NPTC and SmartDrive Present Private Fleet Leadership Awards

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) and award program sponsor, SmartDrive Systems, recognized six private fleet professionals for their impressive contributions to the private fleet community during NPTC’s Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held April 30-May 2, 2017 in Cincinnati. Since 1990, the NPTC Private Fleet Professional Leadership Awards have recognized those individuals who have positively impacted the National Private Truck Council, their profession, and the private trucking community.

“Private fleets play a critical role in our national transportation infrastructure and the professionals who support this sector demonstrate their commitments to safety, efficiency and productivity every day,” stated NPTC President Gary Petty. “We are honored to acknowledge the efforts of these outstanding professionals who have made significant contribution to NPTC, their profession and the private trucking community.”

The Dan Smith Life Achievement Award, the Council’s highest and most prestigious honor, was awarded to Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, Vice President of Transportation for The Mennel Milling Company. His experience consists of 41 years in the grain and food industry controlling both truck and rail transportation together with warehousing. The truck fleet consists of tractors, pneumatic bulk tanks, van trailers and hopper trailers to meet the needs of both flour and feed customers. The rail fleet consists of covered hopper and pressure differential cars to transport grain and flour. Gary is currently responsible for rail and truck-rate negotiations, equipment specifications and replacement, warehousing, dedicated carrier operations, private and contract truck fleets and rail profitability.

He received his CTP designation in 1996 and currently is serving as secretary of the NPTC Board of Directors. Gary previously chaired both the NPTC Board of Directors and the NPTC Institute Board of Governors. He also has been a frequent speaker at major NPTC events.

Recognized as the Private Fleet Executive of the Year was Mari Roberts, CTP, Frito-Lay, Inc. Mari is currently transitioning into a newly-created Customer Integration Director role collaborating with the field sites and Go to Market Teams to improve service and optimize Frito-Lay’s direct to store deliveries. She has been with PepsiCo for 17 years after graduating from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Supply Chain Management. After 7 years in Casa Grande, AZ she joined the HQ Transportation Team. She spent the next 8 years responsible for various initiatives in transportation to include: capability, planning, network efficiency, developing and supporting technology solutions such as Advanced Delivery Notifications, Run Right Dashboard, Load Completion Notifications and Natural Network Scheduling.

For the past two years as LD&T Director for the Dallas Metroplex, Mari led the Warehouse and Traffic teams for multiple locations in the Dallas area. She and her team of 300 employees were responsible for safely handling over 75 million cases a year and driving over 6 million miles while improving efficiency, fill rate and on time delivery performance. Mari received her Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) certification in 2009 and currently serves as Chairman of the National Private Truck Council Institute Board of Governors. She has been a visible leader of numerous Diversity and Engagement initiatives including leadership roles with the Plano Women’s Inclusion Network Council.

Mike Little, CTP, of Service First Distribution was honored as the NPTC Fleet Member of the Year. Mike is responsible for leading the Mid-South Baking business unit that is focused on providing effective customer-focused delivery operations, which includes transportation assessments, ensuring transportation staff knowledge, interacting with customers, and driving continuous improvement through- out the organization to consistently deliver the highest possible level of service and quality. Service First Distribution is a private fleet supporting the Mid South Baking company’s two locations—Bryan, TX and Pelahatchie, MS—with equipment, personnel and expertise domiciled throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Mike has more than 18 years of progressively-responsible industry experience and is a Certified Transportation Professional.

Named as the Private Fleet Safety Professional of the Year was Victor Hart of Dot Transportation, Inc. Victor has more than 40 years in the Transportation industry. After 10 years as a Transportation Manager with Dot Transportation, a subsidiary of Dot Foods, he transferred to the home office in 2008 and now serves as the Director of Safety. Dot Transportation employs more than 1400 drivers operating from ten distribution centers nation- wide. Previously, he worked with Pet. Inc. as Director of Distribution and at McKee Foods as a Corporate Transportation Superintendent. In 1998, he was the recipient of the NPTC Membership Development Award. Dot Foods earned an NPTC Fleet Safety Award for 2010.While at Pet, NPTC awarded the Silver Level Safety Award. Victor first became involved with the NPTC serving on the safety committee in 1980. In addition he has served as the chairman of advisory boards of two CDL schools. Recently, he has become a member of the American Trucking Research Institute Advisory Committee.

