Alabama trucking just got a seat at a different kind of table. Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed John “Bo” Cross, owner and CEO of Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. Inc., to the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board, effective immediately.
Bo Knows Trucks
Bo’s grandfather, T.A. Cross, founded Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment in Florida back in 1942, then moved it to Mobile in 1945 as the local authorized Mack Trucks dealer. Cross’s father, J.R. “Ronnie” Cross, ran it next, and now Bo Cross sits at the helm of the third generation dealer. A graduate of the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, Cross brings more than 50 years of business experience to his new role, along with a lifetime spent hunting and fishing across the state. He already serves on the boards of directors for both the Alabama Trucking Association and the Business Council of Alabama.
The Seat He’s Filling
Cross steps into the position vacated by Ben Stimpson Jr., who resigned from the Conservation Advisory Board after Ivey tapped him to lead the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Stimpson takes over Oct. 1 for retiring Commissioner Chris Blankenship, who is stepping down after 32 years with the department, the last nine as commissioner. Under Blankenship’s tenure, Alabama funneled more than $525 million into outdoor recreation improvements, upgraded state parks by more than $350 million, and completed over $1.27 billion in Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery projects along the coast, according to the Governor’s Office.
What the Board Actually Does
The Conservation Advisory Board works alongside ADCNR on the policies that shape Alabama’s wildlife, fisheries, state parks, and public lands. Members review and recommend regulations affecting hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation statewide, the kind of decisions that touch everything from deer season limits to boating access projects. It’s a volunteer role, but an influential one, and it now has a trucking executive sitting on it.
Cross’s appointment is a reminder that the people who lead Alabama’s trucking industry are woven into the fabric of their communities well beyond the loading dock. A lot of Alabama’s professional drivers and carrier owners are hunters and anglers themselves, and having someone with Cross’s business background and ATA ties at the table on conservation policy is good for the state and good for the industry’s reputation as a responsible, engaged neighbor. Alabama Trucking congratulates Bo Cross on the appointment and looks forward to seeing his influence extend from the ATA board of directors to the woods and waters he’s spent a lifetime enjoying.
