The American Trucking Associations is in search of a new leader. President and CEO Chris Spear informed ATA’s Executive Committee on August 21 that he was leaving ATA, effective immediately.

In 2016, Spear, a former ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs, was named as the successor to Bill Graves, who retired after more than 13 years with ATA.

Immediately prior to the ATA position, Spear was vice president of government affairs at Hyundai Motor Company and had a long career on Capitol Hill, in federal agencies as well as in the private sector.

Spear led ATA for just over a decade. His departure comes before his most recent contract was due to be completed in 2029.

Spear ‘Didn’t Take This Job to Make Friends’

During President Trump’s first term, Spear praised the administration for working with the trucking industry and for working to improve trade policy. ATA officials and 12 America’s Road Team captains visit to the White House resulted in a widely distributed image of the president behind the wheel of a truck, apparently have the time of his life.

And while the association has still been working closely with the administration during Trump’s second term on issues such as rolling back greenhouse gas emission regulations and addressing safety initiatives promoted by the trucking industry, Spear occasionally has spoken forcefully against some presidential initiatives, especially tariffs, global trade, and the war in Iran.

During his address at ATA’s Management Conference and Exhibition last October, Spear outlined the association’s “wins” in the previous year, including stopping California ZEV mandates and making progress in lawsuit abuse reform, independent contractor classification, and cargo theft.

Spear’s style has been seen by some as more abrasive than his predecessor. But as he said in 2019, “I didn’t take this job to make friends. I took this job to make a difference.”

What’s Next for ATA?

In a statement, ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen thanked Spear for his more than a decade of service to the association and the trucking industry.

“During his tenure, ATA secured significant policy victories, strengthened its advocacy operation, and elevated trucking’s voice in Washington,” Hodgen said.

“One of Chris’ most important accomplishments was assembling an exceptionally talented and experienced team to represent this industry. ATA has the advocacy horsepower to keep advancing our priorities without missing a beat.”

ATA’s Board will convene a search committee to identify the association’s next president and CEO.