The Truckload Carriers Association has begun a formal search for its next president after Jim Ward, who has led the group since 2022, said he will retire in the coming months. The association framed the move as a planned transition and said a committee has been formed to identify his successor, keeping momentum behind programs Ward expanded during his tenure.
What TCA wants next is spelled out in a newly posted job description: a chief executive steeped in trucking and association management, capable of sharpening the group’s voice in Washington while pushing technology adoption and member value. Applications are being accepted through November 1, 2025, with the role based in Alexandria, Virginia, and reporting to TCA’s officers.
The stakes are meaningful for carriers. TCA represents North American truckload fleets operating more than 220,000 tractors, a constituency whose freight revenue tops $40 billion. The next president will be the point person for that base on Capitol Hill and with regulators—work that directly influences costs, compliance burdens and competitive dynamics for asset-based truckload operators.
The timing also intersects with a major change at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: On October 3, the Senate confirmed Derek Barrs as FMCSA administrator. Industry groups, including TCA and ATA, quickly welcomed the vote. With a permanent administrator in place after a lengthy vacancy, fleets should expect a faster cadence on enforcement priorities and long-pending regulatory items—another reason TCA’s leadership bench strength and D.C. relationships matter right now.
Near term, members can expect continuity—Ward remains in place during the search—while the committee screens for a leader who can grow membership, deepen government ties and secure sponsorships that fund education, benchmarking and safety initiatives. For candidates, the posting underscores the need for fundraising acumen, coalition-building and “executive presence,” reflecting how advocacy, program delivery and financial stewardship now intertwine for trade groups representing carriers through a volatile cycle.
Bottom line for fleets: this is not just a personnel change. It’s a chance for TCA to recalibrate its agenda under a permanent FMCSA leader and a still-challenging truckload market. The next president’s ability to influence rulemaking, champion pragmatic safety policy and help members navigate technology and margin pressure will shape how effectively truckload carriers compete in 2026 and beyond.
Sources: FreightWaves, Truckload Carriers Association, DC Velocity, FleetOwner, Transport Topics, Truck News, Overdrive, American Trucking Associations
This article was prepared exclusively for TruckStopInsider.com. Republishing is permitted only with proper credit and a link back to the original source.
