Orlando, Florida - Today, California Trucking Association President Shawn Yadon was named the 16th recipient of the American Trucking Associations’ President's Trucking Association Executives Council Leadership Award during the group's annual Management Conference & Exhibition.
“Shawn has shown a desire to better his association and the trucking industry through his work,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “His efforts in the state of California have been an example for state association executives across the country to follow, and we are proud to present him this award.”
Yadon has been CTA president since 2014. As the leader of the trucking association in the most populous U.S. state, Yadon navigates unique challenges that have a significant impact on the country’s wider economy. In a challenging legislative environment, Yadon has excelled, securing a fuel tax increase and working to protect trucking’s independent contractor model.
“ATA has a vast network and good relation with all state federations, so we are proud to now sponsor this award,” said ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc. “Shawn is a great friend and a tremendous leader for our industry. He has set the bar high for his state association and is an example of how to represent the ATA and trucking industry well.”
TAEC is comprised of staff executives of state trucking associations and conferences affiliated with the American Trucking Associations. TAEC serves to promote the trucking industry; contribute to the improvement of the associations and organizations established to serve the trucking industry; and advance the professional stature and capabilities of the managers and executives of such associations.
The President’s TAEC Leadership Award was created in 2002 by ATA to honor a state trucking association leader and to create an enduring legacy for that leader and for the industry. The award comes with a $10,000 grant for a non-profit 501(c)(3) trucking education or research organization chosen by Yadon.
“In the short time Shawn has been at CTA, he has been a great partner for other state executives and a dependable asset for the wider trucking industry,” said TAEC President Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York. “The entire state trucking association community is thrilled to recognize Shawn with the Award and it is a pleasure to have him as a peer in the industry.”
Prior to joining CTA, Shawn served eight years at Copart Inc. as vice president of corporate affairs. Before that, Shawn spent six years leading E*TRADE’s state government affairs efforts and before that, Shawn spent 19 years with FedEx, including his last 11 years as the company’s chief government affairs representative in the western United States.
Past winners of the award are: Brenda Neville of Iowa, John Esparza of Texas, Kendra Hems of New York, Mike Riley of Connecticut, Rick Todd of South Carolina, George Burruss of Missouri, Karen Rasmussen of Arizona, Jim Runk of Pennsylvania, Tom Howells of Wisconsin, John Hausladen of Minnesota, Dale Hanington of Maine, Larry Davis of Ohio, Dale Bennett of Virginia, Cathy Gautreaux of Louisiana and Dave Huneryager of Tennessee.
ATA also honored TAEC executives Dan Furth, president of the National Tank Truck Carriers, and Rick Clasby, executive director of the Utah Trucking Association, for their five years of service to the trucking industry.
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward