Osiecki takes on additional role of running ATA's legislative program

The American Trucking Associations said today that Dave Osiecki, the group's senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs, would take on the additional role of running its legislative program.

The announcement consolidates the group's legislative and regulatory programs under one person. In his expanded role, Osiecki replaces Mary Phillips, who has left the association.

In a statement, ATA President Bill Graves said that "given an ever more complex web of issues our industry is confronted with, it only makes sense to bring our policy and legislative groups together to improve efficiency and coordination."

Osiecki has been with ATA for 18 years in a variety of roles. He was named to the top policy and regulatory affairs position in 2010.

With his additional duties, Osiecki becomes arguably the most important person in the trucking business. With a transportation spending authorization law up for renewal this fall and with the industry facing a slew of government regulations and mandates, trucking's fate is increasingly linked to bills that emerge from Congress and policies issued by various federal agencies.