NPTC Presents Private Fleet Leadership Awards

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) recognized seven executives for their impressive contributions to the private fleet community during the group’s Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held April 26-28, 2015 in Cincinnati.

Since 1990, the NPTC Private Fleet Professional Leadership Awards have recognized those individuals who have made significant contributions to the National Private Truck Council, their profession, and the private trucking community.

The Dan Smith Life Achievement Award, the Council’s highest and most prestigious honor, was awarded to Tony Jolly, CTP, National Manager, Dry Transportation Operations, Retail, General Mills. During his nearly 40 years in the transportation field, Tony has managed both private and dedicated fleets with an emphasis on collaborative solutions among all transportation modes: truck, intermodal, rail and LTL. In his current role, he works with carriers and shipping facilities to develop efficient shipping strategies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management in 1995 from Southern Illinois University. Since earning his CTP designation in 1993 with the first CTP class, Tony has served on the NPTC Board of Directors as well as chaired the Membership Committee.

The Private Fleet Executive of the Year went to Dan Norris, CTP, Fleet Director, Pepsi Beverages Company. Dan works with fleet managers and fleet mechanics and is responsible for maintaining 9,000 assets in 100 locations from Tennessee to Maine. Dan started with Pepsi as a fleet mechanic in 1983 and has since served on numerous company committees that include the five-person vehicle spec team responsible for working with national suppliers on all spec’s and purchases for the company’s 35,000 assets. Dan has served on the NPTC Board of Directors, NPTC Institute Board of Governors as well as several committees. He earned his CTP designation in 2007.

The Private Fleet Member of the Year was presented to Joe Laskowski, CTP, Director, Fleet Safety & Compliance, MedTrans LLC. Joe has more than 35 years’ experience in the transportation industry. He first joined Medline Industries in 2002 when the MedTrans fleet consisted of 26 trucks. In his current position as Director of Fleet Safety & Compliance, Joe oversees the MedTrans fleet, which has grown to more than 300 power units. In addition to certifying as a Smith System Instructor, he achieved his CTP designation in 2007. Joe is currently chairs the Membership Committee as well as a member of the NPTC Board of Directors, the NPTC Institute Board of Governors, the Safety Committee, and the Annual Conference Planning Committee.

The Private Fleet Safety Professional of the Year was awarded to Nicholas Cindrich, CTP, CDS, Director, Enterprise Safety & DOT Compliance, CVS Health. Nick has 25 years of fleet management and safety experience and his background includes 10 years of experience in the for-hire industry and 15 years with the CVS private fleet, where he worked in operations, safety management, and DOT compliance. Nick received his bachelor’s degree in logistics from Robert Morris University and is a Certified Transportation Professional, Certified Director of Safety, and a Certified Hazmat Trainer. In addition to serving on the NPTC Institute Board of Governors, Nick is a member of the Safety Committee and has been a presenter at several NPTC events.

The NPTC Excellence in Membership Award went to Keith A. McWilliams, CTP, Regional Transportation Manager for Kellogg Company. Prior to Kellogg, he held positions with Batesville Casket and the Perrier Group of America (now Nestle Waters North America) in various positions in transportation and distribution. In addition to his corporate experience, Keith served 22 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, enlisting as a Private and retiring as a Major. He held multiple positions ranging from Infantry Marine to Logistics Officer with several Command positions in Transportation Operations and Weapons Maintenance. He presently serves on the NPTC Board of Directors and is Chair of the PR/Marketing Committee.

The Allied Member of the Year was presented to Fleet Advantage. As a leasing and technology company specializing in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing and lifecycle cost management, Fleet Advantage serves America’s top private fleets and guarantees absolute lowest cost of ownership by matching proprietary data driven IT processes with fleet analytics using latest eco-efficient clean diesel technology to achieve optimum vehicle productivity, while reducing fuel and maintenance costs. An exhibitor and sponsor at the NPTC Annual Conference, Fleet Advantage has also sent numerous of its executive management team through the CTP program and serves on the Annual Conference Planning Committee.

The NPTC/C.H. Robinson Worldwide Excellence in Backhauling Award was given to Ashley Distribution Services, a long time NPTC Fleet member and shipper and transportation provider for C.H. Robinson. The company maintains a high level of service metrics such as on-time performance and a low claims percentage. Ashley has consistently handled moving high volumes of freight year over year which is essential to get their trucks back to move their furniture outbound. In an effort to reduce operational tasks, Ashley has automated status updates which increased efficiency for both companies.

NPTC Private Fleet Professional Leadership Award recipients include (from left), Mike Spence, CTP, Fleet Advantage, Allied Member of the Year; Dan Norris, CTP, Pepsi Beverages Company, Private Fleet Executive of the Year; Mike Meehan, CTP, Fleet Advantage, Allied Member of the Year; Tony Jolly, CTP, General Mills, Dan Smith Life Achievement Award; Joe Laskowski, CTP, MedTrans LLC, Private Fleet Member of the Year; Nick Cindrich, CTP, CVS Health, Private Fleet Safety Professional of the Year; and Keith McWilliams, CTP, Kellogg Company, NPTC Excellence in Membership Award.

About NPTC
Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. With an actively engaged leadership team of Board representatives, member volunteers and staff, NPTC in the past decade has grown significantly to serve a rising professional class of private fleet practitioners meeting the challenges of modern corporate transportation. NPTC is the leading learning resource center, government affairs advocate, and business networking culture for America’s top private fleet and supplier member companies. The Council produces benchmarking, best practices, and economic data reports on the private fleet market; administers the highly regarded Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) training program, and conducts some of the most successful events in the trucking industry including the Annual Conference and Trade Show, the Private Fleet Management Institute, and the National Safety Conference. For more information about the Council’s activities and programs, visit our website at nptc.org.