Press Release – (Cherryville, North Carolina, January 27, 2011) C. Oren Summer, current President and Chief Executive Officer of FleetNet America, Inc., a subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS), has announced his retirement from the company effective June 30, 2011. Gary W. Cummings, current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will become FleetNet’s President and Chief Operating Officer on February 1, 2011. Mr. Summer will continue to serve as FleetNet’s Chief Executive Officer until his retirement.
Mr. Summer, who will be 65 years old at the time of his retirement, has led FleetNet since its January 1993 inception as Carolina Breakdown Service Inc. Mr. Summer began his career in the transportation industry in 1969, working in a variety of areas associated with equipment maintenance, repair and supplies at Carolina Freight Carriers Corporation, a company purchased by Arkansas Best in 1995. Throughout his career, Mr. Summer has been very active in industry trade associations including the Technology and Maintenance Council (“TMC”) of the American Trucking Associations. He has led a number of TMC task forces and study groups and he served as general chairman of TMC in 1995. Mr. Summer is currently a TMC board member. In addition to receiving several industry awards, in 2005 Mr. Summer was named the recipient of Commercial Carrier Journal’s 2005 Technology and Maintenance Career Leadership Award.
“Oren Summer has spent his entire 42 year career in the equipment and maintenance industry. He was the driving force behind the creation of FleetNet. The success it enjoys today is a result of the many years of dedication and guidance Oren has provided,” said Judy R. McReynolds, Arkansas Best President and CEO. “FleetNet provides an important service to transportation equipment fleets. Under Oren’s leadership its services have been crafted in a manner resulting in FleetNet’s leadership position in third-party equipment vendor management.”
Gary Cummings, who is 45 years old, has served in his current position for over three years. He began with the company in January 2005 as Vice President of Corporate Services. Prior to joining FleetNet, Mr. Cummings oversaw the information technology department of a former LTL subsidiary of Arkansas Best. Prior to that he served in various financial capacities at Arkansas Best. Mr. Cummings is an active member of TMC and he is involved in various industry activities. He grew up in the transportation industry. Beginning at an early age, Gary worked in a trucking company that was owned and managed by his parents.
“Throughout his various assignments at Arkansas Best and some of its subsidiaries, I have worked closely with Gary Cummings,” said Ms. McReynolds. “I am confident in his ability to follow Oren Summer in leading FleetNet into the future. Gary’s lifetime of experiences in many critical transportation areas uniquely equips him to direct FleetNet. FleetNet’s customers and employees will benefit from Gary’s positive outlook and his energetic leadership style. His focus on customer service will be an important element of further strengthening FleetNet’s reputation for providing timely, vendor resources to truck fleets all over the United States and Canada,” said Ms. McReynolds.
“During Gary’s tenure at FleetNet, he and Oren have worked together to improve FleetNet’s traditional service offerings while developing and adding new services,” said Ms. McReynolds. “In the coming months prior to Oren’s retirement, they will prepare for a seamless transition that helps preserve the superior customer care for which FleetNet is known. Following his retirement from the company, Oren will continue to provide his expertise to FleetNet as a consultant to the company.”
FleetNet America, Inc. is an industry leading, third-party vendor management company that coordinates maintenance management services comprising emergency roadside events and all other scheduled/unscheduled services for commercial and material handling equipment. FleetNet’s Coordinators and Fleet Managers, who average more than 25 years of maintenance and repair expertise, utilize a network of over 60,000 vendors throughout the continental United States and Canada. Through the FleetNet Select Towing and Recovery Program, FleetNet’s customers have nationwide access to preferential towing and recovery providers at competitive prices. Managed Care, a division of FleetNet, specializes in fleet maintenance management programs and customizes solutions to the customer’s specific needs, thus becoming a true partner in managing their fleet maintenance and in keeping equipment fully compliant.