Steve Hayes, the Auto Truck Group's western region general manager, will retire on Sept. 2, the upfitter has announced.

Hayes finishes a 24-year career at the company and more than 35 years in the truck industry.

Hayes worked his way up from a position in the parts department at Layton Truck Equipment (which was acquired by Auto Truck Group in 1997). His career progressed with a position in outside sales, then as an accountant and later as controller, followed by promotion to general manager.

Hayes co-founded his own successful truck equipment company in Colorado, which he operated for eight years. Hayes eventually merged his operation with Auto Truck Group in a pairing that has grown to occupy an 80,000-square-foot service center in Colorado Springs.

Hayes was named general manager of the new facility as well as the Denver and Fort Worth, Texas, locations.

Hayes was elected to the board of trustees for the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) serving a three-year term from 2009-2012.