Outfitting Utility Trucks for Faster Storm Response
Today, the term “100-year storm” no longer means what it once did, with severe weather events now occurring more frequently. Because restoration efforts are vital to public safety, this uptick means…
What’s Your Bucket IQ?
I know a lot about buckets, but it wasn’t until after I hung up my tools that I learned much of what I’m going to share with you in this article.
Background I was lucky to work as a lineman when I di…
Navigating the Road Ahead
Commercial vehicle industry professionals are about to converge on the Indiana Convention Center for Work Truck Week 2026. Produced by NTEA – The Work Truck Association, it is North America’s largest…
The View From the Starboard Seat
I’ve spent the last 15 years in the co-pilot’s chair.
As managing editor of Utility Fleet Professional since the very beginning, my job has been to navigate – checking the maps, verifying the data an…
Designing Safe and Inclusive Work Systems for a Neurodiverse Workplace
Editor’s Note: Utility Fleet Professional readers’ initial reaction to the following article might be, “HIPAA?” You are encouraged to check for yourself, but HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability…
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The iPi monthly forum is where you can get answers to questions you have from subject matter experts like David McPeak, Jim Vaughn, Danny Raines and other utility safety and ops professionals like yourself. Forums will include industry specific topics, challenges, trends, and solutions along with best practices in leadership, operations, and safety.
Smarts Fleets & Technology
The Latest Developments in Aerial Equipment Safety
Efforts to improve aerial work platform safety have fueled multiple recent technological innovations now available for use by utility organizations.
Among the critical features found in modern bucket trucks are collision-mitigation systems and reverse sensors and camera systems, according to Chr…
Top 5 Fleet Electrification Trends to Watch in 2026
Two years ago at NTEA’s Work Truck Week, electric vehicles dominated the conversation. Every OEM touted its electrification solutions. The message was clear: the future is all-electric, and it’s happening now.
Fast-forward to today and the picture looks different.
“It’s clear the EV market is…
Keys to Crafting a Strong Fleet Telematics RFP
Developing a strong telematics request for proposal (RFP) is a critical and somewhat complex process that can present a host of potential challenges. To learn more about what it takes for utility fleet professionals to successfully navigate this task, UFP spoke with Beth Daiber, superintendent of f…
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Fleet Profiles
What’s Your Bucket IQ?
I know a lot about buckets, but it wasn’t until after I hung up my tools that I learned much of what I’m going to share with you in this article.
Background I was lucky to work as a lineman when I did. The buckets we used at Florida Power & Light through the 1970s were unlined, simple fiberglas…
Q&A: From Farm to Fleet and Beyond With Matt Gilliland
Matt Gilliland didn’t plan on a career in fleet management. Growing up on a Nebraska farm and later working in his father’s repair shop, he developed mechanical skills that would prove invaluable in fleet. But his initial path led elsewhere, from political science studies to social services work.
T…
Q&A: Inside ComEd’s Long-Running Biodiesel Program
In 2001, ComEd – a Chicago-based utility serving over 4 million customers across northern Illinois – became one of the first utilities in the Midwest to adopt biodiesel. Today, approximately 1,900 company vehicles run on biodiesel blends, ranging from B20 (for most of the year) to B11 (during the w…
The Latest AI Advancements for Utility Fleets
Imagine a world in which you’re predicting and fixing mechanical failures before they happen. You’re coordinating maintenance schedules across hundreds or thousands of vehicles with minimal human intervention. And you’re getting detailed answers to questions about your fleet within seconds – instea…
Q&A: From Farm to Fleet and Beyond With Matt Gilliland
Matt Gilliland didn’t plan on a career in fleet management. Growing up on a Nebraska farm and later working in his father’s repair shop, he developed mechanical skills that would prove invaluable in fleet. But his initial path led elsewhere, from political science studies to social services work…
Q&A: Inside ComEd’s Long-Running Biodiesel Program
In 2001, ComEd – a Chicago-based utility serving over 4 million customers across northern Illinois – became one of the first utilities in the Midwest to adopt biodiesel. Today, approximately 1,900 company vehicles run on biodiesel blends, ranging from B20 (for most of the year) to B11 (during the w…