Utility fleets have many reasons to implement a safe driving program. Besides the obvious – to reduce the risk of accidents and protect the lives of fleet drivers – lowering crash rates can also save fleets costs related to vehicle repairs, rental costs, decreased productivity, vehicle downtime, insurance premium increases and high-dollar lawsuits. If you’re […]
With the industry’s ongoing shortage of qualified vehicle technicians, fleet managers need effective strategies to keep their top performers. Compensation is meaningful, but communication is the real key to retaining technicians, said Paul Jefferson, senior fleet manager for Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E), an investor-owned utility based in Oklahoma City. The results of an OG&E […]
If you’re a utility fleet manager who isn’t thinking about cybersecurity, the question is, should you be? Cyberattacks on utilities increased by more than 200% in 2023, according to a report from asset intelligence firm Armis (www.armis.com). In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned water utilities of a heightened risk of attack from foreign […]
While the automotive industry is recovering from the worst of the pandemic-era disruptions, many vehicles still have extended lead times that are disrupting fleet acquisition plans. Pre-COVID, lead times for most vehicles were about three months, which stretched to as much as 12 months during the pandemic. The lead time has fallen to around six […]
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 […]
Mandatory technology that promises to curtail the carnage on the highway wrought by drunk and otherwise impaired drivers is on its way. Advanced drunk driving prevention technology (ADDPT) is the umbrella term that covers the work that’s been going on for years to leverage advanced technologies to develop devices designed to stop drunk drivers in […]
The hiring process for any job involves some dancing on the part of the employer and the applicant. Depending on the savvy and experience of the job seeker, the footwork gets most intense when the discussion moves to compensation, which covers everything from wages to health benefits to overtime rates and paid time off. The […]
As a fleet manager, you don’t just manage assets; you also lead people. And your career success hinges on how well your office staff, shop supervisors and technicians perform. So, how can you become a more effective leader poised to move up the ranks in your company? Check out Admiral William H. McRaven’s new book, […]
In April, the Biden administration raised the stakes on its ambitious emissions targets, proposing new rules affecting all vehicle classes starting from model-year 2027. With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency projecting significant increases in electric vehicle market share across various categories by 2032, the proposal is seen by many as a faster route to electrification. […]
As a fleet manager, ensuring efficiency and safety is paramount in your daily operations. But how can you effectively balance these priorities without sacrificing one for the other? One solution may lie in an unlikely place: the checklist. In “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right,” surgeon and Harvard Medical School professor Atul Gawande […]
Along with controlling the wide range of equipment costs that come with running a fleet, plus the need to maximize vehicle utilization and drivers’ time behind the wheel, every fleet maintenance program should be geared toward improving safety – to reduce operating costs and, above all, to decrease the risk exposure for fleet drivers and […]
Just how bad is the current technician shortage? According to a 2021 report from the TechForce Foundation, there are five open automotive and diesel jobs for each new technician completing a post-secondary program. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that each year from now until 2030, the deficit in the number of diesel and […]
When it comes to aerial devices, utilities heavily weigh ergonomics and the ability to accomplish the job when choosing equipment for their fleets. This, and options that provide the most flexible positioning of personnel, has influenced recent trends in equipment boom types and accessories for aerial devices. Opting for Overcenter Overcenter aerial devices are typically […]
An industry executive says that hydrogen fuel-cell trucks – and the fueling infrastructure to support them – will become more practical and affordable in the not-so-distant future. Most discussions around fleet electrification today focus on battery-electric vehicles. And for good reason. More EV models are becoming available, costs are getting closer in line with conventional […]
Dr. Robert Cialdini’s seminal work, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” first published in 1984, is a must-read for anyone in leadership – including fleet professionals – because your career success hinges on your ability to influence, persuade and win people over to your proposals and point of view. Here’s an overview of Cialdini’s six persuasion […]
There’s no need to wait until winter to start getting your fleet ready for the season, according to Ben Langley, director of training and development innovation for Driving Dynamics (www.drivingdynamics.com), a provider of fleet driver safety training and risk services. In a recent interview with UFP, Langley encouraged fleets to immediately develop a winter driving […]
Exactly when we can state with certainty that America has emerged from the coronavirus pandemic is yet unknown. But much of the country is opening again, albeit cautiously. Businesses are taking stock of what they must do to get back up to speed. In some cases, that means looking to hire new workers to replace […]
When the pandemic hit the U.S. in early 2020, the impact on utility fleets was swift. Even though utility work continued as an essential service, fleets had to adapt. Social distancing meant crews could no longer pile into one vehicle safely. Many light-duty vehicles were parked as some employees switched to home bases. Nebraska Public […]
What do utility fleet managers need to keep an eye on over the next decade? What emerging trends will have the greatest impact on fleet operations? And what do fleet professionals need to have on their radar so they don’t fall behind the curve or get blindsided? UFP recently spoke with George Survant, a former […]
What’s a common trait among highly effective fleet professionals? They’re skilled negotiators. They get the best terms when purchasing vehicles, equipment and service. They persuade senior management to protect – and increase – their annual fleet budgets. And they gain top priority from OEMs to quickly address and solve critical equipment issues. So, as you […]
