American Truck Dealers (ATD) has elected two new line representatives to join the board of directors. Gary Gilchrist of Takoma, Washington won a special election in October and joined the board immediately representing Chevrolet. Jacob “Jake” Nichols of Indianapolis, Indiana will join the board following the 2026 ATD Show representing Kenworth.

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Gilchrist served as the 2024 National Automobile Dealers Association chairman and represents Washington's franchised new-car dealers on the NADA board. He is president of Gilchrist Chevrolet Buick GMC, Inc. in Tacoma, a family-owned dealership operating for over 90 years. He has a degree from Washington State University and has been in the automotive business since 1977.

“Serving the dealer community through my involvement with the NADA board has been a highlight of my professional career and I am honored to extend my advocacy to medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers as we navigate the challenging times ahead,” Gilchrist said.  

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Jacob Nichols currently serves as the co-president and chief human resources officer for Palmer Trucks, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Palmer Trucks, a 60-year family-owned and operated Kenworth commercial truck dealer group, operates in 12 locations serving Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Palmer Trucks has grown to a team of more than 600 individuals, with more than two million trucks on U.S. roads.  Jacob holds degrees from Purdue University and Indiana Wesleyan University.  

“I look forward to serving on the ATD board and advancing the interests of truck dealers across America through advocacy, manufacturer relationships, and educational programing,” said Nichols. 
Gilchrist and Nichols will each serve a 3-year term, beginning in October 2025 and after the ATD show, respectively.