The Truckload Carriers Association has promoted David Heller from director of safety and policy to vice president of government affairs, the group announced during its Fall business meeting.

In the new role, Heller will be tasked with expanding TCA’s presence on Capitol Hill and form partnerships and alliances with those who share a common vision with TCA. Heller has worked for TCA as director of safety and policy since 2005.

Prior to that, he spent 7 years as a manager of safety programs for American Trucking Associations. He is an advisor to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Entry Level Driver Training Advisory Committee and has earned certification from the North American Transportation Management Institute as a Certified Director of Safety.

“This promotion is the next logical step toward ensuring that the interests of the truckload segment of the trucking industry have a clear and unified voice on the Hill,” said Russell Stubbs, chairman of the TCA. “Working collaboratively with all necessary parties, Dave will put forth initiatives that are advantageous to truckload, and he will monitor and keep us informed about policy and regulatory issues as they relate to us.”