Past-chairman Will Bruser: ‘Thank you for the opportunity to serve’

Editor’s Note: Truckworx CEO Will Bruser officially ended his term as the ATA Chairman of the Board on June 30, 2022. The following is his letter to the membership as he handed over the reins of the Association to incoming chairman Chris Cooper of Boyd Bros. ATA is grateful for Will’s leadership and guidance over the last fiscal year. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious and inspiring. We anticipate many more years of service and support from Will.

How time flies. It feels like this past year went by in an instant. I have to say it was a great run, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with and getting to know so many of you. Leading this organization was a career highlight — an experience that I will take many valuable lessons from as I continue to serve this great industry.

First off, I thank the membership and ATA Board of Directors for trusting me in this role. Many of us compete in the marketplace on a daily basis. But when it came to working in concert for the good of trucking, I could not have asked for more complete and thoughtful support and advice from so many of you. I am truly humbled by that.

I also thank Mark Colson and Kimble Coaker and their respective teams at the ATA and ATA Comp Fund. There is a very special thing happening with both of those organizations currently, and I am proud to have had a small role in helping move the needle for each organization as they grow and prosper in ways we could have only imagined a decade ago.

I also want to thank my team at Truckworx. They work so hard to always do the right things for the right reasons. I am grateful for their dedication to serving the trucking industry at large.

Looking back over last year, I am happy to report that ATA is a much stronger organization than when I took over as Chairman this time last year. I can’t take the credit for the transformation. It was the work of many, and I congratulate the team we have in place – the ATA staff, our Board of Directors, and the membership at large – for the successes we have enjoyed.

Because of our leaders and engaged membership, our events were successful and well attended; our public relations initiatives improved the image of trucking and were very well received; our political goals were met: and our most recent mission to bring more workers to our industry as service technicians and commercial drivers is now in “High Gear.”  And, we’re just getting started.

As I hand over the reins of this great organization to Alabama Trucking legacy Chris Cooper of Boyd Bros. Transportation, I know that the road ahead leads to many great things for ATA. I have never been more proud to be a part of something in all my life, and this year has made me realize the true value of service and sacrifice for something greater than myself.

Believe me when I say the Alabama Trucking Association is heading in the right direction. The future’s so bright for us. I now look forward to keeping that momentum going. I wish you all the best!

Thank you all for an outstanding year. God Bless.