Chris Spear has stepped down as president of the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
In a statement released Friday, ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen, who also serves as CEO of Groendyke Transport, said Spear informed the ATA executive committee that he would be departing the organization “effective immediately.”
Spear took the reins at ATA in 2016, promoted into the top role after the departure of Gov. Bill Graves.
“On behalf of ATA, I thank Chris for more than a decade of service to the association and our industry. During his tenure, ATA secured significant policy victories, strengthened its advocacy operation and elevated trucking’s voice in Washington,” Hodgen stated.
Spear has been at the forefront of ATA’s activity in the capital throughout this tenure. A veteran of the George W. Bush White House, former executive at Honeywell and one-time Senate staffer, Spear helped push for the end of DEF derates, revocation of regulatory waivers granted to California’s Air Resources Board and amendments to the upcoming 2027 EPA NOx regulation.
Hodgen stated Spear has staffed ATA with a talented, experienced team capable of supporting the organization in Washington. That team will be vital in the immediate term as a successor was not immediately announced.
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“ATA has the advocacy horsepower to keep advancing our priorities without missing a beat. From our policy experts and technical professionals to our government affairs and communications teams, we have a world-class operation working together to deliver results for our members. That depth, expertise and shared sense of purpose will continue to drive our association forward, regardless of who is at the wheel,” Hodgen wrote.
ATA’s board will now convene a search committee to identify the association’s next president and CEO.
