ATA Chairman

Dennis joined Cargo Transporters in April of 1986 as a Driver Supervisor. Through the years, personal and company growth allowed Dennis the opportunity to serve in the capacity of General Manager, VP of Operations, and Vice President of Cargo Transporters. In February 2004, Dennis was named President of Cargo Transporters. In 2019 he was named President and CEO, where he continues to serve in that capacity.

Dennis is currently serving as Chairman of the American Trucking Associations, the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight.

Under Dennis’ leadership, Cargo Transporters has grown, adding two terminals (Rocky Mount, NC, and Charlotte, NC) and a $6 million facility expansion for parking that enabled consolidation of locations and improved operations. Additionally, the Cargo team has won numerous safety and environmental awards, including ATA’s President’s Fleet Safety Award, TCA’s Fleet Safety Award, EPA Smartway Excellence Award, Inbound Logistics’ 75 Green Supply Chain Partners award, and HDT’s Top 50 Green Fleets award. Cargo Transporters has also employed an America’s Road Team Captain.

In addition to his responsibilities at Cargo Transporters, Dennis serves as the Immediate Past Chair for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Through Dennis’ leadership and steadfastness, TCA’s programs continued to grow through the challenges of 2020 – 2021 from record attendance at the Fourth Annual Bridging the Border Barriers meeting held virtually, maintaining TCA’s prominence in the Capitol Christmas Tree tradition to vital education webinars led by TCA staff with larger than normal attendance. He also serves on the Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Safety Policy Committee at ATA. He represents the North Carolina Trucking Association (NCTA) where he serves on the Board of Directors and is a Past Chairman. He also holds an advisory position with The Trucking Alliance.

Dennis’ interests include reading, spectator sports to include supporting the Carolina Panthers, and spending time with his family. Dennis and his wife, Sherel, live in Hickory, NC. He is the father of daughter, Dana (Graham) McRary and Papa D to Lachlan and Emma.

Principal Analyst at DAT Freight and Analytics

Prior to joining DAT Solutions, Dean was Chief Insight Officer at FreightWaves where he led the freight market intelligence team of Market Experts. Prior to that he was Vice President of Data Products at Spireon where he helped develop new telematics data products in the trucking, passenger automotive and insurance markets. Dean also ran Lancer’s long-haul truck insurance business after spending many years as Vice President of Omnitracs Analytics (formerly Qualcomm) where he developed Data Science technologies including machine learning, complex business rules engines and data analytics for transportation companies.

Croke was one of the original founders of Atlanta-based FleetRisk Advisors (purchased by Qualcomm and now called now Omnitracs Analytics) and has 35 years of experience in data analytics, transportation, supply chain management, mining and insurance risk management. Originally from a family-owned and operated trucking business in Australia, Dean is still actively involved in the trucking business and having completed nearly 2 million miles in Australia as a long-distance truck driver, Croke also owns a 379 Peterbilt show truck known as “The Grumpy Pete” and still holds a U.S. Commercial Driver License(CDL) making him uniquely experienced in the field of data science, supply chain management, risk management and human performance.

Prior to FleetRisk Advisors Croke worked at Lancer Insurance in New York City in 2003 where he developed the widely acclaimed “Risk Never Sleeps” sleep management program for commercial drivers” – a unique approach to managing sleep as opposed to fatigue. Croke has held a number of senior positions at Boston-based Circadian Technologies Inc., global insurer Allianz, regional insurer OAMPS, and was also General Manager of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) where he played a key role in the development of the TruckSafe and Fatigue Management Program – both alternative compliance programs which have been evidenced in the FMCSA’s recent “Beyond Compliance” initiative.