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Management Archive



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 […]
Mandating Drunk Driving Detection

When Will Drunk-Driving Detection Be Mandated on Light Vehicles?

| David Cullen |
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 […]
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How to Best Interview Fleet Personnel

| David Cullen |
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 […]
Wisdom of the Bullfrog

Tap into ‘The Wisdom of the Bullfrog’ for Career Growth

| Sean M. Lyden |
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, […]
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New EPA Rules Proposal: How Will You Prepare Your Fleet?

| Sean M. Lyden |
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. […]
Atul Gawande Checklist

‘The Checklist Manifesto’ for High-Performing Fleet Professionals

| Sean M. Lyden |
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 […]

How Fleet Maintenance Can Advance Driver Safety 

| David Cullen |
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 […]

Effective Strategies for Keeping Your Top Technicians

| Denise Rondini |
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 […]

Flexibility and Safety Drive Utility Choices in Aerial Devices

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 […]

Will Hydrogen Electrify the Future of Heavy-Duty Trucks?

| Sean M. Lyden |
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 […]
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Leadership Strategies: 6 Persuasion Principles to Win People Over

| Sean M. Lyden |
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 […]
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Winterizing Your Crews

| Grace Suizo |
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 […]
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How to Retain Technicians in a Tight Labor Market

| David Cullen |
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 […]
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Will Your Fleet Need to Rightsize in a Post-Pandemic World?

| Sandy Smith |
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 […]
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Fleet 2030: The Top Trends Utility Fleets Should Watch This Decade

| Grace Suizo |
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 […]
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Leadership Strategies: Negotiating as if Your Career Depends on It

| Sean M. Lyden |
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 […]
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Do Tire Chains Make Sense for Your Utility Fleet Vehicles?

| Sandy Smith |
It wasn’t so long ago that, when the calendar began its march toward winter, fleets dug out tire chains and issued them to each vehicle. When inclement weather eventually arrived, it was up to the operator to install the chains. In recent years, however, things have changed, both in terms of options for traction devices […]
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Smart Hiring Tips for Fleet Professionals

| Sean M. Lyden |
You’re looking to hire a mechanic, shop supervisor or data analyst. You’ve sorted through the applications and resumes, creating a shortlist of candidates who look great on paper. Now, it’s time for the interviews to assess who would be the best choice for the job. But when candidates operate as their own public relations agent, […]
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How is the Coronavirus Pandemic Affecting Fleet Rightsizing?

| Max Chesnes |
Among the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the impact it is having on utility fleet rightsizing efforts across the U.S. Traditionally, rightsizing is about understanding the values and measurements of the appropriate level of fleet utilization, according to Charles Guthro, vice president of global strategic services for ARI (www.arifleet.com). The fleet management services company […]
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Does Your Fleet Need a Data Analyst?

When Nebraska Public Power District added telematics capabilities to 200 of its work trucks, a few surprises lurked in the early reports. The data showed the work trucks spent much more time idling than anecdotal evidence from drivers and fleet managers had suggested, according to Matt Gilliland, director of operations for the largest public utility […]