April 30, 2008
New ATD Chairman Touts Need for Truck Technicians Even in Tough Economic Times
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.