FirstFleet Leadership

As co-founder and CEO the people and partnerships of FirstFleet are deeply personal and important to me. When my late husband and I started this business in 1986 we began with the simple principles of delivering excellent service to our customers and taking good care of our associates. 

Today through partnerships with the FirstFleet leadership team around the country I am honored to continue this legacy by working to ensure the heart and soul of our company values endure.  

As Chairman of the Board it is my honor and privilege to provide guidance to our executive leadership team and to ensure the overall strategy and health of the organization remains strong and consistent with our founding roots.

As an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience at FirstFleet I have witnessed a great deal of change in our organization, customers, and culture. I am deeply proud of the fact that throughout all these changes FirstFleet has remained true to our mission by never wavering on our commitment to excellence or our heart to treat people the way we want to be treated.

Strategy and tactics have and will change over time, but the core principles of our company have remained consistent and true.

Email: DRBeeny@firstfleetinc.com

With more than 30 years of experience of service and leadership at FirstFleet I am tasked with ensuring that we remain true to the values that the organization was founded upon. I am thankful to share this responsibility with a wise leadership team who shares the vision of doing business the right way. 

Day to day I interact with our workforce, vendors and customers with the intention of learning how we may better service their needs and operate our business with greater efficiency and results.

Email: dppiper@firstfleetinc.com

As Director of Sales I am accountable for providing our customers with the highest standards of service at competitive rates. When my parents founded the business in 1986 my father was known for championing that when people come first success will follow. I am proud to continue the legacy our company was founded on. Throughout my professional career I have sought to care for people while looking for solutions that solve the complex challenges our dedicated customers face. 

At FirstFleet it is our values that guide us. These principles reflect who we are as a business and family. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the unique needs of your business today.

Email: PAWilson@firstfleetinc.com

In my role as Director of Purchasing I am accountable for the stewardship of corporate asset and property purchases. With more than 30 years of experience in the family business I recognize that how we spend money and who we spend it with is a reflection of our company values. I am honored to carry forward the tradition and principles our company was founded upon.

Our collective expectations of integrity and honesty within our own business extend to those we partner with. With strong trust in our vendor relationships we are able to exceed the expectations of our shippers by delivering top notch service at fair prices. 

Email: ACWilson@firstfleetinc.com

Throughout my career I have come to realize that the key to success is always relationships. My role is to ensure that the individuals and organizations who entrust us with their freight are cared for in a way that reflects the true heart & values of FirstFleet. My method of conducting business is never high pressured, and I am always looking for win-win opportunities.

If given the opportunity to understand the intricacies of a potential partner’s business I am confident that the services and offerings of FirstFleet can be applied in ways that leverage the strength of our people, assets, and experience in positive ways.

Dedicated freight is a unique service that requires flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to go the extra mile. I am proud of the team we have at FirstFleet and grateful the relationships I have made along the way.

Email: WEThompson@firstfleetinc.com

As Vice President of Operations, I have devoted my 25+ years of transportation and management experience to help mentor and guide a team, who’s knowledge, experience and skills are team focused and customer oriented. It is essential that our team understand the necessity of creative solutions and unmatched levels of service that our customers and employees deserve. We hold true to our company core values by embracing the changes of our industry and customers while delivering safe and on time service.

My goal is to uphold our company reputation of reliability and family business ethics, to provide an open-minded customized service for our customers and a desirable work environment for our industry leading team.

Email: RWright@firstfleetinc.com

As Director of Business Process Improvement I am accountable for new initiatives designed to add value to our offerings, enhance the services we provide, add efficiency to business processes and overall look for ways to improve.

I am passionate about engaging our team members with transparency by seeking their feedback for opportunities to improve as an organization. Our Core Value of Embracing Change as a Reality of Progress is essential to my ability to encourage and bring about lasting and impactful change. 

Email: RKWilson@firstfleetinc.com

As Vice President of operations, I am privileged to serve our team members across the enterprise. Dedicated to driving operational excellence through innovative, people-first solutions that prioritize safety and build trust with employees and clients alike. As a seasoned transportation professional, my tactical approach to logistic solutions has proven beneficial to our organization and our customers. People are the foundation of any great organization, and relationships built on trust are the pillars. My objective is to safely serve my employees, my customers, and my organization. I firmly believe that by prioritizing the well-being of those I work with, I can create an environment of mutual respect and trust, leading to more efficient and effective operations. My commitment to safety and customer service is unwavering, as I strive to be a reliable partner in achieving our shared goals.

Having worked in many different roles over my 30+ years in transportation, I enjoy visiting our locations, learning from our people that make FirstFleet an industry leader as a true Dedicated Contract Carrier. Whether spending time with our technicians at our shop locations or having coffee with our Professional drivers in a driver's room I enjoy my time out in the field. While I have never driven as a primary job, I am proud that I have maintained my commercial driver’s license since 1991 and know what life on the road is like for our drivers. Outside of work I am a Proud father of (6), and grandfather to (5), my wife Gannon and I enjoy spending time with family whenever time allows. I enjoy golfing, have coached Ping Junior Interclub teams and like spending time outdoors. I am proud to serve our Military Veterans and Chair annual golf events that have raised much needed funding for worthy Veteran organizations like The Gary Sinise Foundation. I am also proud of FirstFleet’s participation in Wreath’s Across America. 

Email: Robb@firstfleetinc.com

As the Vice President of Operations at FirstFleet, Alan brings over three decades of industry leadership and expertise to the organization. With a strong background in customer relations and operations, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and innovation for over 25 years.

Alan joined FirstFleet in 1999, since then, has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s market presence and enhancing its service offerings. He is known for his process driven approach to operational success. He believes in open and honest communication, and a commitment to excellence every day.  

With a passion for the hard-working people of the trucking industry, Alan constantly advocates for drivers and front-line operators. His leadership has spearheaded numerous successful growth initiatives, helping Firstfleet enhance its reputation as a leader in the industry in the dedicated logistics space.

Email: ADVendur@firstfleetinc.com

As Vice-President of Risk Management and Safety I am entrusted with identifying, implementing, and constantly monitoring a best-practice risk management and safety practice that protects the interest and security of FirstFleet, its’ customers, employees, and those we share the highway with.

The task of developing and maintaining our critical safety policy and risk mitigation infrastructure is always challenging; however, it is made easier here as it is truly a natural extension of FirstFleet core operating values and our company’s commitment to SERVE; Serving our community, our customers and all FirstFleet employees.  This commitment and the relentless daily pursuit of Safety Excellence, drives me personally and professionally, and is one that I take great pride in and personal responsibility for.

I am thankful to lead a team of like-minded, experienced Risk and Safety industry experts in this charge every day. At FirstFleet, having a “Culture of Safety” is not just a noble sentiment; it defines who we are, how we operate and is the highest of our priorities.

Email: LMerklein@firstfleetinc.com

Mark Bio

Email: mdmcknight@firstfleetinc.com

In my responsibility as CIO I strive to provide leadership to all technology related needs of the organization by seeking to uphold the Core Values of FirstFleet through initiatives that drive safety and efficiency into our operations.

Technology is not an afterthought at FirstFleet, and I am proud to lead a team of industry experts who make great things happen. Regardless of the audience we seek to provide solutions that solve real problems by reducing friction in our interactions and overall increasing the quality of life for those we serve.

Email: austin@firstfleetinc.com