Brian Johnson was an incoming senior industrial and systems engineering student at Auburn University when he started a summer internship at Alabama Power, a Southern Company. At the time, he wasn’t looking for a career in fleet. But as for many in the industry, fleet found him. Nearly two decades later, Johnson is the fleet […]

When it comes to rightsizing your fleet in the utility sector, traditional models fall short. Unlike package delivery fleets that can schedule around predictable peaks, utility fleets must maintain enough vehicles for unpredictable emergencies while also controlling costs. “On a typical day in the utility sector, only about 60% of fleet vehicles leave the yard,” […]

To accurately forecast trends for the coming year, some consideration must be given to the past. In recent years, utility fleet leaders – in addition to their many other responsibilities – have been tasked with safely guiding employees through a pandemic while also trying to stay on top of an ever-increasing number of new vehicles […]

Two activities are critical to a fleet manager’s successful search for new truck-mounted compressors. First is gaining a full understanding of the application, vehicle constraints and long-term needs. Second is determining the correct specifications – based on the application – to ensure equipment performance, efficiency and longevity. In a recent interview with UFP, Vanair’s John […]

NTEA – The Work Truck Association’s annual Work Truck Week is set to take place March 4-7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, offering industry professionals various educational and networking opportunities – including the inaugural Commercial Vehicle Data Exchange & Reception. On March 4, attendees will gather for the Green Truck Summit, which debuted […]

The path of progress is never a straight line, and the road to electric vehicle adoption is no exception. While there may be zigs and zags, the market for fleet vehicles is trucking toward further adoption of EVs for light- and medium-duty applications. The regulatory environment is a big driver of change. In March 2024, […]

“People leave managers, not companies.” That’s the main point of Gallup’s longtime bestselling book “First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently.” And fleet departments aren’t immune. If you want to attract and keep talented technicians, supervisors, engineers or employees in other roles, the buck stops with you. Are you the […]

Establishing adequate charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is among the challenges utility fleet managers and their staff must successfully navigate to achieve their organization’s vehicle and equipment electrification goals. The first step is determining whether the organization has the capacity to support its electrification plans; if sufficient capacity does not exist, decisions must be made […]

Utilities and utility contractors highly value safety. However, labor shortages can sometimes corner field supervisors into making a judgment call about whether an equipment operator is ready for the task. If Foreman A believes an operator is ready after several weeks of training but Foreman B believes the operator still needs several months, who is […]