The American Trucking Associations (ATA) said today it has hired an expert in automotive technology to fill the new post of vice president of safety policy and connectivity, a nod to the growing role that autonomous vehicles are expected to play in the industry's future.

Michael Cammisa spent 16 years at the Association of Global Automakers, most recently as senior director of safety and connected vehicles. In that role, he worked with government officials and automakers to shape the regulatory framework for connected and automated vehicles, ATA said.

Cammisa has also worked as a researcher at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and as an engineering and management consultant.

Cammisa's "understanding of the emerging issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, the regulatory process, and his connections within the safety community" will be invaluable to the association, President and CEO Chris Spear said in the statement.