ALABAMA TRUCKING HAS A NEW LEADER! WHO'S TAKING THE WHEEL NEXT?
There’s a changing of the guard in Alabama trucking. And this isn't just another executive moving from one office to another. The Alabama Trucking Association is preparing for a leadership change that could shape how the industry is represented across the state.
Chris Cooper has been selected to serve as interim president of the Alabama Trucking Association, effective December 1, 2026. He'll step into the role as Mark Colson leaves to become president and CEO of the national American Trucking Associations.
So, what does this mean for the people who actually keep the wheels turning? Let's take a closer look.
A New Leader Takes the Wheel
The Alabama Trucking Association's board unanimously selected Cooper to serve as interim president. He's no stranger to the organization or the trucking business.
Cooper previously served as CEO of Boyd Bros. Transportation, chaired the Alabama Trucking Association's board, and currently leads the Alabama Trucking Foundation.
In other words, this isn't somebody who just discovered trucking after watching a few videos of shiny Peterbilts on social media.
Cooper has spent much of his career around the industry, starting at Boyd Bros. by washing trucks and trailers before eventually moving into leadership.
That's quite a career path. From washing the equipment to helping guide an entire state trucking organization, he's seen more than one side of the business.
Mark Colson Is Moving to the National Stage
This leadership change follows Mark Colson's selection to lead the American Trucking Associations, the industry's national trade organization.
Colson has led the Alabama Trucking Association since 2019. He is expected to remain in that position through the end of November and help with the transition before taking over his new national role on December 1.
That's a significant move. The national organization represents trucking interests on issues that can affect carriers, drivers, and the businesses that depend on freight moving across America.
Alabama is losing its current association leader, but the state will have someone with deep industry experience stepping into the interim position.
Cooper Brings Generations of Trucking Experience
Cooper's connection to trucking goes beyond his own career.
He's part of a family with a long history in the business. His grandfather, Dempsey Boyd, helped establish Boyd Bros. Transportation with his brothers in Clayton, Alabama. The company began with a small fleet hauling steel and building materials.
Cooper's mother, Gail Cooper, later led the company and became the first woman to chair the Alabama Trucking Association's board. Chris Cooper became the first third-generation chair in 2022.
That family history gives him a perspective that many industry executives don't have. He's seen trucking from the ground up, through family business leadership, and from the association side.
But here's the important question: Will that experience translate into meaningful progress for the people working in trucking today?
What Should Truck Drivers and Small Carriers Watch?
A leadership change doesn't automatically mean new rules, better pay, or easier days for drivers. Nobody should expect a new president to wave a magic wand and make fuel prices drop, freight rates rise, and every dispatcher suddenly become everybody's best friend.
But leadership does matter. Trade associations help
Cooper has previously focused on workforce development and professional drivers. He also championed the association's "Real Faces of Alabama Trucking" campaign, which highlighted the people behind the industry.
Those priorities are worth watching. Trucking needs qualified new people entering the industry, but it also needs to do a better job of keeping experienced drivers in it.
And that means looking beyond recruitment numbers. Driver treatment, working conditions, safety, training quality, and the realities of life on the road all deserve attention.
The Bigger Picture: More Than 125,000 Alabama Jobs
According to the reporting and association information surrounding the announcement, more than 125,000 Alabamians work in the state's trucking industry.
That's a lot of people whose livelihoods are connected to freight. It includes drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, warehouse workers, safety professionals, office staff, and countless others who help keep the supply chain moving.
The Alabama Trucking Association also works through its foundation on highway safety, workforce development, and improving the industry's public image.
Those are important goals. But the real measure of success won't be how impressive a press release sounds. It will be whether the work makes a difference for the people and businesses that keep trucking alive.
What Happens Next?
Cooper's appointment is an interim arrangement while the association's board develops a permanent leadership plan. The announcement does not establish a final appointment or provide a timeline for that decision.
For now, the industry gets an experienced leader with deep Alabama trucking connections. The next chapter will depend on what the association prioritizes and how effectively it represents the full range of people involved in trucking.
The Bottom Line
Alabama trucking is entering a new leadership chapter. Mark Colson is moving to the national stage, and Chris Cooper is stepping in to guide the state association during the transition.
Cooper brings years of experience, a family history in trucking, and previous involvement in workforce development and driver-focused initiatives.
Now comes the part that matters most: turning experience into results.
Because trucking doesn't need another person who can simply talk about how important truck drivers are. It needs leaders who understand the challenges drivers and carriers face and are willing to do something about them.
The real question isn't just who's taking the wheel. It's where they're going to take the industry.
Want to Build Your Own Future in Trucking?
If you're thinking about getting into trucking, learn what the industry is really like before making the jump. Visit LifeAsATrucker.com for information and resources to help you understand the road ahead.
And if you're already trucking, don't make your entire financial future depend on your driving job. Start learning how to build income online during your off-duty time. Visit TruckSideHustle.com and start exploring ways to create more options for yourself.
Because having a plan B doesn't mean you don't love trucking. It means you understand that having choices is a good thing.
Sources
Editorial note: Cooper's appointment is interim. The association's permanent leadership plan has not been announced. The discussion of possible industry priorities is commentary, not a statement of new policies or promises from Cooper.
