“The best part of my job is talking to drivers, being their advocate, helping them in any way I can.” – John Robbins, CTP, Senior Director of Operations for Standard Logistics and a member of the National Private Truck Council Board of Directors.

---

JOHN ROBBINS, CTP, is senior director of operations for Standard Logistics and a member of the National Private Truck Council Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves as a board member for Heroes for Children, a charity that provides financial support and social assistance to families of children battling cancer.

Robbins’ journey began with an unexpected twist. Inspired by his grandfather’s service in the Marine Corps, he walked into a Marine recruiting office ready to follow the family legacy. A recruiter’s dismissive attitude changed everything. Frustrated but undeterred, Robbins walked down the hall to the Army recruiting office and never looked back.”

After 10 years of active military duty, as an airborne infantryman, Robbins joined the Army Reserve and spent the second half of his Army career in transportation. He started in a civilian job for Safety Kleen (now Clean Harbors) as a transportation manager focused on third-party carrier relationships and eventually moved up to director of logistics and later to VP of transportation and logistics.

In 2021, Robbins joined Standard Logistics in a fleet management role. Standard Industries owns the company, which is the private fleet and logistics transportation services partner for GAF, North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing company. The primary business of the fleet is the transportation of raw materials and finished products for commercial and residential applications.

“When I started, we had 140 drivers—all leased—and 15 support staff,” Robbins said. “Today, our ratio is 60% employee drivers and 40% leased drivers, which gives us better control and flexibility. Now, we have 435 drivers operating out of 21 locations, 75 sup-port staff, 405 tractors, and 700 trailers.”

“We have concentrated our growth by partnering with the GAF Supply Chain team and determining where we could add value and reduce risk within the network,” he explained.

“The best part of my job is talking to drivers, being their advocate, helping them in any way I can. The care and respect we show our drivers is a differentiating selling point in recruiting and retention. Reducing turnover is always our goal,” Robbins said. “We provide excellent pay and benefits, a high-quality work environment, and company-paid in-service training.”

“A mentor is assigned to help each new driver get off on the right foot,” Robbins continued. “Our driver culture is a competitive advantage. Creativity and transparency have been key to attracting new drivers and building a culture of empowerment. As a result, we are attracting a top-quality class of seasoned and younger drivers.”

Robbins said the key to the company’s success is an amazing team of people who work miracles.

“The way our people come together to help or boost one another is just incredible. We have more than tripled our business in the past four years, and we’ve only gotten closer as colleagues as the work volume grows.”

Engagement with NPTC also contributes to the team’s success.

“We have sent several people through the Private Fleet Management Institute and Certified Transportation Professional programs,” Robbins said. “The Institute is probably the best consolidated educational program in transportation I’ve ever seen. NPTC’s annual conference is a great event because everyone is open, willing to share and learn from one another. The one-on-one networking conversations are incredibly valuable.”

The company had a banner year in 2023. Standard Logistics was one of three companies awarded FleetOwner 500 Private Fleet of the Year honors in a special ceremony at the NPTC annual conference in Orlando. Standard Logistics also became a Five-Star Member of the NPTC, and Robbins was elected to the NPTC Institute Board of Governors. This coming May, at the NPTC Annual Conference in Orlando, Robbins will receive the NPTC Leadership Award for Private Fleet Executive of the Year.

(Left to right) Carlos Aguirre, former driver, current asset and maintenance associate); Cesar Martinez, former driver, current driver supervisor; Kealond Brown, driver; Nancy Carbins, driver; and Dylan Stephenson, regional driver) Photo: NPTC