Most fleet safety programs have been built around the incident review. A crash happens, followed by an investigation. Procedures are adjusted. Training is reinforced. There is no doubt this work matters. But what can leaders do to identify and address risk before an incident occurs? For utility fleets that have invested in telematics, one option […]
As director of administration for the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (https://eufmc.com), Ann Brown-Hailey has guided the event through decades of growth and change while preserving its unique qualities. Utility fleet-specific educational sessions, equipment demonstrations and displays, networking opportunities and a personal touch keep attendees returning year after year. Getting Started Her path to fleet […]
Alternative fuels appeal to utility fleets largely because they release fewer emissions and typically cost less than traditional gasoline and diesel. But with numerous options available, how do fleet professionals determine the best fit for their operations? To answer that question, UFP reached out to several subject matter experts, who shared their take on three […]
As commercial and residential development expand across the U.S., utilities must keep pace with infrastructure installations, maintenance and repairs. This work can require crews to traverse challenging terrain that traditional vehicles weren’t built to handle. One effective solution? All-terrain utility vehicles. “With the infrastructure growth that we’re going to have over the next few years, […]
Fleet management responsibilities have expanded in recent years as utilities have invested in advanced vehicle technology, telematics systems and more. Operator readiness, however, is frequently managed by other departments (e.g., training, safety, operations). This fragmented approach to risk potentially puts the keys to best-in-class assets in the hands of workers who are not fully prepared […]
Utility fleets are tough on equipment, sometimes in ways that can be difficult to see. A bucket truck running uneven loads on unpaved roads during storm restoration efforts, for example, will not experience wear and tear in the same way as a delivery van on a highway route. Patterns that lead to failures tend to […]
In safety management, data is often treated as objective truth. Leaders use incident rates, near-miss reports, injury trends and predictive models to guide them as they prioritize risk and allocate organizational resources. Yet data can quietly mislead us, particularly when bias is embedded in what we collect and our measurement and interpretation methods. Effective, ethical […]
Employers in the electric utility industry are currently working on initiatives in various areas of their businesses, including safety, quality, production, leadership, and human and organizational performance (HOP). These are important programs, but it’s unlikely they’ll fully achieve their intended objectives if employees don’t have a firm grasp on how these various aspects of work […]
Coinciding with the country’s 250th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the 73rd annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference will take place May 31 to June 3 at the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center in Virginia. “Driving Safety, Sustainability & Technical Expertise” is the theme of this year’s educational program. LG&E […]
There’s no shortage of innovation in fleet. The challenge isn’t finding new tools – it’s leveraging them in ways that deliver real impact. That idea is a common thread throughout this issue of Utility Fleet Professional. Telematics, for instance, has long promised safer, more efficient operations, but data alone won’t alter outcomes. Progress occurs as […]
