Celebrating Excellence in Private Fleets: Descartes Sponsors Private Fleet of the Year Award at NPTC
At Descartes, we recognize the vital role private fleets play in keeping industries moving. From foodservice and retail to utilities and manufacturing, these fleets are the driving force behind safe, efficient, and reliable deliveries that keep businesses and communities running smoothly. That’s why we were honored to sponsor the 2025 FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year Award, presented at the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) Conference on May 13th in Orlando, FL.
NPTC 2025: The Premier Event for Private Fleets
The 2025 NPTC Annual Education Management Conference & Exhibition brought together private fleet professionals from across the country to share insights, explore new technology, and celebrate excellence in fleet operations. With more than 1,300 attendees and over 190 exhibitors, the event provided a unique opportunity to connect with peers, discover cutting-edge solutions, and celebrate industry achievements.
FleetOwner Recognizes the Best in Private Fleets
The FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year Award celebrates private fleets that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in safety, efficiency, technology adoption, and community engagement. These fleets set the standard for operational excellence, continuously improving their processes to enhance performance and service quality. This year’s winners continued that tradition, setting a high bar for private fleet operations nationwide.
At the 2025 conference, FleetOwner recognized three standout organizations:
- Marathon Petroleum, winner of the FleetOwner 500 Private Fleet of the Year, was honored for its scale and operational excellence, with more than 500 power units and nearly 1,200 drivers transporting refined fuel products across the country.
- Brakebush Transportation, celebrating 100 years in business, was named Midsize Private Fleet of the Year for its strong driver culture, safety practices, and commitment to service.
- Occidental Chemical (Oxy) received the Small Carrier Private Fleet of the Year distinction, recognized for its decade-long safety record and the essential role it plays in supporting chemical operations nationwide.
Cyndi Brandt, Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, had the honor of presenting the awards on stage.
"Descartes is extremely proud to help FleetOwner shine a light on these private carriers that embody the spirit of our trucking industry. These fleets are early adopters of technology, operate very safely and efficiently, and give back to the communities in which they reside. These attributes align with Descartes’ primary mission of supplying best in class technology solutions to our fleet customers."
Cyndi Brandt, VP, Fleet Solutions
Winners of the 2025 FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year awards, sponsored by Descartes, were recognized at NPTC 2025 in Orlando on May 13. Pictured from left: Cyndi Brandt (Descartes), Kevin Crowder (Occidental Chemical), Mike Schwersenska, Norlene Gray, and Chris Armstrong (Brakebush Transportation), Katie Zalat and Jocko Langlois (Marathon Petroleum), and Josh Fisher (FleetOwner).
Descartes at NPTC 2025
As a leading provider of fleet technology solutions, Descartes was excited to participate in this year’s NPTC Conference as both a sponsor and exhibitor. At booth #337, we engaged with fleet professionals eager to learn how our fleet solutions can enhance operations, improve efficiency, and support compliance. From real-time tracking to safety management and customer engagement tools, our technology empowers private fleets to operate smarter and more effectively.
Want to Learn More?
The full profiles of this year’s winners appear in the June edition of FleetOwner magazine, beginning on page 14. Read about how Marathon Petroleum ensures reliable deliveries, how Brakebush Transportation fosters a driver-focused culture, and how Occidental Chemical has built an award-winning safety record.
Meet the Team
Cyndi Brandt
Cyndi Brandt, VP of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, drives go-to-market strategy for routing, mobile, and telematics solutions. With 23 years in transportation technology, she specializes in last-mile operations, dispatch, tracking, telematics, and data analytics, offering deep expertise in both last-mile and over-the-road logistics.
Kenneth Currie
Kenneth Currie, VP of Partner Sales at Descartes, leads channel partner strategy for the routing, mobile, and telematics pillar. Ken has worked in the Supply Chain Automation space for over 18- years. He is focused on expanding the Descartes ecosystem with consulting firms, ERP systems, ISV's, and adjacent technology providers.
Nick Rider
Nicholas Rider, Senior Account Executive at Descartes, specializes in helping businesses—especially beverage distributors—optimize fleet efficiency and tackle last-mile logistics challenges. With over 15 years in logistics and transportation, he brings a wealth of expertise in driving operational improvements for leading distributors.
Graham Parfeniuk
Graham Parfeniuk, Senior Account Executive at Descartes, helps building supply distributors optimize fleet operations and last-mile logistics. With six years at Descartes, he focuses on improving delivery efficiency, customer service, and operations through innovative solutions, driving measurable results for customers.
About NPTC
The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) is the leading trade association dedicated to representing private motor carrier fleets across the U.S. Since 1939, NPTC has served a diverse community of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and suppliers, providing education, certification, benchmarking, and advocacy. Committed to advancing private fleet excellence, NPTC offers industry-leading programs and networking opportunities that help professionals and companies operate at world-class standards.
To learn more about the NPTC Annual Conference, visit NPTC’s event page.
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