Announcements from the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo, held at the Long Beach Convention Center in California.

ACT Expo brings together vehicle and engine manufacturers, fleet operators, infrastructure and fuel providers, Clean Cities coordinators, technology developers and policymakers. Visit www.actexpo.com for more.

Kenworth Green Truck Lineup
Four alternative fuel trucks were showcased by Kenworth Truck Company, including the T370 diesel-electric hybrid, which the manufacturer says helps enhance fuel economy by up to 50 percent in utility and service operations.

Also on display was a Kenworth T660 CNG truck equipped with the new Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine, a Kenworth T440 CNG mixer equipped with the 8.9-liter Cummins Westport ISL G engine and a Kenworth T800 LNG tractor with a 15-liter Westport HD engine.

“The ACT Expo is an important opportunity to demonstrate Kenworth’s continuing commitment to alternative fuel trucks, which are gaining increasing attention among vocational and medium-duty fleets,” said Michelle Harry, Kenworth powertrain marketing manager. “Kenworth’s alternative fuel product line features compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, and diesel-electric hybrids.”

Visit www.kenworth.com for more.

Daimler Trucks North America Alternative Fuel Options
A number of natural gas-powered models were put on display by Daimler Trucks North America. Included were the Freightliner Cascadia 113-inch BBC day cab equipped with a Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine, along with a Freightliner 114SD setback axle CNG-powered dump truck, a Freightliner Business Class M2 112 LNG tractor and a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation CNG walk-in van chassis. In addition, a Freightliner Business Class M2 106 hybrid, an FCCC all-electric walk-in van and an FCCC hydraulic hybrid walk-in van were showcased by DTNA.

“The breadth of our alternative fuel product offerings is in response to market feedback,” said David Hames, general manager, marketing and strategy for DTNA. “Customers in every segment want environmentally friendly solutions that enhance performance and we can meet that demand.”

Visit www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com for more.

ROUSH CleanTech on Display
A Ford E-450 cutaway fueled by propane autogas and owned by National Bus Sales, and Ford E-450 shuttle bus, F-250 pickup and E-250 cargo van models were displayed by the company at ACT Expo and made available for test drives.

Vehicles fueled with propane autogas emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases and smog-producing hydrocarbons, and virtually eliminate particulate matter when compared to conventional fuels, the company noted. All ROUSH CleanTech vehicles are certified to meet Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board guidelines.

Visit www.roushcleantech.com for more.

Held annually since 1953, the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) remains true to tradition while staying at the forefront when it comes to providing highly valuable and relevant information.

“EUFMC brings together a large cross-section of utilities from around the country, large and small, for one common cause – to gain knowledge from the presented programs, from each other, to view products and to interact with the utilities’ supplier base,” said Ron Anderson, manager, fleet and equipment at NorthWestern Energy. “In no other place do you find such in-depth knowledge for fleet managers.”

That is by design, notes George Survant, director of fleet services at Florida Power & Light and current EUFMC president. “EUFMC is unique in that it’s built on the guidance of professionals from within the industry it serves,” he said. “The result is an event featuring technical and management presentations that helps fleet managers make a difference in their organizations.”

EUFMC continues to attract record numbers of fleet executives from investor-owned electric utilities, electric cooperatives and electrical contractors from across the U.S. and Canada, as well as representatives of equipment and service suppliers. The annual exhibition of the latest utility equipment and services during the conference features more than 75 displays where fleet managers can meet with 250+ representatives from more than 95 manufacturers and service providers.

Close Cooperation
Since its inception, EUFMC has promoted close cooperation between fleet representatives and manufacturers.

“The Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference is an annual opportunity for the leaders in our company to share product ideas and technical information with leaders in the electrical utility fleet industry,” said James Christian, director of engineering at Time Manufacturing Company. “The multifaceted environment of the conference allows our company to show products in a unique drive-through format, participate in technical sessions and have one-on-one interaction with our customers. This is not just a ‘salesman’ show as engineers, like myself, are encouraged to attend and participate in the technical programs and roundtable discussions.”

