Kevin Holmes steps into ATD Chairman role

New ATD Chairman Kevin Holmes (left) takes the gavel from prior Chairman Scott Pearson during a general session at the 2026 ATD Show Thursday in Las Vegas.
New ATD Chairman Kevin Holmes (left) takes the gavel from prior Chairman Scott Pearson during a general session at the 2026 ATD Show Thursday in Las Vegas.

The American Truck Dealers (ATD) has inaugurated Kevin Holmes, president and CEO of Advantage Truck Group, as its new chairman. Holmes succeeds Scott Pearson, president of Peterbilt of Atlanta, and will serve a two-year term. 

“I am honored to be the next ATD chairman, and I am ready to do my part to propel the industry forward,” Holmes said Thursday in his inaugural leadership address at the 2026 ATD Show in Las Vegas. “Our strength as dealers comes from our solidarity and by working together, we can tackle the challenges that come our way. I am committed to building a stronger tomorrow and shaping the future of trucking with you all.”  

Holmes’ business Advantage Truck Group is headquartered in Shrewsbury Mass. ATG is the largest Daimler Truck North America dealer group in New England with eight locations and over 400 employees. 

[RELATED: Check out who won the 2026 ATD Truck Dealer of the Year Award]

Holmes started his career with the purchase of a gas station in 1984. Two years later, after recognizing the needs of his customers, he launched the business that would become ATG. Holmes and ATG have been recognized by TPS as winner of the Successful Dealer Award, and by the Transportation Association of Massachusetts as Company of the Year. For his standout leadership, Holmes was also named Worcester Business Journal’s Large Business Leader of the Year. 

In 2012, Kevin and ATG started Haulin’ 4 Hunger, Advantage Truck Group’s philanthropic program that to date has donated nearly 100,000 meals to communities across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.  

[RELATED: ATD focused on FET, Right to Repair in year ahead]

As chairman, Holmes will call on Congress to repeal the Federal Excise Tax — an outdated, inefficient and punitive tax on dealers and their customers in the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill. In addition, he will continue to advocate for policies that provide economic security and clarity for truck dealers such as relief from tariffs and regulatory certainty.   

“Trucks are the backbone of this country, and our united voice will shape their future,” he says.

Outgoing chair Scott Pearson will serve as the chairman emeritus through 2026. 

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