The National Private Truck Council will host its annual National Safety Conference Sept. 9 and 10 at the Hyatt Dulles in Herndon, Va., outside of Washington, D.C.


"Private fleets have worked hard to earn a reputation for unsurpassed safety excellence," said Randy Perry, fleet safety manager for Frito-Lay and chair of the NPTC Safety Committee. "According to the preliminary results from NPTC's 2010 Benchmarking Survey, private fleets continue to achieve an accident rate lower than that registered by the trucking industry as a whole. Such strong performance can be attributed to building a culture of operational excellence, forged through continuous learning, training and best practices. One outstanding opportunity to enhance safety performance will occur at the National Safety Conference."

The conference will feature presentations and discussions with government representatives, panelists and safety advocates and practitioners, to give attendees ideas about implementing safety programs.

The program kicks off with a keynote address from Gov. Bill Graves, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, who will share his perspective about the business, regulatory, environmental and infrastructure challenges that private fleets will face in their efforts to improve highway safety. In a second keynote, Don Osterberg, senior vice president, ssafety, security and driver training for Schneider National, will share his vision and program for building a culture of safety at Schneider.

Specific panel presentations are planned on the following topics:

* CSA 2010: With the Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration promises to develop more effective and efficient methods for FMCSA, together with industry and state partners, to achieve its mission of reducing commercial motor vehicle crashes, fatalities, and injuries.

* Sleep Apnea: The Science, Regulatory Mandate and Liability: This session will detail critical information needed to support the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea from the private fleet perspective. Included will be the latest scientific evidence, the regulatory perspective, operational concerns and the liability issues.

* What Take-Away Lessons Fleets Can Learn from Accidents: Learn from a practicing attorney and an insurance carrier executive on how your fleet may be vulnerable to post-accident litigation and what you can do to help shield your operation from claims of negligence.

* Predictive Modeling: At this session, learn how to identify any gaps and opportunities in your existing fleet risk management approach by investigating your performance in a number of safety related areas.

* Case Studies in Excellence: Two private fleets will share how they have infused safety into their operations, beginning with a commitment from the top and going into every department, extending through the hiring, training, coaching, and performance review processes.

The conference will also include four concurrent "Safety in the Round Breakout Sessions," that will focus on technology issues, driver compliance challenges, equipment and maintenance concerns and driver wellness initiatives.

The National Safety Conference will also feature the National Driver All-Stars Luncheon and Recognition Ceremony, followed by a driver panel presentation, during which the award-winning drivers will share insights and perspective on how fleets can elevate the role of the driver in achieving safety, compliance, and customer service objectives.

More info: www.nptc.org