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Highlighting Innovation and Safety: 2023 Fleet Forward Conference [Photos]

Events•Photos 16

Hundreds of fleet professionals representing numerous segments of the industry gathered in Santa Clara, California, for the 2023 Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences Nov. 8-10.

In sessions hosted by fleet managers and other industry experts, attendees learned about ways technology can make managing fleets easier, plus ways to better protect their drivers and vehicles. Attendees networked and had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of over a dozen vehicles in the expanded Ride & Drive and vehicle showcase.

The Fleet Forward Conference offers a range of solutions including electrification, connected vehicles, autonomous technology, and more for fleets of varying segments.

The Fleet Safety Conference provides attendees with educational seminars on enhancing safety through technology and other cutting-edge solutions.

The Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences will return in 2024, in San Diego, California Nov. 6-8.

The 2023 Fleet Forward Conference kicked off with a panel of fleet industry leaders including (from left) Jeff Schuchardt of Enterprise Fleet Management, Charlotte Argue of Geotab, and Mike Hauge of Ecolab, doing a S.W.O.T. analysis led by Automotive Fleet Associate Publisher Chris Brown. The panel did a deep dive into a discussion on the industry's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

In the 2023 Fleet Safety Conference Opening Keynote, Brian Fielkow of Acrisure shared why compliance doesn't always equal safety within in a fleet.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conference attendees chose from a lineup of sessions led by their peers on fleet safety, technology, benchmark statistics, and more.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

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Government Fleet Associate Editor Christy Grimes moderated a session on fostering fleet safety through partnerships between public sector fleets, private companies, and consortiums to make fleets and vulnerable road users safer.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

(From left) Peter Goldwasser of Together for Safer Roads and Eric Richardson of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services shared about fleet safety initiatives aimed at protecting fleet drivers, their vehicles, and members of the public.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

(From left) Judie Nuskey of Advanced Driver Training Services, Santa Clara County, California Fleet Manager David Worthington, and Jeff Martin of Lytx shared about ways to identify, manage, and correct high-risk drivers. Worthington recommends using technology to supplement drivers' skills and make them safer on the roadway, but not replace those skills with complete reliance on technology.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

(From left) Mike Rowand of the Electric Power Research Institute, Fairfield, California, Public Works Fleet Division Manager David Renschler, CPFP, and Patrick Sullivan of EV Realty addressed myths about grid capacity, charging reliability, and grid readiness pulling from their own experiences. Renschler shared about some of the challenges his own fleet has faced in planning on compliance for the Advanced Clean Fleets rule.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

During educational sessions, attendees were able to interact with speakers and engage in conversations with fellow fleet professionals.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

Dozens of fleet vendors were in attendance, ready to help fleet managers address challenges within their operations through their offerings.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

During the ride & drive and vehicle showcase, attendees picked from over a dozen different vehicles to test drive, many of which were electric- or alt-fuel-powered.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

Attendees learned about what vehicles had to offer during the showcase portion of the ride & drive event.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

From lunches to happy hours, attendees had ample opportunities to network with fellow fleet professionals.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

Eric Richardson (right), deputy chief fleet officer for the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, received the 2023 Fleet Safety Award, for his work in making New York City's streets safer, starting with the city's fleet.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

In his acceptance speech, Eric Richardson shared about initiatives the city has undergone to make its fleet vehicles, drivers, and other road users safer. He also took a moment to name some of the victims of roadway fatalities.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

In the fleet manager's state of the industry roundtable, fleet managers of varying sizes shared what's happening in their fleets, addressing challenges and sharing solutions. The panel was made up of (from left) Ecolab's Mike Hauge, Matt Betz of DTE Energy, Eric Richardson of NYC DCAS, and SuYvonne Bell of Gilead Sciences. Government Fleet's Christy Grimes moderated the panel.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media

After nearly three days of educational sessions, networking, and finding solutions to common fleet problems, attendees headed home. The Fleet Forward and Fleet Safety Conferences kick off in November 2024 in San Diego.

Photo: Lauren Brooks, Monclay Media