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Work Truck Week 2023 Heads Back to Indy

Work Truck Week – North America’s largest work truck event – returns to Indianapolis March 7-10. Education sessions run March 7-9; the exhibit hall will be open March 8-10; and the Ride & Drive is scheduled for March 8 and 9. Also part of Work Truck Week is the Green Truck Summit, which takes place […]
Image courtesy of Hyzon

The Latest Developments in the Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Truck Market

| Gary L. Wollenhaupt |
Fuel cells powered by hydrogen have become an attractive technology because hydrogen powers an electric motor – without plugging in, as you do with a battery-electric vehicle – and the only emission out of the tailpipe is water. Big-name truck makers including Toyota, Kenworth and Navistar have entered the fray. And then there are new […]

What’s New in Truck and Van Upfits for 2023?

| Sean M. Lyden |
As you evaluate your truck and van specs, where do you see the best opportunities for improvement? Perhaps you could take weight out of the vehicle to reduce fuel costs or increase legal payload. Or upgrade your equipment to be more efficient and ergonomic, improving crew productivity and safety. Or electrify your onboard equipment to […]
Image courtesy of Pac Lease

The State of Fleet Maintenance in 2023

| David Cullen |
The outlook for fleet maintenance costs and shop operations in 2023 is again influenced by the state of the economy and the supply chain, as well as by the ongoing nationwide tech shortage. To help pinpoint the leading challenges the year ahead poses to utility fleet managers, UFP spoke with Chris Foster, manager of fleet […]
SDGE

6 Lessons Learned (So Far) on the Fast Track to an All-Electric Fleet

| Sean M. Lyden |
Ready or not, EVs are coming to your fleet. Governments have mandated it. Automakers have committed to it. And recent federal legislation has earmarked billions of dollars for it. But the colossal changes in vehicle design and “fueling” infrastructure will undoubtedly create numerous potholes on the road to electrification. Will there be enough models available […]
VMAC

Spec’ing Truck-Mounted Air Compressors

| David Cullen |
Like most everything else that’s installed in the manufacturing and outfitting of a utility truck, there’s no one-size-fits-all choice when it comes to spec’ing a truck-mounted compressor to best meet the demands of a given application. There’s a lot to think about, ranging from the compressor’s placement on the chassis to ensuring the correct flow […]

Despite the Momentum for Electric Vehicles, the Future is Still Uncertain

Many in the media, myself included, have touted the inevitability of electric vehicles. And for good reason. In unison, the automakers, the federal government, several state governments and the utility industry have declared 2035 the year the entire U.S. will flip the switch to all-electric transportation. The thinking is that federal regulations have worked to […]

ATVs and UTVs: Minimizing the Hazards

Throughout all of industry, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) are involved in the majority of off-highway vehicle (OHV) incidents that result in injury. It’s not much different in the utility industry. While there is no official mechanism for counting or comparing vehicle class versus incidents, surveys and experience seem to indicate that […]

Pitfalls to Avoid When Transitioning to a Fleet Management Information System

| Grace Suizo |
A fleet management information system (FMIS) is an essential back-office system designed to help fleet managers keep records and generate reports regarding the effective and efficient operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of their fleet assets. But pulling and integrating data from a wide range of sources into a single system can be a daunting task. […]
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 […]