Ron Tartt, CTP, private fleet general manager for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, took his seat as chair of the National Private Truck Council at the group’s Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held April 27-29 in Cincinnati. He succeeds Harry Haney of Kraft Foods.
Tartt — who has been with Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone for more than 34 years — is responsible for more than 300 tractors, more than 700 trailers and more than 400 drivers delivering tires and auto parts to some 5,000 customers on a weekly basis from seven distribution centers across the United States and Canada. In 1997, Tartt received the designation of Certified Transportation Professional (CTP). He has been active with the NPTC Institute, where he served as chairman and is now a member of the board in his capacity as NPTC chair.
Rick Foster, CDS, director of private fleet safety for Wal-Mart Transportation in Bentonville, Ark., was elected vice chair/chair-elect; and Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, vice president of transportation for Mennel Milling Co. in Fostoria, Ohio, was elected secretary. Michael P. Parrish, CTP, national accounts sales executive for Paccar Leasing Co., remains as NPTC treasurer.
In addition, NPTC elected two other members to the board: Martha Bertrand, transportation manager of Spartan Stores Inc., based in Plymouth, Mich., serving as one of the Heavy Duty Division representatives; and Dan Norris, CTP, fleet operations manager for The Pepsi Bottling Group of Huntington, W.Va., who is serving as one of the Medium & Light Duty Division representatives.
