Ready to work: Hodgen takes on ATA chairmanship

Greg Hodgen is ready to go to work—for the tank truck industry, and all of trucking.

American Trucking Associations officially recognized the chief executive officer of Groendyke Transport as its 81st chairman Tuesday at ATA’s 2025 Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, and after months of attending state meetings, he’s ready to deliver his message, starting with the importance of coming together—on the highway and on the Hill.

“Despite the political divide today, trucking is a bipartisan business,” Hodgen told Bulk Transporter. “Freight is bipartisan by nature. Everybody needs it, and we’re going to haul it. Other modes of transportation can’t take essential goods to a hospital or grocery store so, at some point, it’s going to be on a truck. Roads and bridges and freight are not political animals. They’re a necessary part of life, and we live well in this country because of what trucking provides.

“I want to make sure people hear and understand that.”

Hodgen is the second tank truck industry leader to take on the national federation’s chairmanship in the last five years, following J&M Tank Lines CEO Harold Sumerford Jr. in 2021, and he likely won’t be the last this decade. ATA’s board of directors also elected Ventura Transfer Company Chairman and CEO Randy Clifford as second vice chairman, placing him in line to lead the association. All three previously served as National Tank Truck Carriers chairmen.

See also: Sumerford elected 77th ATA chairman

“Over the past several decades, Greg has built a highly successful career at Groendyke and has been instrumental in growing the company into one of the nation’s largest tank truck carriers,” Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO, said in a news release. “Along the way, he has lent his time, talent, and expertise to ATA, and our federation is stronger because of his invaluable insights and inspiring leadership. ATA is fortunate to be able to add Greg to our distinguished list of accomplished chairmen, and I look forward to working with him on tackling a wide range of issues facing our industry, particularly the scourge of lawsuit abuse.”

And tort reform is another topic Hodgen is eager to address.

“When an accident occurs and someone is hurt, they deserve to be taken care of. They deserve justice,” Hodgen acknowledged. “But today’s system isn’t about justice. It’s about enriching trial lawyers.

“The trucking businesses I’ve seen and been a part of—certainly at Groendyke—want to take care of people when they’re hurt, and we train like hell, over and over again, to ensure we have the safest drivers on the road. We also have the safest trucks we’ve ever had. We put safety technology all over them. But all that is swept away in this legal environment where plaintiff’s lawyers want to make every trucking company the bad guy, and that’s easy to do, but it’s not right—and I don’t like things that aren’t right.

“I want a fair system, not a jackpot system. And today it’s a jackpot system.”

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Hodgen succeeds Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters, as chairman. ATA also elected Sumerford as treasurer, and Derek Leathers, chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises, as first vice chair.

“Greg has made countless contributions to our industry and our association, and he has earned his place as ATA chairman,” Dellinger said. “This unique position has the ability to shape the future of trucking, and with the growing number of challenges we face, steady, experienced leadership is needed now more than ever. With Greg at the helm, ATA will continue to prove its value proposition for our members and remain a strong voice for the millions of Americans our industry employs.

“The past year has been one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of my career. I congratulate Greg as he takes on this new role and wish him all the best on his own exciting journey.”