WASHINGTON — An American special interest group that has been like a nail stuck in the tire treads of the trucking industry has a new leader.

Public Citizen has named Robert Weissman to replace Joan Claybrook, who earlier this year left the Ralph Nader-founded, government and corporate watchdog group. Claybrook, who served as president for 27 years, will remain on the organization’s board.

Prior to joining Public Citizen, Weissman was serving as director of the corporate accountability organization Essential Action, editor of the Multinational Monitor, and an attorney with the Center for Study of Responsive Law — all left-leaning specialist interest advocacy groups or publications.

Weissman’s agenda will be to "advocate for a national single-payer healthcare system, climate change legislation, tougher regulations on the financial sector and campaign finance reform."

Public Citizen is commonly viewed as a "gadfly" by many in the trucking industry. It has fought repeatedly against hours-of-service rule changes made in 2004; opposed the opening of the southern border to Mexican trucks under NAFTA, and is challenging increases in size or weight of trucks, which would open the door to more efficient long combination vehicles.

According to Bob Fellmeth, chairman of Public Citizen Foundation, Weissman, 43, was selected because of his exceptional background and ability to effect change.