The event – the fourth annual one held by ARI – took place 25-27th March in Grapevine, Texas, with attendees including 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. ‘The Utility Forum has grown tremendously over the course of its first four years with the fleet managers in attendance really embracing the opportunity to learn from their peers and our experts. We are all very excited to see how the event will continue to evolve in the coming years.’

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. It was a great opportunity to see how other fleets in the industry operate and collaborating with other fleet managers sparked ideas and strategies that I can certainly envision incorporating into our daily fleet operations,’ remarked Marshall.

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. The ARI team has experience working with fleets from every utility sector including electric, gas, co-op, water, propane and telecommunications.