Each year, EUFMC’s officers and board of directors put together a comprehensive program of technical presentations that includes fleet managers, suppliers and industry experts who address the topics that are most relevant to attending fleets. The 2012 program, “Essential Tools for Utility Fleet Professionals,” features presentations on the following topics:

Industry Trends – Light Duty Vehicles
Jim Michon, Ford
Tom Nimmo, Utilimarc
Craig Neuber, ARI

Life Cycle Costs – Models that Work
Chris Shaffer, Utilimarc
Steve Granger, KCP&L
Mike Radziewicz, ComEd
Cliff Edwards, Pike Electric

Best Practices in Preventive Maintenance
Jack Abraham, Nova Scotia Power

Diesel Engines – Current and Future
Dave Bryant, Freightliner
Tim Shick, Navistar

GPS/AVL – Looking for ROI
Alan Riddle, SCE
Craig Stepien, FP&L
Tim Mooney, PHH
Tim Taylor, Telogis

Regulatory/Legislative Update
Bill Van Amburg, CALSTART
Pat O’Connor, Kent & O’Connor
Josh Chard, Altec Industries

Battling the Scales – Bridge Law Compliance
Mike Allison, Duke Energy
Bill Hall, Minnesota Power
Joe Caywood, Terex

PM Practices & Technician Training Survey Results
EUFMC attendees have indicated a high level of interest in the practices that utilities are following in regard to preventive maintenance (PM), testing of aerial equipment and training of fleet technicians. Topics on the survey include PM and dielectric and acoustic emissions testing practices, management information system and data use, warranty work and claims processing, and technician training and apprentice programs. During the 2012 conference, results of the EUFMC survey on PM practices and technician training will be presented.

Guest Speakers
Other valuable aspects of EUFMC continue to attract attendees, including guest speakers who share important perspectives. This year’s keynote speaker is Jim Stanley, senior vice president of power delivery for Duke Energy’s U.S. Franchised Electric & Gas business. A 35-year industry veteran, Stanley is responsible for the electric power transmission and distribution in a five-state service area. Duke Energy provides electricity and natural gas to approximately 4 million customers in the Carolinas and the Midwest, and distributes natural gas in Ohio and Kentucky.

Also on the agenda at EUFMC 2012 are two dinner speakers:

Top Gun – Major Dan Rooney, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), will address EUFMC attendees on June 5. A former F-16 pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, the decorated military aviator served three combat tours in Iraq and was a two-time recipient of the Top Gun award. Rooney is also the founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of military service members disabled or killed in action.

Industry Leader – Bob Lutz, the driving force behind many vehicle advancements in a nearly 50-year career in the automotive industry, will be the guest speaker at the EUFMC President’s Gala Dinner on June 6. Lutz is currently a member of the board of directors of VIA Motors. Until his retirement in 2010 he served as vice chairman and special adviser, design and global product development at General Motors, where he championed the development of the Chevrolet Volt. Lutz has also held senior leadership positions at Ford, Chrysler and BMW, and was CEO of Exide Technologies.

Best Practices
The sharing of best practices is a hallmark of EUFMC. The conference provides a forum where fleet representatives can exchange information and discuss mutual concerns, including the highly popular fleet and supplier roundtables.

“As a first-year fleet manager, I attended the 2011 Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference and found the networking opportunities hugely beneficial,” said Michael Radziewicz, director of fleet at ComEd. “The best part of EUFMC for my company is the opportunity it provides for me to meet my peers and talk about issues that we are all dealing with and hear how they are addressing them. On a number of occasions since the conference, I’ve called other fleet managers I met to bounce ideas off of them and learn from their experience.”

“The 2011 Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference was my first and I was very impressed with the depth of technical information that was presented, the value that can be found in the experience of the attendees and the relationships that can be built with other fleet managers,” stated Keith Dunkel, team leader at Indianapolis Power & Light Company, Facilities & Transportation Fleet. “At EUFMC I met people who are dealing with the same challenges that we have and who are willing to share their solutions to common fleet management issues, during and after the conference. The sponsors do a wonderful job of supporting the event and its great sense of tradition. I have not been to any other conference with the quality of EUFMC.”

The 60th Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference will be held June 2-5, 2013, at the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center in Williamsburg, Va. For more information, visit www.eufmc.com.

North America’s largest gathering of vocational trucks and transportation equipment, The Work Truck Show 2012 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis features more than 550 exhibitors showcasing Classes 1-8 trucks, chassis, bodies, components and accessories.

