Weathering What’s Ahead

Utility fleets find themselves in the thick of storm season as this issue heads to press, but cooler temps are just around the corner. The annual shift from storm response to cold-weather readiness tends to raise a familiar question: How can you get more value out of the fleet assets you already own and make smarter calls about what comes next?

This issue of Utility Fleet Professional is intended to assist you as you consider your answer.

For starters, be sure to check out our roundup of utility construction equipment innovations (page 28) to explore the newest ways in which OEMs are engineering more power, precision and payload into aerials, excavators and other hardworking machines.

Then head to page 34, where Mike Donahue, fleet manager for Omaha Public Power District, shares some of the hard-earned wisdom he’s garnered through nearly 35 years with the utility, including insights on staff recruitment and development. On page 8, learn more about how fleets are leveraging artificial intelligence tools to solve candidate recruitment and employee retention challenges.

Donahue also weighs in on this issue’s coverage of what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz (page 4). Given the Iran war’s stark reminder of just how quickly fuel prices can change, is now the time for your team to contemplate a strategy shift?

Our look at mobile power solutions on page 12 further underscores the need for thoughtful product evaluation and alignment with your fleet’s operational reality. Plus, we rethink tire ROI (page 24) and dig into equipment trailer maintenance (page 18) – two areas in which discipline now can prevent downtime later.

As always, I extend deep gratitude to you for reading UFP and for everything you continue to do to keep utility operations rolling.