International case studies, the latest research, and practical examples of initiatives in action dominate the programme at the first Fleet Vision International – THE SHOW conference on April 13 2022. Ann-Marie Knegt reports.
Held at the Guildhall in the City of London, FVI – THE SHOW is hosted by the City of London Corporation and organised by Visie Communications. Partners include the City of New York, CLOCS, the SMMT, the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality, and Fleet Vision International.
Awards dinner
An awards dinner on April 12 held in the Guildhall will honour leaders in fleet, sustainability and air quality at a lavish ceremony and dinner in The Old Library sponsored by NRG Riverside and Electra Commercial Vehicles. The drinks reception, sponsored by Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec, will be held in the adjacent Print Room. The charity for the night is the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which supports several deserving causes.
Conference
Bringing together experts from all over the world, the conference on April 13 will provide an unparalleled forum for discussion of the future of global fleet operations. The event will showcase industry-leading experts in sustainability, safety, procurement, and recruitment to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector today.
International keynote sessions
Event partner New York City will share learnings in several key areas, starting with Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. He will tell delegates about the City’s three-part plan for fleet sustainability. With the largest municipal fleet in the US, including more than 160 types of vehicles, NYC has led the way with its aggressive technology transition programmes to electric, hybrid and biofuels. Keith will also explain how NYC has dealt with electric capacity, emergency backup power, and procurement. ‘The transportation industry is on the verge of extraordinary and rapid change, impacting emissions, safety, technology and costs,’ says Keith. ‘These changes are international in scope, and we must work together across political boundaries and with private and public fleets to lead these efforts. Fleet Vision International – THE SHOW helps us do that.
‘Keith will be followed by Robert Martinez, Deputy Commissioner and Head of Support Services, New York City Police Department, who will discuss wide-ranging issues such as how the fleet coped with BLM protests and the Defund the Police movement Covid-19, and the chip shortage.
John Oosthuizen, Strategy Planner Freight for TfL, will provide an overview of TfL’s drive to improve air quality and reduce emissions on a national level and an update on TfL-led safety initiatives such as FORS, CLOCS, and the Direct Vision Standard.
Emissions
Tackling emissions is a central theme of the conference. Nick Molden, founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, will focus on tyre wear emissions, increasing with heavier cars, including BEVs. He will discuss typical wear rates of tyres and how different brands compare and demonstrate the impact of driving behaviour on tyre emissions. Kevin Barcroft, Academy and Training Manager, Simply Waste/Biffa, will examine the issue of in-cab air quality, highlighting the severity of the problem and steps that operators can take to protect their workforce. He will also share results from a recent trial.
The potential of hydrogen to help deliver net-zero targets will be addressed by Amanda Lyne, CEO of Ulemco. She will look at current options for hydrogen and how we can make these practical for transport today. She will also present on HySPERT – Hydrogen Special Purpose Electric vehicle platform for Refuse collection and fire Trucks – a project she is working on with Oxford Fire Service.
Fleet and road safety
Since her sister’s death under the wheels of an HGV in 2009, Kate Cairns (FICE, Telegraph Top 50 Women in Engineering) is a leading expert in identifying and managing commercial driver risk. This presentation will tell her story, describe her work to improve road safety, and detail her challenge to local, national and international policy and legislation. ‘There is still a vast chasm in attitude and accountability when addressing off-site safety versus on-site safety,’ says Kate.
‘Fleet operators have enormous opportunities to reduce risk, change culture and safeguard their drivers and fleets. I will highlight how intelligent risk management solutions and world-first industry standards can save money, reputation and lives.’
Mike Colborne, Transport Compliance & Road Safety, Arch.Law Resource Member will discuss drug and alcohol use among drivers, pre-pandemic and what we know now, and explain about legal privilege – how to protect your business, drivers, and brand. He will share some shocking examples of poor driver behaviour and management but will come up with solutions on how to address those issues.
Michael Britt, CEO of Britt Consultancy and former Global Maintenance Director for UPS, will address the transport safety systems of the future, including object recognition through ‘fused technology’ when camera and sensor systems work together. Mike will also explain how the next evolution of safety system technology is looking to reduce crashes in all operational settings and how commercial vehicle safety systems can reduce insurance premiums. ‘
Fleet Vision International – THE SHOW will highlight many of tomorrow’s technologies,’ says Mike.
‘Some of the world’s largest, most innovative fleet operators will be on hand to discuss the challenges and rewards for operating advanced propulsion fleets.’
Diversity and inclusion
The recruitment and retention challenges will be examined through the lens of diversity and inclusion in this vital session. Nathan Wilson from Allison Transmission Europe will share his personal experiences of 40 years in the industry as a person of colour, the benefits of a diverse workforce, and how the industry can adopt creative ways to break down recruitment barriers.
Sukky Choongh, Diversity Officer, SMMT, will talk about the organisation’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, the next steps to attract and retain talent, and reveal insights into making our industry more inclusive.
Grahame Neagus from Renault Trucks will pick up the theme, talking about the skills shortage and building a business and industry that appeals to the next generation, focusing on proactive inclusion to create a bright future.
Exhibition
The exhibition at Fleet Vision International – THE SHOW will feature stands from NRG Riverside, Electra Commercial Vehicles, Scarab, Romaquip, Moba, Aebi Schmidt, Ogden Safety Systems, Faun Zoeller, Renault, Epic, Dennis Eagle, Terberg Matec, CMS SupaTrak, Multevo, Shell Tap Up, Midland Truck & Van, NTM, Allison Transmission Europe, VWS, Green Machines, Hako, SmartWitness, Go Plant, Bucher Municipal. The Guildhall Court Yard will have vehicles on show from Dennis Eagle, Bucher, CMS SupaTrak, Multevo Electra Commercial Vehicles and many more.
