Gerald "Gerry" Mead, formerly executive vice president of maintenance at U.S. Xpress and a recent HDT Truck Fleet Innovator, has joined Phillips Industries as the executive director of innovations.

Drawing from his experience in fleet maintenance, Mead will direct and implement Phillips’ product innovation initiatives and help the company meet the challenges of future trucks and trailers.

As the executive vice president of maintenance at Chattanooga, Tennessee-based truckload carrier U.S. Xpress, Mead was instrumental in the fleet’s adoption of truck and trailer technologies, as well as maintenance practices aimed at reducing total cost of vehicle ownership, improving the driver experience, and advancing safety.

Mead was a 2016 recipient of the HDT Truck Fleet Innovator award and was recently named the Tennessee Trucking Association’s Maintenance Professional of the Year. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Our connected vehicle technologies are designed with collaboration in mind, and we’re building momentum by expanding our list of supplier-partners with sensors and components that work on our platform," said Rob Phillips, Phillips president and COO. “Gerry has demonstrated through our longstanding relationship with him that he understands our objectives, and more importantly, he has the skills, hands-on experience, and industry relationships to add tremendous value."