Thousands of work truck professionals, including fleet managers, equipment buyers, maintenance personnel, manufacturers, distributors and dealers attend the annual Work Truck Show to interact with peers, meet with suppliers, get answers to technical questions and visit exhibits. Industry suppliers also use the event to introduce new product innovations.

Former President George W. Bush will be the keynote speaker at The Work Truck Show 2012. President Bush will speak at the President’s Breakfast and NTEA Annual Meeting, offering insights into the challenges facing our nation in the 21st century and other timely issues.

NTEA Convention
The Work Truck Show 2012 is held in conjunction with the 48th NTEA Annual Convention. Established in 1964, NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, represents nearly 1,600 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the association.

The NTEA Convention serves as the educational component of The Work Truck Show, featuring more than 60 educational sessions for owners, managers and employees from truck equipment suppliers, upfitters, fleet managers and truck purchasers. Session topics on the agenda include:

• State of the Industry Overview – The NTEA Perspective
• Changing of the Guard: Millennials and Generational Differences in the Workplace
• Demystifying Weight Distribution and Payload Calculations for Work Trucks
• Government Regulatory Implications for the Work Truck Industry
• Learning to Avoid Costly Truck Frame Modification Errors
• What is the Future Economic Landscape for the Work Truck Industry?
• Optimizing Work Truck Body and Equipment Specifications
• Why Should I Care About Vehicle Certification?
• Build Your People Strategy First
• Ensuring Your Next Truck Chassis Matches the Job Requirements
• The Future of Fleet Operations
• The Ins and Outs of Lean for the Truck Equipment Industry
• Making Vehicle Investment Decisions Using Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
• Old Rules/New Tools: Staying People-Focused Using Today’s Technology
• Spec’ing Your Next Truck Powertrain for Optimum Efficiency & Performance
• The Next Generation of Work Truck Telematics

Chassis updates are on the NTEA agenda. Participating truck manufacturers include:
• Chevrolet & GMC Commercial Trucks
• Ford Commercial Trucks
• Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
• Freightliner Trucks
• Hino Trucks
• International Truck
• Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
• Kenworth Truck Company
• Mack Trucks
• Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America
• Nissan North America
• Peterbilt Motors Company
• Ram Trucks
• Western Star Trucks

Green Truck Summit
Jointly produced by NTEA and CALSTART, the Green Truck Summit is also held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show. Technical experts, government officials, industry leaders and early adopter fleet managers come together at the Green Truck Summit to unveil recent developments in sustainable technologies and new commercial truck applications. Presenters share practical advice on fuel efficiency, firsthand information on building green fleet programs, and critical advances in engine and fuel technology.

United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Ph.D., will give the keynote address at the 2012 Green Truck Summit. Dr. Chu is a distinguished scientist and co-winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Physics. As Secretary of Energy he is charged with helping implement President Obama’s agenda to invest in clean energy, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, address the global climate crisis and create new jobs.

Educational sessions at the Green Truck Summit include:
• Trends in Work Truck Technologies and Fuels covering upcoming changes that will affect the vocational truck industry, new clean technologies and fuels, and new vehicle efficiency and emissions standards.
• Gaseous Fuels: A Successful Alternative
• Work Truck Electrification: Leveraging the Ultimate Clean Fuel
• Watching the Bottom Line: Technologies for Increasing Fuel Efficiency and Eliminating Fuel Waste

Roadway to Fuel Independence and Air Quality Improvement in North America and Globally will be the subject of an address by Russell Musgrove, managing director of FedEx Express. Musgrove will provide insights based on his global company’s experience using sustainable technologies.

Recently announced regulations (scheduled to take effect in 2016) and details about how companies can prepare to meet them will be the focus of A New Generation of Clean Work Trucks: Understanding the EPA and NHTSA Joint Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Work Trucks by a panel of experts from EPA and NHTSA.

Green Truck Summit sessions showcase new technology and provide information on reducing fuel consumption, improving fleet management, comparing clean technology options, funding clean vehicles and more. Green truck technology is also highlighted in the CALSTART Clean Technologies and Fuels Pavilion. In addition, exhibitors with products that improve fuel utilization, are environmentally friendly, use recycled materials and/or support environmentally sustainable practices are profiled throughout the hall as part of the Green Product Showcase.

