FLEET OPTIMIZATION CENTER

NPTC, in collaboration with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, has created a “Fleet Optimization Center” (FOC) exclusively for NPTC fleet members. The Center is designed to assist private fleet members maximize asset utilization.

The FOC anticipates creating opportunities for private fleets to reload their equipment on the backhaul. Members that take advantage of the free FOC program will have access to a team of specialists, provided by C.H. Robinson. The specialists will analyze the fleet backhaul programs of NPTC members and provide opportunities to improve fleet optimization.

For more information, please visit www.nptc.org, or go direct to https://www.chrwtrucks.com/mktg/private_fleets.aspx.

NPTC ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

Ron Tartt, CTP, General Manager, Private Fleet for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, was elected to a two-year term as Chair of the NPTC Board of Directors.

The NPTC also elected Rick Foster, CDS, Director, Private Fleet Safety for Wal-Mart Transportation LLC in Bentonville, AR, as Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, and Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, Vice President, Transportation for Mennel Milling Company, Fostoria, OH, as Secretary. Michael P. Parrish, CTP, National Accounts Sales Executive for PACCAR Leasing Company, remains as NPTC Treasurer.

In addition, the Council elected Martha Bertrand of Spartan Stores, Inc., and Dan Norris, CTP, of The Pepsi Bottling Group, to the Board.

RAVE REVIEWS FOR NPTC 2008

By any standard, the NPTC 2008 Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition in Cincinnati was an outstanding success. Under the theme of “You Must Be Present to Win!” the conference attracted 946 total attendees, which nearly matches what we had last year in Indianapolis. Given the current economic conditions, this attendance is an exceptional endorsement of the NPTC Annual Conference value proposition.

Even more impressive was that we had more fleet companies represented (140) this year than last year; the highest number of first-time attendees in many years (140); and the exhibit hall expanded by 9 additional booths.

Anybody in attendance found numerous ways to win. We reached a high-water mark in terms of the quality of the educational programming with 26 individual workshops featuring a distinguished faculty of private fleet experts sharing their insights on how best to meet the growing challenges that included fuel management strategies, driver retention, equipment maintenance, and the like.

Attendees also heard keynote speakers — John Boyens, Dan Baker and Johnny Bench — who provided informative and inspirational messages with tremendous take-home value.

The Annual Conference also featured 134 exhibitors touting innovative solutions to help private fleet managers in their quest to unlock productivity, improve safety and enhance their value proposition.

Some 35 companies sponsored various activities and materials that were an integral part of the annual conference. Plus, the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT I) sponsored the Rock ‘N Roll party featuring The Airwave Band, along with food, drinks and plenty of fun. A special ‘thank you’ to all of our sponsors!

BENEFITS OF LARGER TRUCKS

At its meeting on April 26, 2008, the NPTC Board of Directors approved a technical proposal to conduct a study on the benefits of larger trucks for those businesses operating private truck fleets. The study, to be conducted by the prestigious University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), is designed to benchmark the current transportation efficiency by looking at the operations of archetypal private fleets. The parameters to be used to define efficiency improvements will focus on over-the-road operating costs, cargo transported, miles traveled and safety performance.

COMING EVENTS

Mark your calendars now and reserve your space at the following upcoming events:

NATIONAL SAFETY CONFERENCE
September 11-12, 2008 - Dulles, VA

CTP ELIGIBILITY APPLICATIONS DUE
October 1, 2008

CTP EXAM APPLICATION DUE
November 15, 2008

CTP EXAM PREP WORKSHOP
January 16, 2009 - Jacksonville, FL

2009 PRIVATE FLEET MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
January 17-21, 2009 - Jacksonville, FL

2009 CTP EXAM
Saturday, February 14, 2009, at various locations across
the U.S. and Canada

NPTC ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009
May 3-5, 2009 - Nashville, TN

NPTC RECOGNIZES THE CTP CLASS OF 2008

At the Opening Session of the NPTC's Annual Conference, 54 CTP candidates walked across the stage for graduation. The Class of 2008 included Fleet Owner-sponsored CTP Top Graduate Awardee — Robert J. Boyich of CPC Logistics.

