Graves Takes Helm at ATA; Canary Steps Down

(Michael James - Transport Topics) Bill Graves (left) took over Wednesday as president of the American Trucking Associations from William J. Canary.

Bill Graves, who on Monday stepped down after two terms as governor of Kansas, officially took office Wednesday as chief executive officer of American Trucking Associations, replacing William J. Canary.

In a brief ceremony, Canary delivered farewell remarks to ATA staff and then introduced Graves. The new CEO in turn said that Canary would remain as an advisor to ATA at least through the Winter Leadership Meeting next month in Washington, D.C.

Graves also said that Steve Brooks would remain as ATA chief of staff, and that longtime assistant Joe de la Torre would join him from his Kansas staff.

Graves takes the top ATA job as the industry faces sharply higher fuel costs than a year ago, the pending release of new federal rules on commercial drivers’ hours of service, a major tax bill and new leadership in some federal agencies that oversee different aspects of trucking.

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(Click here for the full text of Canary's farewell statement.)