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AUGUST 2018 Archive

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2018 utilityfleetprofessional.com

The Value of Site-Specific Equipment Plans

| Jim Vaughn, CUSP |
Every equipment manager’s budget is impacted by unexpected losses and repairs. If you manage equipment, you know this. You may expect to get 160,000 miles out of that crew truck or 2,000 hours out of a digger derrick before major component replacement, but that’s not going to happen if a line crew drops it off […]
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CPS Energy Makes a Big Push into Truck Electrification

| Sean M. Lyden |
In recent years, the pickup truck market has been considered by many in the utility industry as the “holy grail” for fleet electrification. That’s because pickups comprise the most significant percentage of many utility fleets. So, the more of those trucks you can switch to plug-in electric powertrains – whether all-electric or hybrid – the […]
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What’s New in Digging Machines for Utility Fleets?

| Sean M. Lyden |
Whether the job is to dig trenches to lay underground power lines, to drill holes to set poles, or to dig in tight spaces, such as next to buildings or in residential backyards, the objective remains the same: to enable crews to get the most work done in the least amount of time, with the […]
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The Latest Developments in Drones for the North American Utility Sector

| Sean M. Lyden |
Although drone sales in the North American utility market will reach only about $850,000 in 2018, that number is expected to grow by more than 20 times – to $25 million – by 2026, as U.S. regulations ease and drone technology improves. That’s the outlook from Michael Hartnack, a research analyst covering drones and robotics […]
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Spec’ing the Right Cable Reel Trailer

| Jim Galligan |
Capacity, safety and flexibility top the list of features that manufacturers say should be on a utility’s spec sheet for any new cable reel trailer. But a good spec doesn’t end there. How many reels will be hauled or needed each time? Where will the trailer be used? Will loading be manual or automated? What […]
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Pros and Cons of Fuel Card Use

| Sandy Smith |
John Adkisson, transportation manager for Pennsylvania-based PPL Electric Utilities, keeps an eye on the fuel consumption of the company’s vehicles through the use of fuel cards. Each vehicle in the utility’s fleet is assigned one of these cards when the vehicle is put in service, and each employee is assigned a unique driver ID. Assigning […]
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Collaboration is Key When Rightsizing Your Fleet

| Fiona Soltes |
For organizations contemplating a fleet rightsizing effort that won’t anger end users, here’s some advice: use solid data, convey information clearly and seek understanding. “At the end of the day, it’s ultimately about communication,” said Charlie Guthro, vice president of global strategic services for fleet management company ARI (www.arifleet.com). Prior to a rightsizing initiative, operators […]
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Mistakes to Avoid When Outsourcing Maintenance

| Grace Suizo |
Outsourcing preventive maintenance and unscheduled repairs on light-duty units can help utility fleets minimize downtime and focus on the more complex mission-critical and specialized equipment in their operations. It’s easy to rent a car or pickup truck if a light-duty asset is in the shop or down for a long period of time, explained Paul […]
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Tap into the Power of Stories to Expand Your Influence

| Sean M. Lyden |
For a fleet manager, stories can be more than just entertaining anecdotes – they can be a powerful tool to motivate technicians, change employee behavior and garner senior management’s support. But what exactly is storytelling in a utility fleet environment? How do you tell a good story, especially if you’ve never thought of yourself as […]
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