P.A.M. Transportation Services (NASDAQ: PTSI) announced that President and CEO Dan Cushman will retire after 11 years at the helm. He will remain with the company in an “advisory role” until July 31.
Cushman’s retirement is effective May 1.
The Tontitown, Arkansas-based truckload (TL) carrier plans to begin an “internal and external national search” to fill the vacancy.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and our entire company, I want to sincerely thank Dan for his transformative leadership and dedication over his 11 years as our CEO and wish him well in retirement,” said Chairman Matthew Moroun.
Moroun, who controls 68% of the company’s shares according to the company’s annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, will serve as the interim CEO until a permanent replacement can be found. Moroun will not receive compensation while he serves in the role.
Cushman’s leadership was challenging of late. The cross-border hauler most recently had to scramble to find freight to fill its trucks amid the closure of automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) due to the pandemic, resulting in layoffs throughout the organization. The company found itself in a similar situation last fall when its largest customer, General Motors (NYSE: GM), saw operations stall during a six-week strike by the United Auto Workers.
“Dan’s vision, character and commitment have been a driving force in the period of strong growth and profitability P.A.M. has achieved over the past decade, including three of the last five years being the most profitable in the Company’s history. The entire Board of Directors and management team have been privileged to work with him,” stated Moroun.
Shares of PTSI are off nearly 6% in morning trading.