ATRI President Rebecca Brewster, Regular FSA Contributor, Announces Retirement

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster recently announced she will retire in early 2027, after serving the organization for 34 years, 25 of which she has led ATRI as its President and CEO. During her tenure, ATRI has grown into the trucking industry’s most respected source for industry data ana analysis, capturing numerous awards for research excellence.

“Serving the trucking industry through ATRI has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and I sincerely appreciate the Board’s long-time support of and confidence in my leadership,” says Brewster. “The ATRI team is well-positioned to carry on ATRI’s mission of research to improve the industry’s safety and productivity and I look forward to working with the new leader on the transition.”

“Rebecca’s willingness to share time, insight, and practical perspective has helped elevate the conversations that matter most to our members—connecting trucking realities to the day-to-day decisions food and beverage shippers face,” says Eric Missil, Executive Director of Food Shippers of America (FSA). “We were honored to welcome Rebecca as a conference speaker in 2024 and again in 2026, and we’re grateful for the expertise she brought to both events.”

Missil notes that as President & COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), Brewster has spent decades advancing research that improves trucking safety and productivity—and she’s been a respected voice for the industry for more than 30 years.

“Her work (and leadership) has helped bring greater clarity to issues that impact the entire supply chain, from infrastructure and truck parking to emerging operational challenges,” concludes Missil. “Thank you, Rebecca, for always showing up for the food supply chain—and for helping our community learn, collaborate, and move forward together. Enjoy your next chapter.”

“A heartfelt thank you to Rebecca Brewster for her guidance, partnership, and continued support of Food Shippers of America, and best wishes on her retirement,” adds FSA Media Advisor Mary Kearney, Director of Sales with Kottke Trucking.

ATRI’s Board of Directors, led by Werner Enterprises Chairman Derek Leathers, has appointed a search committee of Board members to identify Brewster’s successor.

Related Articles:

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• When Food Becomes A Target: Understanding Cargo Theft
• Trucking Profitability Drastically Squeezed by High Costs, Low Rates
• Quality of Life Themes Dominate ATRI’s Recent List of Critical Trucking Issues
• Top Trucking Concerns: The Economy, Truck Parking, BEVs

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