The National Private Truck Council’s annual Private Fleet Management Institute is set for Jan. 12-16 at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla. The Private Fleet Management Institute is a five-day intensive educational program offering courses on fleet finance, operations, legal, regulatory and safety compliance, human resources, maintenance and equipment.
“The NPTC 2008 Private Fleet Management Institute is a great learning opportunity,” says Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, chairman of the NPTC Institute Board of Governors and vice president of transportation of Mennel Milling Co. “As the scope and pace of change continues to accelerate at unprecedented levels, private fleet managers must look for new ways to enhance their operating knowledge and expand their personal and professional effectiveness.
“Managing transportation choices in a corporate environment which demands a maximum return on the investment has become more challenging in a world marked by increasing freight rates, skyrocketing fuel prices, regulatory uncertainty and driver shortages,” Strausbaugh says. “The Institute is a concentrated five-day immersion in the core private fleet management curriculum.”
NPTC says the program draws from all-new content that reflects the most current insights into best practices, benchmarking and operational excellence in the private fleet community. A faculty consisting of the some of the nation’s most experienced and respected private fleet management thought leaders will guide the learning experience through a series of workshops, panel discussions, lectures and interactive formats designed to enhance the attendees’ educational experience and ensure their grasp of key private fleet management disciplines, according to NPTC.
Specific sessions will focus on: Sustaining a Culture of Excellence; Communicating Private Fleet Value by Partnering with Corporate Finance, HR and Safety; Improving Fleet Planning and Utilization; and Benchmarking and Best Practices.
Also featured will be sessions on Managing the Blended Fleet; Attracting, Recruiting and Developing Drivers; Effective Safety Programs; Understanding Financial Reports; Maintenance Standards; Managing Outsourced Relationships; Building Backhaul Profitability; Private Fleet Financial Models; Activity-Based Compensation; Best Maintenance Practices and Spec’ing; Lease vs. Buy; Life-Cycle Costing; Establishing Trade Cycle Strategies; Coping with Rising Environmental Pressures; Coaching, Feedback and Discipline; Activity-Based Costing; and Fuel Hedging.
NPTC says the program provides an excellent resource for those studying to take the Certified Transportation Professional certification examination scheduled for Feb. 9 at some 40 locations across the country; in fact, the Private Fleet Management Institute is preceded by a full-day workshop to help candidates prepare for the exam.
