Operations

You must be present to win

Feb. 1, 2012

Annual conference offers critical fleet operations information

Today's private fleet professional continues functioning under immense pressure to deliver exceptional performance. Yesterday's solutions will need updating for tomorrow's needs. Managers are expected to deliver outstanding levels of customer service while keeping costs in line and safety uncompromised. In this demanding climate, and with those expectations in mind, NPTC has packed its 2012 Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition with state-of-industry insights and practices — forged in real world “test tracks” of leading private fleet practitioners. Plan now to attend this conference in Cincinnati on April 29-May 1, 2012. It is an event designed to deliver exceptional take-away value.

“There is little doubt that we are entering an unprecedented year in terms of demands and expectations,” says Gary Palmer, senior director of transportation for True Value Co., and chairman of the NPTC Conference Planning Committee. “Private fleet professionals must call upon all resources in their search for new ideas and programs that deliver the greatest value of efficiency and cost containment.”

The centerpiece of the three-day event is the line-up of more than 20 workshops and seminars that will provide illuminating insights and best practices to help demystify some of the critical issues and challenges of the private fleet's day-to-day world.

The conference will include the largest assembly of exhibitors of a national association event in the trucking industry, and the largest number of exhibitors in the history of the NPTC. This exceptional turnout of suppliers and vendors means a world-class exhibit hall packed with products and solutions designed to increase the effectiveness of the private fleet. Remember, the NPTC exhibition hall is designed as an important component of the educational learning and business networking value of attending the conference.

The second annual Benchmarking Summit will be held on the afternoon of May 1, which is the final day of the conference. This session profiles the preliminary report of the 2012 Annual Benchmarking Survey and is a “must attend” opportunity for fleets to compare and contrast their operating metrics.

Recognition is a priority feature of the meeting, and the Certified Transportation Professional Class of 2012 will be honored. The featured speaker will be Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst, ACT Research Co. This year's Driver Hall of Fame winners will be announced in a special luncheon featuring keynote speaker Commander Kirk Lippold. Lippold was the commanding officer of the USS Cole when the ship came under suicide attack by al-Qaida terrorists in the port city of Adir, Yemen, in 2000.

NPTC 2012 will be held at the historic Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel. NPTC has reserved a block of rooms at the special rate of $135 per night (single/double). Call 515-421-9100 or 1-800-HILTONS to make your reservation before Sunday, March 25, 2012.

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