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“It’s vendors, fleets and OEMs all marching down the same path," new TMC Chairman Mark Kennedy says of the collaboration at TMC. (Karen Foote/American Trucking Associations)

After 34 years in the trucking industry, Mark Kennedy says his journey from trailer technician to chairman of the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations is a testament to curiosity and a willingness to step outside his comfort zone.

Kennedy, the 2026–27 TMC chairman and treasurer, began his career as a diesel technician for a construction company before transitioning to work on trailers at Knight-Swift Transportation in 1992. He steadily moved up the carrier’s ranks to his current role as corporate vice president of equipment.

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings is ranked No. 7 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest carriers in North America.

Along the way, Kennedy earned a reputation as a problem solver. He became the go-to person for “special, unusual stuff” and was quickly known as the guy who could figure out how to get things done, he said.

Kennedy attended his first TMC Annual Meeting in 2015 in Nashville, Tenn., during a notorious ice storm that kept many attendees away. At the time, he said, the exhibit hall was his primary draw.

“I was really interested in going to TMC just for the exhibition and seeing the new products and all of our vendors,” he said. “I didn’t realize how important TMC was to the nuts and bolts of trucking when it comes to repair and maintenance.”

That perspective shifted as he became involved in TMC study groups and later joined the inaugural class of the Leaders of Tomorrow program in 2017. The experience, he said, was transformational.

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New TMC Chairman Mark Kennedy takes in the proceedings at the 2026 TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. (Karen Foote/American Trucking Associations)

“The program is kind of an accelerated visualization of TMC,” said Kennedy, who now leads the committee overseeing TLOT. “It forces you to get engaged more, and you learn how things work at TMC, which really helped me.”

Feedback from early participants and longtime TMC members has, he noted, helped the initiative evolve into a stronger pipeline for future leaders.

Kennedy, 58, is the second TLOT alum elected chairman. was the first, serving the 2024–25 term. Schuier said Kennedy’s even-keeled approach and passion for the industry make him a strong fit as the council’s 67th general chairman and treasurer.

The energy was electric at last night's Reception & Social Event, sponsored by .

Congratulations to Mark Kennedy on his election as TMC 2026-2027 General Chairman, and thank you, Radu Mihai, for your exceptional leadership.

Excited for what's ahead for… — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)

“I’m really thrilled to see Mark take on the general chairman position,” she said. “He and I have been working side by side since we met in the original TLOT class. He was actually the first TLOT member to chair a study group, S.4 Cab & Controls. We learned how to chair study groups alongside each other.”

In addition to his long-standing involvement in TMC, Kennedy is a recipient of the council’s .

“Mark has received the council’s highest honor, the Silver Spark Plug, for his service to TMC and has a passion for leveraging AI to better the overall trucking industry,” said current 2025–26 General Chairman and Treasurer Radu Mihai. “Mark also has a strong sense of loyalty, having worked for Knight-Swift Transportation for close to 35 years. I am leaving the council in good hands under his leadership.”

Kennedy described the award as a badge of honor.

“Other members recognize that as, ‘Hey, that guy has been involved. He’s not just there for the show. He’s there to move the trucking industry forward,’ ” Kennedy said.

At the core of TMC, he added, are its study groups, where fleets, suppliers and OEMs collaborate on the council’s Recommended Practices.

“That’s the most important part of TMC,” he said. “It’s vendors, fleets and OEMs all marching down the same path. It gives fleets the opportunity to say to a supplier, ‘Go to this RP. This is how I want my equipment to be.’ ”

As he steps into the chairmanship, Kennedy said his priorities include championing the Leaders of Tomorrow program and encouraging broader member engagement, particularly from senior maintenance leaders. Those leaders, he believes, should be urging their teams to take a more active role in the council’s work.

“TMC is nothing without its members,” he said. “We need our members to be involved.”

The theme of Kennedy’s term centers on the convergence of maintenance and technology. Trucks and back-office operations today, he noted, bear little resemblance to those of 25 years ago, with far greater levels of electronics and computing power. He wants TMC to help members better understand where the industry is headed, including both the benefits and challenges of that technological shift.

Despite taking on a highly visible leadership role, Kennedy acknowledged that public speaking has not always come naturally to him.

“I’m not somebody who really likes to get in front of people,” he said. Pushing past that discomfort, he added, is part of the message he hopes to send to others. “Getting out of your comfort zone helps you grow.”