Saddle Creek taps Erwin to head transport operations

Saddle Creek Logistics Services, a third-party logistics provider, said yesterday it named John Erwin to the newly created role of vice president of transportation, a move that puts Erwin in charge of the Lakeland, Fla.-based company's fastest growing division.

Erwin, who joined privately held Saddle Creek in 2011, will oversee day-to-day operations of about 60 percent of the company's truck fleet, which is scattered across multiple locations nationwide. In the past four years, Saddle Creek's fleet has doubled in size to 445 trucks, spurred by the growth of trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Saddle Creek has one of the largest CNG fleets of any for-hire provider with 175 CNG-powered trucks. It expects to add 25 more this year. Erwin managed the CNG ramp-up, one of the most ambitious projects in the company's history.

In the past, all fleet operations reported to Michael DelBovo, president of the transportation unit. However, the fleet's growth made it difficult for DelBovo to handle that task along with his other responsibilities, according to Tom Collins, Saddle Creek's director of marketing.

A director-level executive will be appointed to Erwin's prior role. The director will report to Erwin, the company said.