Douglas G. Duncan, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Freight, has been appointed chairman of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for profit research organization.

Duncan succeeds James D. Staley, president and CEO of YRC Regional Transportation, a division of Yellow Roadway Corp.
Duncan, who was a founding ATRI Board member, said he will focus on increasing ATRI’s visibility, highlighting the value of ATRI’s research and the crucial role of scientific data in addressing key transportation issues currently facing the trucking industry.
“If you look at ATRI’s research, you’ll see critical data gathering and analysis on all the headline issues – hours of service, electronic onboard recorders, highway funding and the looming capacity crisis,” said Duncan. “ATRI is a key source for regulators and motor carriers to turn for credible industry research.”
Duncan applauded Staley’s leadership of ATRI, pointing in particular to the recently released research on predicting truck crash involvement (October 2005). “With Jim at the helm, the institute focused on statistically correlating driver behaviors that likely lead to future crashes. Crashes can be avoided and lives saved as a result of this ground-breaking study,” said Duncan in describing his predecessor’s tenure.
Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO, welcomed Duncan’s appointment, “As we have seen in the recent HOS debate, the need for reliable data is greater than ever. Doug is well positioned to advance ATRI’s research agenda in a way that will deliver results for the industry.”
The ATRI board of directors recently approved its 2006 research agenda, with priority research focused on measuring road speed impacts on safety and operations, developing a sustainable labor pool, and maximizing industry capacity. A Research Advisory Committee made up of motor carriers, industry suppliers, academics, labor, and government representatives develops ATRI’s research agenda.
ATRI’s research is focused in five distinct areas: safety and human factors; technology and innovation; environmental factors; transportation security; and economic analysis. A listing of all ATRI research can be found at www.atri-online.org.