Green Truck Ride-and-Drive
A popular highlight of The Work Truck Show is the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive. Featuring 21 commercial vehicles that incorporate advances in hybrid technology and alternative fuel applications, the Ride-and-Drive will include a variety of work trucks, including cargo and service vans, pickup trucks, dump trucks, shuttle buses, walk-in vans, tree-trimming trucks, utility trucks, box trucks, cutaways and more.

This year’s event includes an equally wide range of environmentally friendly drive systems, including CNG, propane, battery-electric, extended range electric, ultra-clean biodiesel, bi-fuel CNG, electric hybrids (series and parallel), and hydraulic hybrids. Some of the vehicles will feature lightweight and aerodynamic technologies. Equipment demonstrations of electric PTOs and similar technologies also will take place.

Cutting-edge technologies and energy-efficient vehicles available for ride and drive attendees are being provided by:
• Altec Industries
• BAE Systems
• Cummins Crosspoint
• Electric Vehicles International
• Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
• Freightliner Trucks
• Hino Trucks
• IMPCO Automotive
• International Truck
• Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
• Kenworth Truck Company
• Knapheide Manufacturing Company
• Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products
• Lightning Hybrids
• Motiv Power Systems
• Peterbilt Motors Company
• Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)
• Ram Trucks
• Reading Truck Body
• Roush CleanTech
• Smith Electric Vehicles

Work Truck Show App
Now available for most mobile devices, The Work Truck Show App enables users to access the show floor plan, browse educational sessions, view and schedule appointments, and find exhibitors that are featuring products in the New Product Spotlight and Green Product Showcase programs. Scan the QR code at http://www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/index.aspx?id=25950 or visit www.guidebook.com/getit with a smartphone or device.

Industry Affair
The Work Truck Show 2012 is produced by NTEA and is supported by leading organizations:

• American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net)
• Association of Indiana Counties (www.indianacounties.org)
• CALSTART (www.calstart.org)
• Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (www.ctea.ca)
• Clean Cities – U.S. Dept. of Energy (www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities)
• Clean Vehicle Education Foundation (www.cleanvehicle.org)
• Green Truck Association (www.greentruckassociation.com)
• Heavy Duty Representatives Association (www.hdra.org)
• Indiana Association of County Commissioners (www.indianacountycommissioners.com)
• Indiana Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (www.iaphcc.com)
• NAFA Fleet Management Association (www.nafa.org)
• National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (www.naftc.wvu.edu)
• NTEA (www.ntea.com)
• Natural Gas Vehicles for America (www.ngvamerica.org)
• Ohio Contractors Association (www.ohiocontractors.org)
• Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (www.onla.org)
• Propane Education & Research Council (www.propanecouncil.org)
• Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association (www.rmfma.org)
• Service Specialists Association (www.truckservice.org)
• Snow & Ice Management Association (www.sima.org)

I drove several hours from Chicago to Red Wing, MN because I had heard of a grassroots organization called the Upper Midwest Utility Fleet Managers Council (UMUFC) was having their annual Fall meeting and wanted to check it out.

The nucleus of the group is out of the Minneapolis area. But I met a utility fleet manager that came from as far as Springfield, MO. Many of the Midwest Co-op Utilities find this the most time efficient way to hear what new products vendors are offering and share ideas on problem solving from maintenance to complying with federal and state regulations.

Pictured L – R: UMUFC Officers Bernie Kolnberger – Chairperson, Curt Erickson – Program Coordinator, Steve Kallsen – Hospitality Coordinator, Doug Shoemaker – Membership Coordinator/Historian, Mike Donahue – Secretary/Treasurer, missing from picture Matt Gilliland – Vice Chairperson.

UMUFC meets on a bi-yearly basis to share information. There were about 50 utility fleet managers in attendance in a large ballroom. The managers come from some of the largest utilities in the upper Midwest as well as smaller cooperatives and district wide utilities to share information and learn from each other. In between vendor presentations there were “break out discussions” where a utility fleet manager would bring up a topic or challenge they were facing and the group would share information. For example: The group discussed how the current CSA 2010 regulations are impacting their day to day operations. They shared information on how each utility is dealing with complying with the regulations. It through this problem / resolution sharing format where the group bases its tag line “Promoting Better Fleet Management Through Mutual Exchange”.

Rather than smaller rural utilities or co-ops feeling like they might be on an island these meetings serve as a real opportunity to share solutions. One of the biggest questions the group had for me was, “are there any other regional organizations out there that are like us?” I had recalled meeting a Pacific Northwest utility fleet manager that had organized a similar group in the Seattle-Portland area but other than that was not aware of similar regional groups.

