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A CHAT WITH THE CHAIRMAN
Incoming TCA Chairman John Culp, right, presents a placque honoring outgoing Chairman Dave Williams, left, for his service to the association. Culp stepped into the role of chairman March 26, 2024.
u First of all, congratulations on stepping into your new role as
TCA chairman! What does this new responsibility mean to you,
both personally and professionally?
Thank you, Linda. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve as
TCA’s chairman. Dave Williams leaves big shoes to fill, but our association
is in great shape, and our officers and staff are aligned and on board with
the vision and objectives we’ve been working on for the past several years.
We don’t need to change what we’re doing, but we know we can get better
and that is what we want to do.
u You were formally introduced as this year’s chairman during
TCA’s 2024 convention in Nashville just a few weeks ago. How
did it feel to step up to that podium, look out at the association’s
members, and realize that all those people will be looking to
you for advice, opinions, and solutions during your tenure as
chairman?
It felt good to see a full house. Our annual conference attendance has
been growing over the past several years, and it was great to see so many
people staying for the closing banquet. My position responsibilities are
changing, but we have a great staff and officer group and we work together
as a team in everything we do. I anticipate business as usual for Team TCA.
u For members who haven’t had a chance to get to know you
yet, how and when did you first become interested in the trucking
industry?
I had been working in public accounting for a couple of years after
graduating college when I decided I wanted to move to the private sector.
The first opportunity I had was with Chandler Trailer Convoy, a small carrier
in Little Rock, Arkansas. I made a couple of moves for better opportunities
with other trucking companies in town before I found my dream job at
Maverick. I learned a lot at every company I worked for and am still grateful
for the opportunities I had. I guess it is safe to say that trucking has been
my career of choice since I was young and green between the ears.
u When did you first start working for Maverick, and in what
capacity? What roles have you held with the company?
I joined Maverick in September of 1989 as vice president of finance
and became part of the company’s four-person officer group. We had
70 company trucks and 26 owner-operators at the time. The only
other position I have held since then before becoming president was
executive vice president and CFO.
u How long have you been part of TCA, and what roles have
you held within the association?
I don’t remember exactly the first time I attended a TCA conference,
but it was sometime in the mid ’90s. Maverick’s founder, Steve
Williams, felt it was important for our leaders to become involved in
state and national trucking organizations for educational purposes and
industry knowledge — but also to be actively involved in the efforts
of these organizations to make our industry and our company better. I
have served in various positions in other associations, but my first role
at TCA began when I became an officer in 2019.
u In your opinion, how do industry associations like the TCA
benefit their members? The industry as a whole?
For our members at TCA, we have a value proposition matrix of
five key objectives that form the foundation of our efforts to deliver
membership value:
1. Improving the driving job;
2. Improving roadway safety;
3. Improving financial sustainability for our member companies;
4. Improving our industry image; and
5. Promoting industry environmental stewardship.
In each of these areas, we provide a combination of meetings,
events, programs, and educational opportunities designed to provide
SEE CHAT, PAGE 28
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26 Truckload Authority | www.Truckload.org TCA MAY/JUNE 2024