The American Trucking Associations on Thursday named Mark Colson, president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, its next president and CEO, effective December 1, 2026. Colson will become the 10th president and CEO in the history of the nation’s largest trucking trade association, founded in 1933.
Colson has led Alabama Trucking since 2019, when he succeeded longtime CEO Frank Filgo. During his tenure, he expanded the association’s advocacy, safety and workforce development efforts and public relations work on behalf of Alabama’s trucking industry. Before joining Alabama Trucking, he held leadership roles at the Business Council of Alabama, including interim president, senior vice president of governmental affairs and chief of staff.
Colson has also been a leader in the American Trucking Associations’ 50-state federation. He chaired the Trucking Association Executives Council task force that developed the seven-point Trucking Resurgence action plan, released in December 2025 to close the regulatory gaps exploited by noncompliant carriers and unqualified drivers. In July 2026, his fellow state association executives elected him vice chairman of the council. He also serves on the American Trucking Associations’ Strategic Priorities Committee and Truck PAC board of directors and on the American Transportation Research Institute’s Research Advisory Committee.
“Mark has proven during his leadership at Alabama Trucking that he truly cares about truckers, small businesses and the people he works with,” Alabama Trucking Chairman Scott Smith, co-founder and CEO of PS Logistics, said. “The proof is in the results of his leadership. He assembled one of the best teams in the country, grew our membership and broke revenue records year over year for all our entities, and established our political action committee as one of the best and most effective in the state. From cleaning out the bad actors to fighting for lawsuit abuse reform, he took on every major battle that motor carriers are concerned about. Most importantly, he never forgot his roots and always took the opportunity to celebrate the professionals that are the heartbeat of our industry.”
“Mark has been a true partner to the carriers in this state, large and small, and I am confident he will take the same values of faith, family, and teamwork to the national stage,” Daniel Wright, Alabama Trucking’s immediate past chairman and president of Wright Transportation, said. “We will be praying for Mark and his family as they prepare for this new chapter, and the leadership team at the Alabama Trucking Association will be working with Mark and our excellent staff on a smooth transition throughout the end of the year. The American Trucking Associations is getting a leader who knows what our industry faces on the ground, and who knows how to get results.”
“Leading Alabama Trucking has been the honor of my career,” Colson said. “Our members, board and staff showed what a state association can accomplish when the industry stands together. I’m grateful for the trust they placed in me, and I look forward to working with the leadership at the American Trucking Associations alongside my colleagues in the 50-state trucking federation as we advance the industry’s priorities nationwide.”
The Alabama Trucking board leadership will guide the association through the transition. Colson will continue to lead Alabama Trucking through the end of November and will assist with the transition through December and beyond as needed. The board said it “has full confidence in Alabama Trucking’s experienced staff and will take the time needed to make thoughtful, long-term leadership decisions. Alabama Trucking’s work on behalf of its members will continue without interruption,” according to the association’s press release.