Certainly Utility Fleet Professional being the only publication 100% dedicated to the utility fleet market would encourage and support these regional grassroots meetings. I worked several years with a lumber association and saw first hand how these regional meetings could provide excellent education and networking opportunities. If you would like UFP to help organize and promote a regional utility fleet managers meeting? Please contact us.

{besps}umufcslideshow{/besps}

(Photos of UMUFC provided by Kurt Moreland attached)

Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) are well known in the industry for creative approaches to continuous improvement and outstanding performance in many respects – including the operation and maintenance of their vehicle and equipment fleet. The companies’ fleet is recognized as one of the most reliable and efficient in the industry. It consistently ranks in the top quartile in overall cost management, cost per mile, fuel costs and other components when benchmarked against other utilities. But that’s not good enough. Keeping with LG&E and KU’s style of being the best they can be, the companies continue to search for safety enhancements and operating efficiencies that will benefit their operators and customers.

The LG&E and KU fleet consists of about 1,600 units, including light- and heavy-duty vehicles, trailers, heavy-duty and power equipment, and a small number of hybrids. The fleet is managed by the Transportation Department in Energy Delivery (E.D.), the business unit that distributes natural gas and electricity and provides services to the company’s 1.2 million customers. The bulk of the fleet is utilized by E.D. employees who drive about 13 million miles per year across the Kentucky and Virginia service territory.

Ongoing Evaluation
“The key components of our business model are safety and service restoration,” says Bill Doggett, manager, transportation. “We want to ensure our equipment and employees can respond safely and quickly to customers’ needs, while operating cost-effectively, within all government regulations and in an environmentally friendly manner. That requires continuous re-evaluation of our needs and standards as well as manufacturers – all of which constantly change.”

Like many utilities, LG&E and KU’s diverse service territory challenges the companies’ ability to ensure DOT compliance, efficiently manage its fleet and balance customer service needs. It includes complex metro areas, rural backwoods, and the hollows and hilltops of the Appalachian Mountains, which make matching vehicle type and payloads with work needs daunting.

In the LG&E and KU service territory’s urban areas, patchworks of old and new infrastructures consist of different standards and equipment types. In rural and mountainous areas, terrain is a factor, so size and maneuverability become critical considerations when operating along tight mountain and country roads. Determining which parts and equipment to carry and how to optimize payload is also critical. Vehicles with lower weight allowances can impact service restoration timing because the number of tools, parts and other items they carry is restricted. Traveling many miles back to a service center for additional items isn’t an option in remote areas when working against service restoration deadlines.

Strategic Approach
To address these and other issues, last year LG&E and KU launched an aggressive, user-based fleet management strategic planning process that is streamlining its fleet and netting other benefits – particularly pertaining to employee awareness and safety.

The process began with teams, representing the transportation, safety and operations areas that developed and implemented fleet standards and controls for the heavy- and light-duty fleets. They ensured the companies’ “No Compromise” safety approach was incorporated into every initiative, optimized operational efficiency and assured regulatory compliance. The teams enlisted the recommendations of an outside contractor and, more importantly, the employees who use the vehicles and equipment. They included managers and frontline employees who formed additional heavy- and light-duty vehicle user teams, which inspected their vehicles, double-checked DOT compliance against standards, and reported questions and concerns.

“We gained a great deal of valuable information by including the individuals who actually drive the vehicles and use the equipment,” Doggett states. “They asked questions pertaining to situations that were job-specific and that aren’t in the manual, such as how to handle weight limits on roads and bridges in certain rural areas. It was a learning experience for us as well as them. The teams, as a combined working unit, had to develop solutions.”

Increased awareness among the workforce about DOT compliance was one of the greatest benefits of the process. The companies are recognized in the industry, nation and globally as safety leaders.

“This enabled us to close the circle of safety on yet another aspect of our operations,” says Ken Sheridan, manager, public and operational safety. “Our employees reaffirmed the company’s compliance with Department of Transportation regulations, which are specifically designed to ensure their safety as well as the public’s. Most importantly, they became better educated about how to manage compliance responsibilities and other safety requirements associated specifically with their vehicles or equipment. This is a huge perk for our companies.”

