EMA Names Jacqueline Gelb President After Mandel's 25-Year Run
Longtime Washington advocate replaces Jed Mandel, who stepped down in September 2025 after a quarter century leading the equipment suppliers' trade group.
Who is Jacqueline Gelb and when did she take over EMA?
Jacqueline Gelb became president of the Equipment and Tool Institute (EMA) in September 2025, replacing Jed Mandel after his 25-year tenure. Gelb brings Washington advocacy experience representing trucking stakeholders.
EMA represents equipment manufacturers and suppliers in regulatory and legislative matters affecting the truck and trailer industry. The organization lobbies on issues ranging from emissions standards to right-to-repair legislation, both of which directly affect what equipment fleets can buy and how shops can service it.
Mandel's departure marks a leadership transition at a time when equipment suppliers face mounting regulatory pressure. The EPA's 2027 NOx rule will force engine manufacturers to redesign aftertreatment systems. California's Advanced Clean Fleets regulation is pushing OEMs to accelerate zero-emission truck development. Both create compliance costs that flow downstream to fleets.
Gelb's advocacy background suggests EMA will continue its focus on shaping federal and state rules before they lock in equipment mandates. For small fleets and owner-operators, that matters because EMA member companies supply the parts, tools, and diagnostic equipment shops depend on. When a regulation restricts who can access engine calibration files or requires proprietary scan tools, it is often EMA pushing back on behalf of aftermarket suppliers.
The organization has historically opposed regulations that give OEMs exclusive control over repair data and tooling. That stance aligns with independent shop interests, though it sometimes conflicts with truck manufacturers who prefer to keep diagnostics in-house.
No details on Gelb's specific policy priorities or legislative agenda have been released. The transition comes as Congress debates infrastructure funding bills that could include electric-truck charging mandates and as CARB finalizes in-use emissions testing protocols that will affect how fleets maintain 2027-and-later engines.
For fleet maintenance managers, the practical question is whether EMA under Gelb will continue to secure regulatory carve-outs that keep third-party scan tools viable and prevent OEM-only repair lockouts. Mandel's tenure saw mixed results on that front. The 2027 NOx rule includes some provisions requiring standardized diagnostic ports, but several states have passed right-to-repair bills with exemptions that still favor OEM tooling.
What this means for shops and fleets
EMA's lobbying directly affects what tools a shop can legally use and what parts suppliers can sell. If Gelb maintains Mandel's approach, expect continued pushback against regulations that restrict aftermarket access to vehicle data. If she shifts strategy, independent shops could face tighter OEM control over diagnostics and calibration, raising the cost of keeping trucks in spec after warranty expires.
