John McQuaid, president and CEO of the National Private Truck Council, has announced that his organization is making several major changes to reduce expenses since the organization is currently running about $300,000 in the red.

The council will outsource its finance and accounting operations. George Mundell, who has been advertising director for the association's Business Trucking magazine will become VP of Operations, a new staff position. He will oversee the council's internal operations. Matt Mlynarczyk, NPTC federal and congressional lobbyist, is leaving the Council as a full-time position as part of the downsizing. McQuaid said he expects to work out a plan for Mlynarczyk to continue on a part-time basis.
McQuaid said NPTC is seeking a buyer for Business Trucking, which has been losing money. Several publishers are said to be interested. While the magazine has a circulation of 19,000, only about 1,000 copies go to NPTC members, the balance being non-members who have been getting it free under controlled circulation. David Sparkman's position as editor and director of communications has been eliminated. Sparkman has been working to put out the July issue.
McQuaid also said that the new NPTC dues structure approved by the board last December will start with the August billing cycle. The new plan is $650 per company rather than a certain amount per truck operated. Maximum dues had been capped at $1,650. McQuaid and the Membership Committee are optimistic that the new flat rate dues structure will also help to attract new members to the Council. Fleet membership is approximately 1,000 companies.
A new dues category for "additional member" at $99 has been announced for companies that want to have more than one representative attending meetings and getting NPTC mailings.
"We think an annual membership for $650 -- that's only $1.78 a day -- is a great bargain for a corporation with its own truck fleet or using outside logistics, to be able to stay on top of critical changing government regulations on almost a daily basis. We're very optimistic that companies will find our new dues structure very affordable and a good investment," McQuaid said.