Walter B. McCormick Jr., president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, is a candidate for the top job at the United States Telecom Assn.

, according to reliable sources.
McCormick, who has been at ATA since 1998, has a background in telecommunications law and policy as an attorney with Bryan, Cave in Washington, D.C., and as a senior Republican staffer on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
In the past three years at ATA, McCormick has headed a campaign to restructure and downsize the industry’s largest trade association while taking on such policy issues as hours of service reform and ergonomics regulations.
News of McCormick’s candidacy for the USTA job broke on a Washington web site, Influence Online, and was confirmed by other sources who wished to remain anonymous.
According to the report, another candidate for the job is acting USTA President Gary Lytle. USTA is a $15 million organization that represents the four “Baby Bell” telephone companies, as well as other smaller and midsize companies.
Word on the decision is expected in the next week or two.