“The safety conference is just a great venue to learn and network with  safety experts who really are on the leading edge  of best practices and innovation.”

The 2021 National Safety Conference returns to the Omni Orlando Resort in Championsgate, Florida, as the National Private Truck Council’s annual forum on private fleet safety best practices and policies. The event will be held Sept. 8-10 and expects to draw nearly 300 private fleet safety professionals from a wide and diversified spectrum of fleet practitioners and exhibitors/suppliers.

Attendees are encouraged to register now and make lodging and travel arrangements early as capacity is expected to be sold out soon. Beginning at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8 and concluding at 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 10, the program promises to deliver insights, resources, and leading safety management protocols that will help fleets enhance their safety programs.

Upgrading the conference to a new, premium-level resort business meeting venue and expanding the program to a full two days proved to be big winners when first held in Orlando in 2019. This year promises to be even better.

Once again, the event offers a unique exhibit opportunity where exhibit net-working will take place during meals. We expect a full sell-out, so email Serena Porter at sporter@nptc.org to reserve your space today!

The core purpose of the two-day educational conference is to provide attendees with state-of-industry management resources, new ideas, upgraded operational practices, and a unique business network of contacts to help private fleets build even stronger safety cultures within their companies. With the planning assistance of the Council’s Safety Committee, the schedule features a series of general session keynote presentations, networking breakouts, and safety-in-the-round discussions led by a faculty of some of the private fleet industry’s leading safety practitioner experts.

“Over two intense days, we have packed a wide range of insightful, invaluable takeaway information that fleets can put into practice on day one when they return to work. It happens every year for me,” explained Mike Schwersenska, CTP, NPTC Board Chair and director of transportation/logistics at Brakebush Transportation Inc.

“The safety conference is just a great venue to learn and network with safety experts who really are on the leading edge of best practices and innovation,” said Tim Eckhardt, CTP, newly appointed Chair of NPTC’s Safety Committee and director of safety at Dot Transportation Inc. “My expectations are exceeded every year I attend.”

Topics that will be presented include les-sons learned from the impact of COVID-19 on safety and operations; safely man-aging the aging driver workforce; how to mitigate liability for shippers and private fleets; roundtable discussions on driver shortage and driver screening; best practices of driver training, personal conveyance; distracted driving policies; working with third parties to improve safety compliance; data-informed decision making; and how to implement a new safety incentive program.

Other breakout sessions will include discussions on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, workers’ compensation reduction strategies, enhancing driver engagement in an age of active safety technology, and the enhanced safety factor in accelerated tractor replacement cycles.

Two top federal safety officials will address the conference: Mike Graham, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Meera Joshi, deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (invited). Leading truck accident attorneys will address safety practices as a defense in lawsuits, and Rick Schweitzer, NPTC general counsel, will present his special monthly Washington Report update on the latest legislative and regulatory affairs affecting private fleet trucking.

As had been the case for the past 10 years, International Truck/Navistar will once again sponsor the annual NPTC National Driver All-Stars Recognition Ceremony and luncheon presentation from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 9. Nearly two dozen winning drivers for 2021 from individual NPTC member companies (and winners from 2020 as well) will be honored for their exceptional performance in safety, regulatory compliance, and customer service.

For additional details about the upcoming conference, visit www.nptc.org.