Also receiving their CTP designation were: Robert S. Abbott, TransForce, Inc.; Phillip Adams, Marathon Petroleum Company, LLC; Paul Backers, BIT Idealease; Billy Baker, McKee Foods Transportation, LLC; Bill Baldassi, Volvo Truck Leasing System; Brian Benicewicz, PHH Arval; Scott Bertrand, Optimum Staffing; William Bishop, Golub Corp./Price Chopper Supermarkets; Gregory L. Caruso, Talon Logistics/OK Grocery Company; Tony Carvalho, Unisource Worldwide; Joe Catalfamo, Walgreen Oshkosh, Inc.; Nick Cindrich, CVS/pharmacy; Max A. Clary, Vanguard Services, Inc.; Joseph Darby, Marsh USA, Inc.; Larry Davis, Marathon Petroleum Company, LLC; Jason DeShaw, PeopleNet; Jeff D'Orio, Gordon Food Service; Bill Eberhardt, Praxair, Inc.; Joseph Everett, Toys ‘R’ Us; Michael G. Flynn, Penske Truck Leasing; Mark Fresch, Unisource Worldwide; Eugene Goldberg, Talon Logistics; Joe Gomes, Linde; Steven L. Goulding, LaneLinks, Inc.; Kathy Grabowsky, JK Trucking; Steve Gumann, Toys ‘R’ Us; Veronica Harden, South East Express, Inc.; Ken Hearst; Walgreen Oshkosh, Inc.; Bryan Hofer, PeopleNet; Phillip M. Jimenez, Linde; Steve Katz, Cadec Global; Jacob Klingbeil, Walgreen Oshkosh, Inc.; Timothy Allen Langford, McKee Foods Transportation, LLC; Loren Luke, PHH Arval; Gonzalo J. Luna, Walgreen Oshkosh, Inc.; Keith McWilliams, Batesville Casket ; John Millen, Alliance Imaging; Michael Morrison, Spinx Transportation; Dave Mullen, Unisource Worldwide; Kirk D. Paisley, Toys ‘R’ Us; Michael P. Parrish, PACCAR Leasing Company; James Pysher, Lasco Bathware Trucking Co.; Brett Quigley, Kellogg Company; Jerry Robertson, BOLT System; John K. Roddy, Arhaus Furniture; Vince L. Rogers, Walgreen Oshkosh, Inc.; Randy Ryan, Boh Bros. Construction Co. LLC; Rosemary Schaffer, Penske Truck Leasing; Ricky L. Sprouse, McKee Foods Transportation, LLC; Jeremiah Stokes, Ring Power Corporation; Gregory J. Swanson, True Value Company; Dennis J. Updike, Alliance Imaging; and Mark Witt, Smart and Final.

NPTC RECOGNIZES PRIVATE FLEET PROFESSIONALS

The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) presented its F.L.E.E.T. Leadership Awards at the NPTC 2008 Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1990, the NPTC F.L.E.E.T. Awards (For Leadership, Enterprise, and Excellence in Trucking) are given annually to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the National Private Truck Council, their profession, and the private trucking community. The 2008 award winners are:

Private Fleet Executive of the Year, NPTC's highest individual award, went to Haig R. Dikijian, CTP, Verizon Logistics; Fleet Safety Professional of the Year Award went to John N. Thompson, Matheson Tri-Gas; Fleet Member of the Year Award went to John C. Hinton, Harris Teeter; Allied Member of the Year Award went to Brian McLaughlin, PeopleNet; Membership Development Award went to Greg Mathein, formerly with Senco Products.

In addition, Daniel P. Smith of Smart & Final received the inaugural Daniel P. Smith Life Achievement Award, given to an individual who has made significant leadership contributions to the NPTC in helping advance the goals and objectives of the Council and whose personal traits of honor, integrity, tenacity, and devotion to duty in making these contributions serve as an exemplary model for future NPTC-member private fleet professionals.

DRIVER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Four truck drivers who have logged more than a combined 17 million miles of safe driving were honored by the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) and inducted into the NPTC Driver Hall of Fame in Cincinnati. The drivers are from NPTC member companies and have met the minimum qualifications of 20 years, 2 million miles or 50,000 hours of driving without a preventable accident. This year's Hall of Fame inductees are: George L. Ertel, Batesville Casket Co.; James B. Perkins, Trimac Transportation, Inc.; Tommy E. Stoddard, Vanguard Services, Inc., assigned to Bridge-stone Firestone North American Tire, LLC; and Kenneth R. Wright, NCI Building Systems, Inc.

By Gary Petty, President and CEO of the National Private Truck Council. His column appears monthly in Fleet Owner. The council's website is www.nptc.org.