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2026 FLEET OF THE
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2026 PRIVATE FLEETS OF THE YEAR
With a focus on safety, culture, and TCO, these private carriers define modern fleet excellence
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by Josh Fisher s trucking increasingly looks to optimize with artificial intelligence and automation, the most successful private fleets prove that transportation remains a people business. Technology upgrades and algorithm-driven routing are proving powerful tools, but they matter more when you have a fleet culture built around humans behind the wheel and in the office with a shared purpose. FleetOwner honored three exceptional private transportation operations that are thriving by balancing technological innovation with a human-driven culture that delivers for their parent companies and customers. Circle K’s Fuel South Express, ProVia Logistics, and Ross Transportation Services are the 2026 FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year award winners. Sponsored by Descartes, a global leader in delivery management, the annual awards presented during the National Private Truck Council’s annual conference in Orlando recognize excellence in safety, efficiency, and community outreach. These awards aim to celebrate the human operations that successfully cut through industry noise to execute their daily missions. “Descartes is extremely proud to help FleetOwner shine a light on these private carriers that embody the spirit of our trucking industry,” Cyndi Brandt, VP of fleet solutions for Descartes, said. “These fleets are early adopters of technology, operate very safely and efficiently, and give back to the communities in which
Representatives from the top private fleets of 2026 accept their awards at the NPTC annual conference. From left: Lee Karlinsky of Descartes, Chris Fada of Ross Transportation Services, Wyman Miller of ProVia, Aaron Huffaker of Circle K, Hayden Cardiff of Descartes, and FleetOwner’s Josh Fisher. Photo: Dan Ledbetter
they reside. These attributes align with Descartes’ primary mission of supplying best-in-class technology solutions to our fleet customers.”
companies have seen private fleets as an expensive necessity. The 2026 winners prove that a private fleet is a powerful differentiator.
Winning themes
About the 2026 winners
While our three winners span different operational sizes and sectors—moving cargo that includes hazardous waste, bulk fuel, and building materials—they share five distinct operational threads that define modern fleet excellence: • Safety and compliance: Safety is the foundational priority across each of the three fleets. • Leveraging technology for TCO: All three fleets are heavily invested in technology to drive operational efficiency. • Strong driver culture: Treating drivers well and providing work-life balance is helping these fleets retain their best drivers. • Commitment to community: These fleets view themselves as corporate citizens with a responsibility to give back. • Turning transportation into a strategic asset: Historically, corporate parent
Small fleet winner: Ross Transportation Services is a family-owned enterprise celebrating its 75th anniversary. This specialized 25-driver hazardous waste carrier achieved a perfect 0.0 DOT recordable accident rate this past year. Profile begins on page 14. Midsize fleet winner: ProVia Logistics supports its parent company, a premier building-products manufacturer. This fleet team cut operational costs by 2.6% using an internally designed custom load board and innovative driver rewards. Profile begins on page 16. FleetOwner 500 winner: Ranked No. 394 on the FleetOwner 500: Private list, Circle K’s Fuel South Express, a massive bulk hauler, keeps retail locations supplied by using predictive logistics to eliminate fuel outages under the toughest conditions. Profile begins on page 18. FO
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