ARI hosted its fourth annual Utility Fleet Forum, March 25–27 in Grapevine, Texas. Attendees included fleet managers and personnel from some of North America’s leading utilities as well as ARI’s team of utility fleet specialists.

During the two-day forum, attendees participated in peer-to-peer sessions during which they discussed operational best practices and the latest ways to effectively approach many of the challenges commonly associated with the day-to-day operations of a complex utility fleet.

The topics, which were developed in conjunction with leading utility fleet managers to ensure they were relevant, timely and impactful, included managing operational and maintenance expenses; tackling organizational challenges; managing capital budgets; and system tools and reports used by utility fleet managers. The event also featured open sessions that provided attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas and share tips as well as network with their peers.

“To help ensure attendees have a truly valuable experience, we survey guests prior to the forum to structure an agenda that includes topics and learning opportunities that they have identified as critical areas of focus,” said Bill Doman, department head, sales support for ARI.

Paul Marshall, logistics manager for Paraco Gas, attended the forum for the first time and found the sessions immensely helpful. “As someone who is new to the fleet side of the business, it was interesting to see how other organizations tackle similar challenges,” remarked Marshall.

Also attending the Utility Fleet Forum for the first time was Pat Scanga, director, supply services with Ontario Power Generation, who enjoyed the various perspectives brought to the conversation by his peers. “Being relatively new to fleet, I welcomed the chance to see the variety of ways similar fleets are managed. Everyone contributed something unique to the discussion and the experiences shared during the course of the two days were invaluable,” said Scanga.

ARI’s Utility Fleet team, who helped moderate the two-day event, is comprised of industry veterans with specific knowledge and expertise in the utility fleet sector. These individuals work with utility fleets of any size, type and complexity to help them maximize efficiency and reduce operating costs, ultimately helping to keep vehicles on the road performing their intended function. The ARI team has experience working with fleets from every utility sector including electric, gas, co-op, water, propane and telecommunications and has a proven track record of delivering impactful results.