The American Trucking Associations (ATA) said today that Chris Spear, vice president of government affairs for Hyundai Motor Co. and a former top ATA official, will become the group's president and CEO, succeeding Bill Graves, who is retiring after more than 13 years at ATA's helm.

Spear, who takes over July 9, had also served as ATA's senior vice president of legislative affairs.

Graves will serve as an advisor to ATA for the remainder of 2016, the association said.

ATA is an amalgamation of 50 state trucking associations, all of whom have input in the formulation and execution of national trucking policy.