George Survant, the NTEA’s senior director of fleet relations, opens the inaugural Fleet Technical Congress held in conjunction with the 2018 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.File photo Keith Norbury
The congress promises to help fleet managers learn about new technologies and processes so they can “find sustainable, creative solutions to enhance fleet operations for years to come,” said a news release from show producers, the National Truck Equipment Association.
Unlike last year, however, those registering for the congress can also attend sessions at the longstanding Green Truck Summit, also happening on the opening day of the Work Truck Show, March 5.
Both the summit and the congress happen at the JW Marriott Hotel, adjacent to the Indiana Convention Center, site of the Work Truck Show itself.
“Fleet Technical Congress provides fleet managers from all over North America an opportunity to learn from each other and share best practices about maximizing fleet performance,” said George Survant, NTEA senior director of fleet relations, who will again emcee the congress. “In addition, attendees will hear how some of the industry’s top performers are leveraging new technologies to develop long-term solutions.”
The Work Truck Show runs March 5-8, with the exhibition hall of the convention center open March 6-8.
The congress kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome and opening remarks, followed at 8:45 by a keynote address. (The keynote speaker had not been announced by press time).
Several sessions are scheduled for the remainder of the day, which also includes a combined congress-summit lunch at 12:15 and a reception at 5 p.m. after the last of the sessions.
Among the items on the agenda for the congress are the following:
• Restoration and Disaster Recovery Planning: Being Your Team’s Hero — a panel moderated by Claude Masters, principal of Masters Consulting, and including Sara Burnam, fleet management director with Palm Beach County; and Joe Suarez, senior director of fleet services with Florida Power & Light Co.
• Designing Your Next Work Truck — Make it an Acquisition, Not a Purchase — featuring Adam Duran, program manager, and Lauren Lynch, researcher/mechanical engineer, both of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; and Mike Britt, CEO of MG Britt Inc.
• Critical Considerations for Restoring Equipment Without Wheels — with Bill Burns, fleet and facilities maintenance manager for SWACO; Kevin Beaty, president of YUNEV; Michael McDonald, senior director of sustainability and government affairs for UPS; and Chris Nordh, senior director of advanced vehicle technologies for Ryder System Inc.
For more information, on the congress, visit worktruckshow.com/fleettechnicalcongress.