Reading Truck Equipment and Masterack are integrating their operations to create one of North America’s largest commercial vehicle upfit organizations.
The move combines Masterack’s leadership in cargo management solutions for commercial vans and pickup trucks with Reading’s nationwide network of commercial vehicle upfit, installation, parts and service locations, offering consumers access to exp…
Ten-Nine Technologies is scaling production of TENIX, its patented cathode additive, as the battery industry’s shift toward manganese-rich chemistries accelerates. The company describes TENIX as “anti-aging for batteries.”
Unwanted chemical byproducts build up inside batteries each time they are charged or discharged; this is the same process that raises your smartphone’s temperature and shrinks…
The Fuse Saver 2nd Gen Series from Innovative Products of America is a dedicated short-circuit diagnostic solution engineered to eliminate blown fuses, smoke testing and damaged harnesses during automotive electrical troubleshooting.
Chasing intermittent shorts often leads to burned-out fuses, melted fuse blocks and wasted diagnostic hours. The Fuse Saver replaces standard fuses with color-coded…
Fleetio recently announced general availability of its AI Service Advisor, which is designed to aid fleets in making faster maintenance decisions and automating routine processes. Built on one of the largest proprietary fleet maintenance datasets in North America, it was used to assess more than $1.4 billion in maintenance spend during a six-month open beta. On average, Fleetio reported, Service…
OTR Engineered Solutions has introduced OTR3DLab, a first-of-its-kind prototyping service intended to dramatically reduce product development timelines.
For decades, bringing a new off-the-road tire, wheel or track concept to life has typically meant extensive lead times, significant investment in tooling, and limited opportunity to conduct full-scale visual evaluations prior to making production…
Andax Industries’ Transformer Containment Bag System (TCBS) has received the Plant Engineering 2026 Product of the Year Bronze Award, recognizing the system as an innovative solution designed to improve utility crew safety, simplify transformer handling and support regulatory compliance.
Developed through direct collaboration with electric utilities, the TCBS provides crews and safety managers wi…
CAS Automotive recently announced the public launch of Damaged Equipment, an on-demand remarketing service created to help businesses, insurers, dealers and fleet operators sell damaged, surplus, aging and end-of-life commercial equipment.
The announcement marks Damaged Equipment’s first official introduction to the market after operating as a proof of concept since the end of 2025. CAS Automotiv…
Navigating complex infrastructure projects demands fleet equipment that works as hard as the crews who operate it. In this product showcase, check out seven recent manufacturer innovations engineered to elevate operator safety, shrink operating costs, and deliver the power, precision and payload capacity required to build and maintain the country’s critical public works systems.
210 P-Tier Excava…
Fleet management looked quite a bit different when Mike Donahue first walked through Omaha Public Power District’s doors in the early 1990s. For starters, much of the technology integral to today’s fleet operations simply did not exist yet.
Now, almost 35 years later, Donahue has borne witness to – and helped to lead – one of the most transformational periods in utility fleet management history…
As utility fleets strive to reduce engine idling, manufacturers are expanding their mobile power offerings with crew productivity in mind. The solutions highlighted here offer three approaches to powering tools, electronics and other jobsite instruments – all without the need to idle your truck.
Altec: Integrated Energy Management Altec’s Jobsite Energy Management System (JEMS) is designed to red…
There’s no escaping the artificial intelligence hype. Utilities are currently using it to assist with a wide range of tasks, from composing emails and communicating with customers to conducting virtual equipment inspections.
As a utility fleet professional, you’re likely to encounter different types of AI in your daily work. For example, digital assistants like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are a…
Regular gas cost an average of $2.81 per gallon in January, per the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Diesel was $3.52.
Then, in early March, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz – which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – began to experience severe restrictions in response to U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
By the end of Ma…
Although tires represent a significant portion of fleet operating costs, emerging technologies are giving fleet managers more control than ever. Data-driven maintenance strategies – which combine telematics and predictive insights to proactively manage tire health – help extend tire life, reduce downtime and ultimately lower total operating costs.
Fleets that consistently control tire costs focus…
Fleet equipment trailers don’t always get the attention they deserve.
These hardworking assets haul heavy equipment, often across rough terrain, in all types of weather conditions. But because they don’t have engines, trailers sometimes find themselves pushed to the bottom of the maintenance priority list – a misstep that could lead to injuries, unexpected and unnecessary costs, and legal repercu…
This year, the American Public Works Association will host its annual Public Works Expo (PWX) – the largest gathering of its kind – in Houston from August 30 through September 2. The event is expected to bring together more than 5,000 attendees at the George R. Brown Convention Center for what APWA describes as a “first-class multi-modal learning experience designed for professionals at all level…
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…
TM Products LLC has announced the availability of their new 16-inch Tire Mask, engineered to help utility fleets improve wheel appearance and safety.
Utility truck wheels are prone to rusting and corrosion, but periodic painting can keep them looking new and increase vehicle resale value. Tire Mask cuts masking and cleanup time by 90% during the wheel-painting process, with no need to dismount. I…
Thermal imaging and monitoring solutions company moviTHERM has announced the launch of Irley, a new IoT thermal camera built to flag fire risk, equipment failure and heat-related problems so that fleet teams can step in before they turn into costly damage.
Irley watches continuously for hot spots and alerts the right people the moment it detects one, whether that’s a charging station overheating…
Ford recently revealed Fathom, the first vehicle off its new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, starting at $28,350 MSRP. It was named to reflect the depth of engineering and innovation behind the vehicle.
Fathom is well-suited to a wide range of commercial, municipal and government fleet applications, from code enforcement and inspections to parking services and general city fleet needs. Its c…
Work Truck Week, produced annually by NTEA – The Work Truck Association, will return to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 9-12, 2027.
New for the 2027 event, NTEA – working in collaboration with NAFA Fleet Management Association – is launching the Future Truck Summit March 9, replacing the long-running Green Truck Summit. The full-day gathering will move beyond the traditional f…
