DALLAS – Gary Gibson, president of Tri-State Sterling Trucks in Cincinnati, Ohio, takes over as the new chairman of the American Truck Dealers (ATD) division of the National Automobile Dealers Association. Gibson will serve a two-year term as ATD chairman. He previously served as vice chairman of ATD.

In a speech to attendees of the 45th annual ATD Convention & Expo in
Dallas, Gibson emphasized the need to recruit qualified dealership employees, especially truck technicians, to protect the industry’s long-term viability.

“We need to raise the profile of our business in the minds of people who may not know they can find well-paying careers as sales and service professionals in our dealerships,” Gibson said.

Noting the many challenges currently facing the retail truck industry — from the strained economic environment to the pending legislative and regulatory challenges — Gibson said, “Dealers will have their hands full as they attempt to operate profitably during these difficult times. But ATD, along with NADA, will actively work to represent the interests of dealers.”

“Another initiative that comes to mind is strengthening our ties with manufacturers on lobbying efforts,” Gibson said. “Whenever the legislative interests of truck dealers and manufacturers are aligned, truck makers could become more effective by leveraging ATD’s respected position on Capitol Hill.”

Founded in 1970, the ATD division of NADA is the only national organization representing dealers selling new medium- and heavy-duty trucks. More than 2,400 members of ATD receive full association services from NADA. NADA, founded in 1917 and based in McLean, Va., represents approximately 20,000 franchised new car and truck dealers holding nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic, and import.