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Dive Brief:
- The American Trucking Associations has extended President and CEO Chris Spear’s contract through 2029. the industry group announced Wednesday.
- The organization’s board voted unanimously last week to extend Spear’s five-year contract, which he signed in 2021, for another three years.
- “Thanks to Chris Spear’s strong leadership, ATA’s stature and effectiveness is at its highest point,” ATA President Andrew Boyle said in the release. “He and the talented team he has assembled are making sure the trucking industry has the support we need to provide for our economy and the American people.”
Dive Insight:
As the ATA’s top executive since 2016, Spear has been a key advocate for the trucking industry during the Trump and Biden presidencies. He began his career as a Senate aide on Capitol Hill and served as assistant secretary of Labor in the early 2000s.
The Hyundai and Honeywell veteran’s extension is a vote of confidence in his ability to advance carrier priorities for four more years from whichever administration wins the White House in the 2024 election.
“No matter the political landscape, Chris secures advocacy wins on behalf of our members,” said Boyle, who is also co-chairman of Boyle Transportation.
The ATA credited Spear with advancing trucking policy goals such as infrastructure investment, pipeline abuse reform, protecting interstate commerce and “defeating truck-only toll systems.” Continuing priorities include advocating for federal excise tax repeal and lobbying against emissions reduction rules.
The club in its announcement did not give Spear’s salary. But federal filings show the executive’s compensation has more than quadrupled since he joined the organization eight years ago.
Spear received a salary of $429,353, plus $8,872 in other compensation in 2016, as outgoing President and CEO Bill Graves collected $1.5 million in salary and $30,987 in other compensation. ATA said in a tax-exempt filing.
Spear has since surpassed Graves’ top salary. He made a salary of $1.95 million and $33,145 in other compensation from 2022, ATA said in another filing.
“Trucks are the heartbeat of this nation and I am honored to serve this incredible industry,” Spear said in the release. “I look forward to putting more wins on the board for ATA and our valued members.”