Dive Brief:
- The American Trucking Associations extended President and CEO Chris Spear’s contract through 2029, the industry group announced Wednesday.
- The organization’s board of directors unanimously voted last week to extend Spear’s five-year contract, which he signed in 2021, for another three years.
- “Thanks to the strong leadership of Chris Spear, the stature and effectiveness of ATA is at its highest point,” ATA Chairman Andrew Boyle said in the announcement. “He and the talented team he’s assembled ensure that the trucking industry has the backing we need to deliver for our economy and the American people.”
Dive Insight:
As ATA’s top executive since 2016, Spear has been a chief advocate for the trucking industry through the Trump and Biden presidencies. He began his career as a Senate aide on Capitol Hill and served as assistant labor secretary in the early 2000s.
The Hyundai and Honeywell veteran’s extension is a vote of confidence in his ability to promote carriers’ priorities through four more years of whichever administration wins the White House in the 2024 election.
"Regardless of the political landscape, Chris secures advocacy wins on behalf of our members,” said Boyle, who is also co-president of Boyle Transportation.
ATA credited Spear with advancing trucking policy objectives such as infrastructure investment, lawsuit abuse reform, interstate commerce protections and “the defeat of truck-only tolling schemes.” Ongoing priorities include advocating for federal excise tax repeal and lobbying against emissions reduction rules.
The association did not provide Spear’s salary in its announcement. But federal filings show the executive’s compensation has more than quadrupled since he joined the organization eight years ago.
Spear was paid a salary of $429,353, plus $8,872 in other compensation in 2016, as outgoing President and CEO Bill Graves collected a $1.5 million salary and $30,987 in other pay, ATA said in a tax-exempt filing.
Spear has since surpassed Graves’ top salary. He made a $1.95 million salary and $33,145 in other pay as of 2022, ATA reported in another filing.
“Trucking is the heartbeat of this nation, and it is my honor to serve this incredible industry,” Spear said in the announcement. “I look forward to putting more wins on the board for ATA and our valued members.”
