Note: Look for regular updates to the FFC 2026 agenda here.

As experienced fleet professionals retire, the industry faces a challenge that goes beyond filling vacant positions: How do organizations replace decades of institutional knowledge while preparing emerging leaders for a fleet management role that is rapidly changing?

Fleet Forward Conference will address that challenge in “Closing the Leadership Gap: Succession Planning for the Next Generation,” a concurrent session taking place Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 1:15 to 2 p.m.

The session will examine how fleets can develop the next generation of leaders before critical experience and expertise walk out the door.

At the same time, succession planning is complicated by how much the fleet profession itself is changing. Tomorrow’s fleet leaders will inherit operations increasingly shaped by technology, data, safety, sustainability, and greater operational complexity. Preparing a successor therefore isn't simply a matter of teaching someone how the current fleet operates; organizations must consider what capabilities their future leaders will need.

The discussion will explore mentorship, recruiting, career development, institutional knowledge transfer, and changing expectations for fleet leadership. Panelists will also examine strategies organizations can use to create a stronger pipeline of employees capable of moving into leadership positions.

Brett Bridges of BBL Fleet will moderate the discussion, joined by fleet managers Jim Petrillo, who recently retired from Fujifilm, and Kimberly Fisher of NOV.

“Fleet has traditionally been an industry where an enormous amount of knowledge is built through years of experience, and we’re reaching a point where we can’t assume that knowledge will simply pass to the next person,” said Chris Brown, conference chair. “At the same time, we shouldn’t be preparing the next generation to manage yesterday’s fleet. This session is about doing both — preserving what experience has taught us while developing leaders for what the job is becoming.”

Previous Update: What Fleets Want: FFC Panel to Examine the Future of the Fleet-OEM Relationship

Today, the relationship between fleets and automakers extends well beyond ordering and delivering vehicles.

At the 2026 Fleet Forward Conference, a leading fleet operator and technology leaders from three major automakers will come together for “What Fleets Want: The Future of the Fleet-OEM Relationship,” a plenary session examining what fleets expect from their OEM partners today — and what they will need from them next.

The session takes place Thursday, Oct. 22, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Fleet industry veteran Diana Holland, founder and managing director of Cavis, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Bob Adamsky of Arrow International; Eddie Nath of Mobilisights (Stellantis); Matt Krukin, Ford Pro’s global head of fleet solutions; and Jeff Shields, head of fleet growth at OnStar Services.

The panel is designed to bring the fleet customer directly into the conversation. Adamsky will offer the fleet operator perspective alongside leaders responsible for developing the connected services, data platforms, and technology increasingly becoming part of the OEM-fleet relationship.

“We’ve got three leaders who are deeply involved in where OEM technology and connected services are headed, but Bob is there to keep them honest from the fleet manager’s perspective,” said Chris Brown, conference chair. “He can bring every conversation back to the questions fleet managers care about: Does this solve a real problem? Does it make my operation easier? And does it deliver value in the real world?”

Customer Experience Beyond the Vehicle

Fleet managers still need vehicles that meet the demands of the job. Increasingly, however, they're also looking at what comes with those vehicles — and how well those capabilities fit into the larger fleet operation.

Connected vehicle technologies, embedded telematics, and OEM data platforms are giving fleets new ways to monitor vehicle health, improve visibility, reduce downtime, and make operating decisions.

The panel will explore where those capabilities are delivering value today, where gaps remain, and how fleets and OEMs can work together more effectively as vehicles become increasingly connected.

The conversation will also look at the growing “digital thread” across the vehicle lifecycle. Rather than treating ordering, upfitting, maintenance, connected services, and remarketing as separate stages, technology is creating opportunities to connect information across them.

About Fleet Forward Conference

Fleet Forward Conference convenes fleet operators and industry leaders to explore the technologies and strategies transforming fleet management. The 2026 conference will be held Oct. 20-22 at National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.

The event will examine developments in connected vehicles, artificial intelligence, data, safety, electrification, fleet operations, and the changing role of the fleet manager.