The Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain Management Society of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, has named trucking industry leader Don Schneider as its 2001-2002 Person of the Year.
As president of North America's largest truckload transportation carrier, Schneider National Inc, and founder of Schneider Logistics Inc, Schneider is known for his commitment to employee empowerment and for embracing technology to drive productivity.
"Technology plays a key role in what's going on in logistics today," Schneider told Smith School students during a November 9, 2001, award ceremony at the University of Maryland's Stamp Student Union. "The education process here is built upon that fact and it's on the right track. You are in a very exciting field with a lot of opportunities."
Schneider's father founded Schneider National in 1935. Since then, the junior Schneider has built the privately held Green Bay, Wisconsin, company into the leading truckload carrier with 36 operating locations in North America, 19,000 employees, and more than $3 billion in annual revenue.
In 1993, Schneider formed Schneider Logistics to help companies manage their increasingly complex logistics operations and reduce costs by applying information technology. Schneider Logistics now employs more than 1,400 logistics and IT professionals.
"Don Schneider exemplifies the professional and personal attributes we work to instill in Smith School students, superb professional capabilities, and a commitment to community," said William DeWitt, teaching professor, logistics, transportation and supply chain management at the Robert H Smith School of business. "We are very pleased to honor Mr Schneider for his outreach to students and professionals, and for his contributions to trucking and logistics services."
Schneider is chairman of the Business Advisory Committee for Northwestern University's Transportation Center and is a member of the advisory board of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He is also a member of the board and executive committee of the Green Bay Packers Football Team and a former director of the Federal Reserve Board. Schneider graduated from St Norbert College in 1957. He earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business in 1961.
The Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain Management Society provides networking and career development opportunities for Smith School undergraduates. Each year, the Society presents its Person of the Year award to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the logistics, transportation and supply chain management industry. Previous winners include Herb Johnson, past president of the Council of Logistics Management; and Edward Emmett, president of the National Industrial Transportation League.