By Ford Boswell

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Trucking Association Board of Directors has elected Truckworx Kenworth president Will Bruser to serve as its Chairman of the Board for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

For nearly a decade, Bruser has led the Birmingham, Ala.-headquartered Truckworx Kenworth to become one of Alabama and Mississippi’s most successful heavy vehicle and equipment dealerships.

He also has been an energizing presence for ATA, serving on or leading various committees and initiatives, as well as donating time and resources for the improvement of Alabama’s trucking community. His company also supports outreach programs to bring new talent to the industry, particularly diesel technicians.

He and the Truckworx team have been instrumental in developing many young services techs through partnership programs with area technical schools and community colleges.

His term began July 1 and runs to June 30, 2022.He replaces outgoing Chairman Tom McLeod, founder and president of McLeod Software, who served two consecutive terms as the trucking industry heroically supported relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Will is an outstanding business leader who has deep love and appreciation for the trucking industry,” ATA president and CEO Mark Colson said. “He follows a long line of chairmen who have built the Alabama Trucking Association into a strong and effective organization. Will is prepared to step in and continue that great legacy. We have no shortage of major issues in trucking, and his energy and talents are the right combinations to move us forward.”

Bruser started his career in equipment rental and sales at Cowin Equipment Co. after graduating from the University of Alabama in 2002 and quickly advanced to medium-duty truck sales with the former Kenworth of Birmingham. He quickly moved up the ranks and was instrumental in the addition of several new company dealership locations across Alabama and Mississippi.

In 2010, he was named vice president by then-president Bob Mitchell and the two worked together to begin succession planning. Part of that mission was a total rebrand of the company to Truckworx Kenworth in 2012, and in March of 2013 Bruser was named company president.

Under his guidance, Truckwork’s overall annual sales have increased drastically, and he was named National Sales Manager of the Year multiple times by Kenworth Truck Co.

“Will Bruser will be very active for us as a business leader partner for next-gen workforce development, particularly with service technicians,” said Ford Boswell, the ATA’s senior advisor for communications and marketing. “Will is definitely a ‘doer.’”

Bruser said his involvement with ATA has been a “game-changer” for his career, and he pledged to seek meaningful ways to promote trucking’s interests across the state. 

“It is my privilege to work with (the ATA staff and members) … to develop and implement programs and initiatives that will improve our industry and grow our membership,” he said. “There is so much wisdom and experience among our board, and I will call on many of them for the counsel and support to make our Association better, safer and stronger.”