The National Private Truck Council recognized its private truck fleet members for their continued safe operations at the 2005 NPTC Annual Education Management Conference in Pittsburgh on May 6.

The NPTC-Bridgestone/Firestone Fleet of the Year Award is presented to those companies whose fleets experienced the lowest ratio of accidents per million miles for the past year. This award is based on the entire fleet’s vehicle accident frequency rate by fleet size and operational category. The winners for 2005 are divided into categories based on size. Small fleets have less than 50 vehicles. Large fleets have 50 or more vehicles.

Barnes and Noble is the local operation small fleet winner.

In the mixed operation small fleet category, first place went to Pendleton Woolen Mills, second went to George’s Foods and third went to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. Large fleet mixed operation winners were, from first to third, Dynegy Midstream Services, General Nutrition Centers and the Russell Corporation.

The small fleet regional operator first-place winner was Jerico Services. Target Stores took home second and Webster Industries scored third. Milliken and Company was the large fleet regional operator winner.

Fleets with outstanding and/or improved safety records based on their crash rates also were recognized. The Gold Seal Award Certificate of Achievement is awarded to a company and its employees for an outstanding safety performance, having operated its private truck fleet without experiencing a single accident during the past year.

The Silver Seal Award Certificate of Merit is awarded to a company and its employees for an improved safety record in the operations of its private fleet. Companies that were recognized reduced their accident frequency rate by 40 percent or more, compared to their record of the previous year.