Truck dealers earned several hard-fought regulatory wins in 2025 but the American Truck Dealers (ATD) will not let those victories distract the association from other battles that lie ahead, ATD President Jacqueline Gelb shared in her leadership address to members Wednesday at the 2026 ATD Show in Las Vegas.
“When I was up here last year, I said I was very bullish on 2025 and I think the year delivered for us,” Gelb said. “Last year was a fantastic year. I want to keep that momentum going.”
Echoing the words of outgoing ATD Chairman Scott Pearson and David Carson, speakers during Tuesday’s opening general session, Gelb told dealers trucking’s regulatory good fortune over the last 12 months hasn’t come without a fight. ATD and other industry groups have been vocal in Washington and at the state level speaking out against regulatory overreach, informing legislators and policy makers of the risks associated with overburdening the industry that keeps America moving.
Eliminating crippling sales regulations in California and its opt-in states have saved dealer jobs and businesses, she said. Pushing for President Donald J. Trump’s administration to reconsider its EPA 2027 Low NOx rule, and other long-term regulatory plans, may help spur a truck sales recovery and boost dealer bottom lines nationwide.
But other challenges still exist, and Gelb said ATD needs all hands on deck to keep fighting them. After “taking care of the ledger on the emission side” in 2025, Gelb said ATD is turning its attention to Capitol Hill.
She began Wednesday with the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, which is reviewed on a five-year basis and up for reauthorization in 2026. Gelb said ATD and its members must use this evaluation period to convey to legislators the need to repeal the Federal Excise Tax and unburden the trucking industry from the costly, outdated 12% tax. She said the funding mechanisms used in the transportation bill and Highway Trust Fund are flawed, and ATD believes now is the best time to fix that repeal and replace FET for better revenue streams.
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Gelb also used Wednesday to brief dealers on ATD’s efforts to oppose Right to Repair legislation. Long a top priority in the aftermarket, where it is supported and championed, ATD opposes Right to Repair to protect OEM intellectual property, dealer parts and service revenue streams and ensure America’s roadways are filled with the safest technology possible. Gelb said ATD is doing its best to convey that messaging in D.C. and encourages its members to do the same in their markets. Removing heavy trucks from the Right to Repair bill floating around the capitol would be a huge win, as would sidelining the bill entirely, she said.
“You’ll see a lot from us on Right to Repair this year,” she said.
Finally, Gelb spoke about autonomous technology and ATD’s rebranded Emerging Leaders program, before handing the baton to NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth to discuss propulsion technologies and the future of truck freight movement. Gelb spoke highly of autonomous vehicles, again referencing Carson’s comments that the future of dealer customer service is changing, and supporting technical innovation will be how dealers win in the years ahead.
The years ahead is a priority for the Emerging Leaders too, she said. ATD has rebuilt the program to not only support the next generation of truck dealers, but also the next generation store managers, department managers, salespeople and more. Gelb encouraged all attendees to join the program to support the future of their businesses and remain engaged in ATD’s activities.