Business partners who support LG&E and KU’s purchasing, maintenance and repair work were also involved in and trained on the process. This is the same approach the company takes with safety initiatives, because the more people who are knowledgeable, the more who can support the achievement of goals. Business partners also must be in step with the changing needs of the business and, consequently, the final strategy’s content was critical to ensure they continued to support operating efficiency and safety.

“We believe in a top-led, employee-driven approach to safety,” says Sheridan. “Any time we give employees or our business partners responsibility for any aspect of operations or safety, they take charge. That’s why we have an outstanding safety culture.”

Improving Awareness
In addition to employee involvement, other measures helped to reinforce DOT compliance and safety awareness among the workforce at LG&E and KU. The companies tagged vehicles and trailers with decals listing the gross vehicle weight rating, gross combined weight rating and maximum allowable payload so drivers can accurately control payload and trailer towing capacity. They also purchased heavy-duty weight scales to:
• Validate the weight of newly ordered vehicles;
• Perform random weight audits as part of scheduled routine maintenance; and
• Perform weight checks following functional or driver changes.

Environmental concerns also play an important role in setting fleet standards, particularly at LG&E and KU, which are also recognized for environmental leadership. While the companies’ total fleet mileage has risen since 2007, carbon dioxide emissions have actually been reduced during that same time span. The challenge will be to sustain that success. As part of the fleet strategy, demands for larger construction equipment will have to be offset in other areas, especially the light-duty fleet. Including more hybrids in the fleet and other tactical initiatives, such as evaluating vehicle assignments, the take-home policy and the percentage of four-wheel drive vehicles, will all contribute to the success of this endeavor.

Never Ending
At LG&E and KU, the fleet strategic planning and evaluation process is never-ending. The companies continue to benchmark all aspects of their operations. Transportation policies are updated continually to reflect changes necessary for efficiencies and cost-effective measures. Additionally, other initiatives are underway to:
• Simplify and reduce the number of company vehicle standards by harmonizing business models, payload and equipment needs;
• Improve maintenance parameters, including extending preventive maintenance schedules and oil change cycles, enhancing tire management through the use of retreads and utilizing more advanced preventive maintenance technology;
• Reduce light-duty vehicle usage costs by right-sizing vehicles for the assignment and needs;
• Establish heavy-duty equipment/vehicle decision matrices for making cost-effective decisions about what unit is best suited for an operation and to support decision-making by managers when placing new orders; and
• Harmonize equipment pricing incentives with LG&E and KU’s parent company, PPL Corporation, based in Allentown, Pa. Both companies utilize Ford light-duty vehicles and Altec bucket trucks, creating a potential opportunity for lower costs at both companies.

Through a continuous and wide-ranging effort, LG&E and KU are finding new programs and practices that improve fleet performance.

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve a total of 1.2 million customers. LG&E serves 321,000 natural gas and 397,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. Kentucky Utilities serves 546,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.

Born out of necessity, the International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE), also known as The Demo Expo, traces its roots to an Illinois farm in the summer of 1966. To help solve an equipment evaluation and communications problem, Illinois Bell invited 12 trencher manufacturers to demonstrate equipment in the same field, on the same day.

The field demonstration event was such a success that it was repeated in 1969 and 1972 as a three-day utility equipment show. By the late 1970s, what would become a biennial event now held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville had grown considerably. Today ICUEE is owned and produced by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

During the 2011 event, which takes place October 4-6, ICUEE will host more than 950 exhibitors and 20,0000+ attendees from electric, phone/cable, sewer/water, gas, construction, landscaping and public works industries. ICUEE now covers more than 1 million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. On display is equipment including all-terrain carriers, attachments, components, earthmoving, environmental, light, overhead and maintenance, material-handling, recycling, safety, testing, transportation, trenching, trenchless, trucks and utility materials/supplies.

A hallmark of ICUEE is the hands-on demonstrations of construction and utility equipment. Exhibited in job-like conditions, attendees can experience equipment working at ground level, underground and overhead. On the ICUEE Ride & Drive track, attendees can test drive commercial vehicles to examine trucks, engines, transmissions, brakes, safety and collision warning systems, fuel and GPS management systems, and hybrid and alternative fuel systems.

New for ICUEE 2011 are crane and rigging safety demonstrations from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and International Powered Access Federation. ICUEE will again feature a general show safety demo area with a focus on topics such as live-line safety and pole-top/fall protection.

