ALEXANDRIA, VA – Idealease of Richmond President and CEO Tom Thayer was unanimously chosen by industry colleagues as 2009-2010 chairman of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA). 

"Prior to being appointed to the highest officer position within TRALA, Tom was already recognized as a leader within our industry. His personal business success and commitment to his local community are well known. Tom was named 2005 North American International Dealer of the Year,and is the annual recipient of International's Circle of Excellence and Idealease's IDEAL Gold. He currently sits on International's Parts Advisory Board. Tom was also a board member and sat on the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia Executive Committee and was a past member of the Midlothian Rotary Club," said TRALA president and CEO Peter Vroom.

"TRALA's first priority is advocacy with government, and Tom has long been engaged in the pursuit of industry-wide priorities. In his new leadership capacity at TRALA, he will be particularly well positioned to affect the critical issues in Washington, Richmond, and other state capitols that impact our industry" said Vroom.

"It is an honor to serve as TRALA chairman over the next year. The vehicle renting and leasing industry will face many new challenges over the coming years, and I am ready to begin working with our members and Board of Directors to advance such issues as protecting the industry from unfair fees and taxes, overly burdensome lease accounting standards, and attacks on federal vicarious liability repeal won several years ago," said Thayer during his acceptance speech March 12. 

TRALA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a voluntary, nonprofit national trade association, organized in 1978 to provide a unified and focused voice for the truck renting and leasing industry. TRALA's membership includes more than 500 leasing and rental firms and 120 suppliers that make up nearly the entire truck renting and leasing industry. The renting and leasing industry is responsible for approximately 35 percent of all new Class 3 through 8 commercial truck registrations.