DEPARTMENTS

Utility fleets across the U.S. are confronting increasing regulatory demands, rising operational costs, and the persistent challenge of training and retaining a skilled workforce. What does that mean for fleet managers? Simply put, demands for quality, compliance, efficiency and sustainability have never been greater. That is the reality ComEd Fleet Services had in mind when they began to collabo…

Fleet electrification can make a big impact on emissions reductions. Yet the journey can be long and arduous – and it’s just one piece of the larger sustainability puzzle. To gain a deeper understanding of how today’s utilities are truly defining fleet sustainability – and the work they’re doing to achieve and improve upon it – UFP recently spoke with industry insiders from Con Edison, Holman and…

With the continued proliferation of global business technology, most utility fleet managers are familiar with common digital security protocols like multifactor authentication, data protection policies and training to avoid phishing attacks. However, it’s not just laptops, tablets and cellphones that fleets need to be concerned with. Since connected vehicles are essentially computers on wheels, c…

Today’s utility fleet professionals are no strangers to the challenges of successfully integrating new technologies into their workflows – including achieving employee buy-in. As Ross Jackson Jr., CAFM, fleet superintendent for the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, emphasized in a recent interview with UFP, “Technology is always going to change, but how it’s introduced makes a big difference in whe…

Without the right accessories, a utility truck is just a truck. It’s those accessories that turn the vehicle into a job-ready asset, helping lineworkers execute their tasks more safely and efficiently. Multiple trends are currently influencing utility truck accessories, spurred by technological advances, changing work profiles and COVID-related aftereffects. For instance, the shortage of chassis…

Today, the term “100-year storm” no longer means what it once did, with severe weather events now occurring more frequently. Because restoration efforts are vital to public safety, this uptick means utility fleet professionals are facing increasing resource constraints in their mission to ensure the timely deployment of company vehicles and equipment. Still, providing lineworkers and other frontl…

I know a lot about buckets, but it wasn’t until after I hung up my tools that I learned much of what I’m going to share with you in this article. Background I was lucky to work as a lineman when I did. The buckets we used at Florida Power & Light through the 1970s were unlined, simple fiberglass Hi-Ranger platforms that got us close enough to the wire that we could hot-stick it. In my opinion…

Commercial vehicle industry professionals are about to converge on the Indiana Convention Center for Work Truck Week 2026. Produced by NTEA – The Work Truck Association, it is North America’s largest work truck event. The activities kick off March 10 with the Green Truck Summit, a premier technology conference expanded this year to include sessions on leveraging data, connected vehicles and artif…

Smith System, a global leader in driver risk management solutions, has launched the Trainer Center, a new digital platform designed to modernize and expand how fleets operate, scale and sustain the Smith System Certified Trainer Program. The platform directly responds to what the market has been asking for: a way to run trainer-led safety programs with greater consistency, visibility and proof of…

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas, PALFINGER will bring together its full North American equipment portfolio, along with service and support solutions designed to meet real jobsite demands for construction and fleet operations. Visitors will see how connected diagnostics, training, spare parts and financing work with the company’s lifting solutions to support productivity throughout the equipm…

Felling Trailers has announced the next generation of the I Series: the Drop Deck I (DDI) Series. This redesign enhances structural performance and expands capabilities for contractors, landscapers and equipment operators in North America. At the core of the DDI redesign is Felling’s investment in state-of-the-art beam-bending equipment. Combined with an optimized hitch bend point, the new press…

John Deere has ushered in a bold new era of earthmoving with the debut of its New Generation P‑Tier Midsize Excavators. Redesigned, developed and tested in‑house, this distinguished lineup – launching with the 210, 230 and 260 P‑Tier models in the 20‑metric‑ton class – goes all in to deliver the most advanced John Deere excavators yet. During the development and design process, each new excavator…

Darda North America brings the power and performance of their attachments for compact carriers – such as mini excavators, telehandlers and skid steers – to the U.S. and Canada. The North American market now has access to the company’s lineup of bolt cutters, concrete crushers, rock splitters, steel shears and tank cutters, which are suitable for a range of applications, including interior demolit…

Durabilt Durbin has introduced the all-new DuraTorQ (DTQ) Series, a patent-pending torque drive load binder engineered to redefine efficiency in load securement. Designed for drill activation, the DTQ-12 is compatible with 1/2-inch to 3/8-inch chain, while the DTQ-38 is compatible with 3/8-inch to 5/16-inch chain, delivering fast, controlled tensioning with significantly reduced physical strain…

Xos Inc., a leader in electric commercial vehicles and mobile charging solutions, recently unveiled three new capacity configurations for the Xos Hub mobile energy storage system. This expanded lineup builds on the proven reliability of the Hub platform, making rapid-deployment charging infrastructure accessible to fleets of all sizes and duty cycles. The expanded lineup brings new levels of powe…

Stahl Truck Equipment Co., a Berkshire Hathaway/Marmon Holdings company, recently launched the all-new Challenger Pro, a next-generation evolution of its trusted Challenger work truck body line. It will be debuted in March at NTEA’s Work Truck Week 2026 in Indianapolis. The Challenger Pro marks a bold advancement of Stahl’s legacy that builds on the outstanding performance of the CST truck body s…

DICA is expanding its product portfolio with the introduction of its own line of ground protection and site access mats. The new Ranger HD, Defender and Titan mats provide contractors with high-performance, cost-effective access options for a variety of jobsites. DICA will debut the company’s light-, medium- and heavy-duty mats in March at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas. Ranger HD is a 4-foot-…

Cox Automotive has launched its new fleet brand – Cox Fleet – marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to the trucking and fleet industry. More than a name change, Cox Fleet is designed to set a higher standard for uptime, aiming to keep vehicles moving, businesses running and supply chains on track. The launch of the new brand builds on Cox Automotive’s 2025 announce…

ARI-hetra, a leading U.S. manufacturer of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance equipment, will make its first appearance at the 2026 NADA Show in Las Vegas next month, bringing proven heavy-duty shop solutions to automotive dealers and service operations. Headlining the company’s exhibit is the 36,000-pound-capacity Battery-Powered Wireless Mobile Column Lift System, built for demanding shop environmen…