With heavy truck sales in decline, the newest leader of the American Truck Dealers association is focusing on tackling what he calls a "crisis of confidence" in truck retailing
that is making it difficult for some new-truck dealers to sustain daily operations.

"The No. 1 issue right now is lack of consumer and corporate spending," says Kyle Treadway, president of Kenworth Sales Company in Salt Lake City. "We need to get the word out that yes, we're in the down part of a cycle, but it will come back. It always does."

Treadway became ATD chairman Feb. 1. He stepped into the position after Gary Gibson resigned as chairman upon the sale of his dealership in Cincinnati, Ohio. Treadway's term ends April 2012.

Treadway represents the third generation of his family to take the reins of three dealership groups in seven Western states. He spends his time between 18 locations in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Before taking over the family business, Treadway served as associate counsel for the law firm of Mooney and Smith. He is still a member of the American Bar Association, as well as the state Bar Associations of Utah, Washington and Idaho.

Treadway will make his official debut as ATD chairman at the association's 2009 Convention & Exposition April 18-20 in Washington, D.C.