ATLANTA – The National Private Truck Council (NPTC), a trade association representing the interests of corporate and business truck fleet managers, presented its F.L.E.E.T. Leadership Awards at the recent NPTC 2004 Education Management Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta Since 1990, the NPTC F.L.E.E.T. Awards (For Leadership, Enterprise, and Excellence in Trucking) have annually recognized individuals who have made significant contributions to the NPTC, their profession, and the private trucking community. Private Fleet Executive of the Year, NPTC's highest individual award, was presented to Ralph Benson, president of Sentinel Transportation in Wilmington, Del. Named Fleet Safety Professional of the Year was Kevin Connors, CTP, of ConAgra Foods Inc. in Omaha, Neb. The Fleet Member of the Year Award went to Ken Higgins of J.F. Fick Inc. in Fredericksburg, Va. This year’s winner of the Allied Member of the Year Award was Chris Oliver of PrePass in Phoenix, Ariz. The Membership Development Award went to Don Metcalf of Penske Truck Leasing in Reading, Pa. Also announced were the Commercial Vehicle Graphics Awards. The annual event, sponsored by the NPTC Carrier Journal Magazine, recognizes fleets for creative and conspicuous graphics design, color schemes, and general appearance that enhances the motor carrier industry's public image and the image or products of the company operating the vehicles. This year's award winners are: Day Category First Place: Visionscapes Inc., Tucker, Ga. Second Place: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Nashville, Tenn. Third Place: Zephyrhills Water, division of Nestlé Waters North America, Tampa, Fla. Night Category First Place: Cooper Tired Company, Findlay, Ohio. Second Place: Poland Spring, division of Nestlé Waters North America, Brea, Calif. Third Place: Cardinal Health 200, Inc., McGraw, Ill.