October 10, 2026. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) announced the appointment of Mark Colson as its next president and CEO, effective December 1, 2026.
A trucking association leader and passionate advocate for America’s motor carriers and trucking professionals, Colson will lean on his more than two decades of experience to build lasting coalitions, honor the professionals in trucking, and rally the industry behind an unstoppable cause that champions the highest standards of professionalism.
“This is a unique moment for ATA to make a renewed commitment to the trucking industry and the professionals who call our industry home,” Colson stated. “It’s a commitment built first on earned trust, a sense of family and purpose, and an unrelenting passion to fight for the issues that matter most to trucking.
“The values that trucking leaders and professionals hold dear were instilled in me at an early age in my family’s second-generation tire shop, Blow-Out Tire Company, where I grew up changing truck tires,” Colson continued. “They have followed me throughout my career fighting for the hard-working men and women throughout our industry, and it is a privilege to continue that fight alongside the team and members of ATA.”
“For more than 90 years, ATA’s mission has been to give trucking a strong voice in the decisions that shape its future,” said ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen, CEO of Groendyke Transport. “Mark will build on that foundation, bringing fresh energy and a clear vision for advancing our industry’s priorities and delivering even greater value for our members.”
“The decisions made in Washington don’t stay in Washington. They affect how we operate, how we invest, and how we serve our customers every day,” said incoming ATA Chairman Derek Leathers, chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises. “Our industry needs a strong, unified voice at the table to make sure policymakers understand those realities and fight for policies that enable trucking to keep America moving.”
Colson has served as president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association since 2019, working with policymakers in Montgomery and Washington to advance the industry’s priorities and emphasize trucking’s role in the economy and supply chain. Before joining the association, he held leadership roles at the Business Council of Alabama, including interim president, senior vice president of governmental affairs, and chief of staff, where he worked closely with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.