Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

Mark Colson was the special guest speaker at the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce’s February business luncheon.

The event was held Feb. 11 at the Alabama Power Company Clanton Conference Center.

Colson was chosen as the new president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association last year. He previously served as a senior adviser at the Business Council of Alabama.

Colson is a Chilton County native. He graduated from Isabella High School and is the son of Chilton County DHR director Marilyn Colson and Mike Colson, owner of Blow Out Tire Company.

Mark Colson spoke at length on just how much the trucking industry impacts the state of Alabama.

Given his position, Colson has become a big advocate for the industry.

“If you can see it in this room, it came on a truck,” he told the audience during his speech.

Colson said trucks are often seen in a negative light as being unsafe to be around, but in fact truck drivers are the safest drivers on the road given their experience and level of training.

He also spoke of several initiatives taken on by the Alabama Trucking Association, including giving scholarships to students who want to work in related fields and teaching truck drivers how to spot signs of human trafficking.

Truck drivers, given the amount of time they spend on the road especially at night, are in a better position to help spot signs of human trafficking then most other travelers.

Colson said the trucking industry delivers more than 80 percent of all goods that enter and exit the state and provides one out of every 15 jobs to residents.