Skip to main content

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Sean M. Lyden


Sean M. Lyden

Sean M. Lyden is the editor of Utility Fleet Professional magazine.

2024-silverado-ev-wt-220

Fleet Electrification Plans Face Reality Check Amid EV Slowdown

| Sean M. Lyden |
Last year’s NTEA Work Truck Week was a parade of new electric vehicle launches. But if recent news is a sign, the bullishness toward EVs might be more subdued at this year’s show in Indianapolis in March. The Sudden Downshift Until a couple of months ago, the EV market looked unstoppable. EV sales reached their […]
Terex Pro Controls

What’s New in Truck and Van Upfits for 2024?

| Sean M. Lyden |
The industry’s truck and van equipment manufacturers are developing new products that equip your crews to get more work done with less strain and greater safety. They’re incorporating more lightweight materials in their product designs so that you can reduce fuel costs, increase battery range or boost payload capacity. And they’re offering more electrified options […]

The Fleet Leader’s Guide to Effective Communication: Inspired by ‘Made to Stick’

| Sean M. Lyden |
Do you struggle with getting your team to understand, remember and act correctly on your instructions? How can you consistently communicate in a simple, straightforward and memorable way? How can you expand your influence with your boss and direct reports? If any of these questions relate to you, read “Made to Stick” by Chip and […]

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Are Your Electrification Targets Realistic?

The latest headlines signal that the electric vehicle market is tapping the brakes, with the road ahead becoming increasingly uncertain. How will this trend impact your company’s ability to hit its zero-emission targets? The odds are strong that you will need to convince senior management to adjust their timeline and expectations. But how do you […]

Women in Utility Fleet: Lissa Brady

| Sean M. Lyden |
Lissa Brady arrived at the University of Washington as an English major and graduated with an international studies degree. She served in various sales roles for nearly 25 years with GE Capital (now Element Financial Corp.), PACCAR Financial and Terex Utilities, earning her MBA along the way. Sales is definitely not the traditional road to […]

In Many Ways, Fleet Management is Sales

In this issue’s “Women in Utility Fleet” feature, I speak with Lissa Brady, the fleet asset manager at San Diego Gas & Electric and a director on the EUFMC board. We talked about her nontraditional path to fleet management, with more than two decades in various sales roles. She said her predecessor at SDG&E also […]
In-Vehicle Onboard Camera

6 Factors to Consider When Spec’ing Onboard Cameras

| Sean M. Lyden |
Onboard cameras can help utility fleets lower litigation risks and offer an extra set of eyes to coach drivers and improve safety. But they can also be a hard sell to many operators – and their unions – who may feel that constant video surveillance infringes on their privacy rights, especially with cab-facing cameras. How […]
PowerBully

How to Spec All-Terrain Tracked Carriers for Aerials and Derricks

| Sean M. Lyden |
How can your line crews safely get to power lines and poles that trucks can’t reach? That’s where all-terrain tracked carriers with aerial platforms and digger derricks come in. A tracked carrier is a heavy-duty off-road vehicle – with continuous tracks instead of wheels – that transports equipment, materials or personnel across challenging terrain. Its […]

Reflection and Respect

| Sean M. Lyden |
This year marks my 10th anniversary with Utility Fleet Professional and eight years as its editor. Reflecting on my time at UFP, I’m struck by the level of expertise you need to succeed in the utility sector compared to fleets in other industries. Before joining UFP, I wrote about a wide range of fleets, from […]
Manitex - TC850

What’s New in Aerial Lift Equipment in 2023?

| Sean M. Lyden |
When repairing power lines, inspecting high and hard-to-reach areas, or lifting transformers and other heavy equipment, the objective is clear: How can line crews do their jobs safer and faster? That goal has driven the development of several new products and upgrades released by top aerial platform and crane manufacturers in the past few months. […]