The National Private Truck Council has elected its new board of directors, including Rick Foster, director of private fleet safety for Wal-Mart Transportation, who is the group's new chair.
Foster succeeds Ron Tartt, general manager of private fleet for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

A 38-year veteran of the transportation industry with experience in both common carrier and private carrier environments, Foster has experience in many levels of trucking operations and safety management. He has previous experience managing Wal-Mart's less-than-truckload cross-docks and third party consolidators nationwide. Foster started with Wal-Mart as safety manager in Plainview, Texas, and has been in his current role for 13 years.

He has been a member of NPTC since 1997 and has served on the Legislative and Regulatory Review Committee since its inception. He is currently vice-chair, chair-elect of the board.

Gary Strausbaugh, vice president of transportation for Mennel Milling Company, was elected vice-chair, chair-elect, while Ralph Benson, president of Sentinel Transportation, was elected secretary. Harry Haney, associate director of logistics operations at Kraft Foods, remains as NPTC treasurer.

In addition, the Council elected five new members to the board, including Larry J. Ahlers, vice president of transportation, Oldcastle Architectural; Mark Catlin, national account executive, J.J. Keller & Associates; J. Bedford Monday, Jr., logistics manager at Schwans Logistics; Randy Perry, fleet safety manager for Frito-Lay; and Robert M. Polka, director of fleet services with Utility Shared Services.