Brian Holley, CTP Whiteline Express, Ltd., was the recipient of the NPTC Excellence in Membership Award. Brian has 25 years of experience in the transportation industry. Since 2005, he has been Director of Transportation for Whiteline Express, Ltd., which handles more than 110,000 truckloads annually via the company fleet as well as partner carriers. Whiteline Express, Ltd. is the logistics and transportation division of Plastipak Packaging, Inc., an industry leader in rigid plastics manufacturing. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company with direct responsibility for nine functional areas: operations, customer service, brokerage, safety, finance, maintenance, sales, human resources, and recruiting.

Brian has been an active member of the NPTC since 2006, serving on the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Legislative and Regulatory Advisory Committee, and the Conference Planning Committee. He is also active in the ATA, TCA, and Ohio Trucking Association. He received his CTP designation in 2014.

The NPTC Allied Member of the Year was presented to CPC Logistics. Accepting the award on behalf of CPC was Bob Boyich, CTP, Executive Vice President. CPC Logistics was founded in 1973 by four individuals from diverse backgrounds and experience in private truck fleet operations, truck leasing, and labor law. As a result of strong, steady growth and strategic acquisitions, CPC Logistics has grown substantially over the last four decades to become the leading provider of professional driver services for many of the top private truck fleets in North America. CPC Logistics is an international organization, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with a network of over 20 regional offices strategically located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to service its customers. CPC Logistics has over 3,000 employees providing its transportation services to customers in over 300 locations across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Today, CPC prides itself in providing professional driver services to facilitate the transportation of goods for many of the top private truck fleets in North America.

The final award, the NPTC Excellence in Backhauling Award, went to Mike Schwersenska, CTP of Brakebush Brothers Transportation. Mike has been in the transportation industry for more than 20 years. He has been with Brakebush Brothers Transportation since 1999 where he started as a Dispatcher, was promoted to Fleet Manager in 2000 and named Director of Transportation/Logistics in December 2014. In this position he oversees all outbound/inbound transportation operations, carrier performance and rate and service negotiations. He is responsible for analyzing performance and operations to identify and implement strategies for increased productivity, quality customer service and cost-saving efficiencies. He holds a Certificate of Transportation and Logistics Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his Certified Transportation Professional earlier this year.

Pictured: Jeff Ferrell, Sr. Director Public and Private Fleets, SmartDrive Systems (left) and Gary Petty, president and CEO of the National Private Truck Council (right), congratulate the recipients of the NPTC/SmartDrive Private Fleet Professional Leadership Award (from left): Brian Holley, CTP, Whiteline Express; Victor Hart, Dot Transportation, Inc., Mari Roberts, CTP, Frito-Lay, Inc.; Mike Schwersenska, CTP, Brakebush Transportation; Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, The Mennel Milling Company; Mike Little, CTP, Service First Distribution; Robert Boyich, CTP, CPC Logistics, Inc.

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.

About SmartDrive Systems
SmartDrive Systems, the recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s Customer Value Leadership Award for Video Safety Solutions, gives fleets and drivers unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping save fuel, expenses and lives. Its video analysis, predictive analytics and personalized performance program help fleets improve driving skills, lower operating costs and deliver significant ROI. With an easy-to-use managed service, fleets and drivers can access and self-manage driving performance anytime, anywhere. The Company, which is ranked as one of the fastest growing companies by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, has compiled the world’s largest storehouse of more than 140 million analyzed risky-driving events. SmartDrive Systems is based in San Diego, Calif., and employs over 500 people worldwide. For more information on SmartDrive Systems, please visit www.smartdrive.net.