Editorial: ATA's Two Presidents

The leadership of American Trucking Associations helped set the future course for the entire industry last week by naming the management team that will direct the group for years to come.

ATA chose a high-profile political leader, Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, to take its reins in hand when Graves completes his second four-year term in January 2003. ATA’s leaders decided that Graves was worth waiting for, after he told them that he was going to keep his promise to Kansas voters to complete the term to which they overwhelmingly elected him.

At the same time, ATA’s executive committee removed the “interim” from the president and chief executive officer title held since July by William J. Canary. The executive committee announced that Canary would serve as the head of the association until the day that Graves comes on board.

The changes were announced in Nashville, Tenn., during ATA’s 2001 Management Conference & Exhibition.

These coordinated decisions ensure a smooth transition from the tenure of Walter B. McCormick to the new leadership, at a time the industry faces a series of new challenges resulting from the terrorist attacks on the United States.

This approach will prevent any loss of momentum when Graves comes to ATA, in much the same way that Canary’s selection as “interim” chief helped keep the association moving on course when McCormick unexpectedly resigned to take over the U.S. Telecom Association.

One of Canary’s priorities in the coming months will be to help Graves prepare for his new duties. The two men have been friends for years, and Canary said of his successor: “I can’t think of a better person with the ethical capability and understanding of the trucking industry.”

Graves comes from a trucking family. He said he had expected to eventually head the family-owned Graves Truck Line, but that his father sold it while he was in graduate school. He said he was glad to be coming back to the trucking industry.

At the same time, ATA welcomed a new chairman, David G. McCorkle, to replace Duane Acklie, to serve for the year until the next MC&E.

McCorkle said the time was ripe for the industry to “begin to play offense” with federal regulators to ensure that new rules and regulations for trucking are effective and appropriate.

With this leadership team in place, it should be an exciting new year for trucking and ATA.

This story appeared in the Nov. 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.