ATA Elects Randy Guillot as 75th Chairman
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SAN DIEGO — American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition drew to a festive close Oct. 8 following the naming of Randy Guillot as its 75th chairman.
Conference attendees rocked out at the closing banquet to Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, helmed by the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.
Guillot, president of Triple G Express Inc., a trucking company based in Louisiana, officially took up the mantle of ATA chairman. Guillot characterized the people in the trucking industry as hardworking, competitive members of the same big family.
In a heartfelt speech, Guillot thanked the members of his own family, many of whom sat in the audience. Guillot was dressed in the same printed tuxedo jacket his father wore to Louisiana Motor Transport Association events when he worked as an industry executive.
“It’s all of us that are the voice of the trucking industry,” Guillot said. “We are all family in this great industry. I am proud to be one of us.”
“It’s all of us that are the voice of the trucking industry”—@TRUCKINGdotORG’s new chairman Randy Guillot #ATAmce19 pic.twitter.com/v0JDYUckvN — Eleanor Lamb (@eleanorannlamb) October 9, 2019
Guillot pledged to champion tort reform, infrastructure and trade, objectives that align with the goals ATA President Chris Spear mentioned in his state of the industry remarks Oct. 7. He said he plans to work tirelessly with the administration and Congress to improve the industry.
“Progress can only be achieved by uniting as a family through our association,” Guillot said. “I challenge everyone to continue participating.”
Previously, Guillot has held leadership roles with the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, ATA’s Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference and the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative.
Guillot succeeds outgoing chairman Barry Pottle, CEO of Pottle’s Transportation. In his remarks, Pottle thanked his family, fellow executive officers, association partners and ATA members. During his tenure as chairman, Pottle visited industry representatives across the country.
Outgoing ATA Chairman Barry Pottle (left) receives a portrait of himself and thanks from incoming Chairman Randy Guillot and the audience. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
“I have had the privilege of learning so much about our industry,” Pottle said. “I have enjoyed all of the conversations with so many members and suppliers.”
Dave Manning, who served as ATA chairman from 2017-2018, bestowed Pottle with a ring to commemorate his time as chairman.
The event, which included policy meetings, updates from federal agencies and demonstrations from vendors, drew over 2,700 attendees.
The board also elected Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Garner Trucking, Findlay, Ohio, as ATA first vice chairman; and Harold Sumerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines Inc., Birmingham, Ala., as ATA second vice chairman.
Also elected were Dan Van Alstine, president and chief operating officer of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, and Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation, Billerica, Mass., as ATA vice chairmen. In addition, the board re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of Admiralty Holdings Inc., as secretary and John A. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, as treasurer.
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