ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations has reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with association president and CEO Bill Graves. The announcement was made earlier this week at the ATA’s annual Management Conference and Exhibition in Dallas.

“By retaining Gov. Graves, the members of ATA are sending a strong message: that despite the challenges we face in Washington, the professional staff of ATA is doing an exemplary job of advancing the goals and interests of the trucking industry,” said ATA chairman Dan England. “That starts at the top with Gov. Graves and we’re pleased that he’ll be continuing to serve as ATA’s president and CEO for the foreseeable future.”

“One key part of effective leadership is consistency,” said Barbara Windsor, immediate past chairman of ATA. “With this multiyear commitment, ATA ensures that we will have, strong, consistent and effective representation in Washington and I couldn’t be happier to get this done as one of my final acts as ATA chairman.”

After serving two terms as governor of Kansas, Graves start with ATA in 2003.

“It has been a privilege to represent such a great industry and I’m honoured that ATA’s members are allowing me to continue serving them and their interests in Washington,” Graves said. “As the economy continues to slowly recover and policymakers let loose with unprecedented assaults on trucking, there’s never been a more critical time to advocate for the industry that delivers life’s essentials more safely and efficiently than ever before.”