ICUEE also features an extensive education program where experts on the latest safety, regulatory, operational and technological issues affecting the utility and construction industry are on hand. In 2011, new workshop and certification programs complement more than 100 learning opportunities covering underground, aboveground and overhead applications, new technologies and the latest industry, regulatory and management trends.

New keynote sessions at ICUEE 2011 will focus on energy and safety. In “Energy Policy – Outlook for the Industry,” Vic Staffieri, chairman and CEO of Louisville Gas and Electric and KU Energy, will discuss how the industry may be affected by potential energy legislation and regulatory action, and will cover renewable energy and development of clean technologies.

In “Hooked on Safety – Leading Safety Initiatives,” motivational speaker Billy Robbins will discuss how companies can implement behavioral-based safety initiatives that will change the way all employees think about safety and create a fresh commitment to safety within a company.

The 2011 ICUEE education program includes new co-located programming from the Association of Equipment Management Professionals, Underground Construction Technology, International Erosion Control Association, National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, SAE International and Scaffolding Industry Association.

ICUEE attendees will have access to the iP Safety Conference & Expo. Sponsored by Incident Prevention magazine, the event is the utility industry’s leading educational opportunity for safety, training and operations professionals.

The National Rural Water Association’s H2O-XPO is also co-located at ICUEE. H2O-XPO brings together top officials, decision-makers, buyers and new technology in the water and wastewater industries.

From its inception until today, ICUEE remains at the forefront with its equipment demonstrations that allow attendees to make highly effective competitive comparisons. Now, the annual event’s extensive education program complements the displays of the industry’s latest equipment technology and product innovations.

For more information, visit www.icuee.com.

AT&T is putting 101 Chevrolet Express Cargo 2500 vans powered by low-emissions compressed natural gas (CNG) into its customer service fleet. The purchase is consistent with AT&T’s alternative fuel strategy to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and to support sustainable transportation. Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana CNG vans meet all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.

CNG-powered vans can produce 25 percent less emissions than similar gasoline- and diesel-powered vans, according to GM, which notes that the vans get gasoline-equivalent fuel economy of 11 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. Fuel tank capacity on the models ranges from 15.8 to 23 gasoline-equivalent gallons.

A panel of trade press editors and fleet managers attending The Work Truck Show 2011 presented two industry awards during the annual event this year. Dakota Bodies Inc. was the recipient of the Editors’ Choice Award for its new Component Body, and Energy Xtreme won the Green Award for its new U36 Crossover mild-hybrid plug-in system.

Named the most innovative product introduced at the show, the Component Body was selected as the winner from a field of 90 entries. Dakota’s Component Body is sold as a service body kit that upfitters can assemble in 16 different configurations to meet a customer’s specific needs. Components are huck-bolted together, making them easily interchangeable. The Component Body is available in galvanneal, aluminum or stainless steel, with a pre-assembled powder-coated finish. If a component on the body is damaged, it can be replaced without the need to buy a whole new body.

“We are delighted to win the Editors’ Choice Award,” said Dan Dahl, sales manager for Dakota Bodies. “It’s very difficult as a body manufacturer to come up with a new product that will satisfy the needs of a lot of companies in this industry.”

Named the best new product that advances fuel utilization displayed at The Work Truck Show was the new U36 Crossover mild-hybrid plug-in system from Energy Xtreme. The company was chosen to receive the Green Award from a field of nearly 30 entries.

The U36 Crossover was designed to provide reliable, emission-free energy to power hydraulic lifts and equipment on bucket trucks. It can be factory-integrated into new vehicles or retrofitted to existing utility vehicles. The system can run the truck’s auxiliary electrical equipment, tools, motors, pumps, hydraulic booms, lights, radio and laptop without the need to engage the engine or use a generator. The system includes an Energy Xtreme power management system, electric motor, pump and control module. It has a small footprint, weighs less than 750 pounds and plugs into a 30-amp wall outlet to recharge.

“Fleet users are finding that the U36 Crossover system reduces their payload by 35 percent and reduces maintenance,” said Energy Xtreme CEO Devin Scott. “As fuel prices continue to rise, our products have proven especially relevant and provide a cost-efficient way to reduce consumption and eliminate emissions while increasing functionality. We are honored to receive the Green Award.”