Alabama Trucking names Chris Cooper interim president in Huntsville

The Alabama Trucking Association board voted unanimously to appoint Chris Cooper as interim president on October 28. Cooper will begin his duties on December 1. This move follows the departure of Mark Colson, who served as the organization's president and CEO since 2019. Colson will step into the same role at the American Trucking Associations, a national body founded in 1933.

Cooper currently serves as the CEO of Boyd Bros. Transportation. He also holds the position of president at the Alabama Trucking Foundation. The board selected him to manage the day-to-day operations while they determine a long-term strategy for the leadership vacancy. Association officials stated that no decisions have been made yet regarding the timeline or process for hiring a permanent replacement.

Mark Colson will remain with the state group through the end of November to assist with the transition. He becomes the tenth person to lead the national American Trucking Associations. Colson's move marks a shift in leadership for the state chapter, which represents more than 125,000 workers in the Alabama trucking industry.

Cooper brings a long family history to the role. His grandfather, Dempsey Boyd, founded Boyd Bros. in Clayton with his brothers. The original fleet hauled steel and building materials on flatbeds. Dempsey Boyd later chaired the Alabama Trucking board. Cooper's mother, Gail Cooper, ran the family business for many years and became the first woman to lead the board.

Cooper joined the industry at the family's Clayton headquarters, where his first job involved washing trucks and trailers. He studied accounting at Auburn University and earned a master's in business administration from the University of Alabama. He later guided Boyd Companies through its 2013 merger with Daseke and joined the Daseke board. In 2022, he became the first third-generation family member to chair the association.

During his tenure as chairman, Cooper focused on workforce development and professional drivers. He supported the Real Faces of Alabama Trucking campaign, which featured the drivers rather than their vehicles. The Alabama Trucking Foundation, which Cooper now leads, supports highway safety efforts and industry image initiatives.

The association did not provide a specific date for when the board will conclude its search for a permanent president. Cooper will oversee the organization's activities in the interim. The state group continues to represent carriers across Central Alabama and the rest of the state.