa tax credit program.
Pillar 1: Supporting & Sustaining IMTA Headquarters Building
We are committed to reinvesting in the headquarters building because this building is a very visible symbol of who we are as an industry. When people walk into this building and feel good, they also have a very favorable impression of Iowa’s trucking industry.
Pillar 2: Public Awareness & Outreach
The IMTA show trailer not only has the simulator to see firsthand what it’s like to drive a “big truck”, it has so many educational, hard-hitting facts for everyone to read. If more people were able to take a moment to see what it is like behind the wheel of a semi, maybe they would realize it’s not just about holding a steering wheel and looking out the windshield.
Pillar 3: Continued Workforce Development for Iowa’s Trucking Industry
We have had the same areas of focus now for quite some time and it is exciting to see the progress, even if slow, that we are making in developing meaningful and lasting programs in key areas, such as workforce. These are programs that complement the efforts of IMTA and that is always a priority in our efforts too.
Pillar 4: Sustainable Funding for the Foundation
We continue to have members of all sizes inquire about the possibility of financially supporting the foundation and based on these ongoing requests, we believe it is incumbent that we create a program that will allow everyone who is interested to make a contribution to the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation.
