The 2024 Fleet Week took place Nov. 4-8 in San Diego.
Ross Stewart Photography/Automotive Fleet
The inaugural Fleet Week, consisting of the Global Feet, Fleet Forward, and Fleet Safety Conferences, convened in San Diego Nov. 4-8. Here is a curated list of direct quotes from 82 speakers across 33 seminars and four keynote addresses.
These speakers’ quotes provide a snapshot of the actionable insights gained at the conferences to help fleets become more sustainable, efficient, productive, and safe.
2024 Global Fleet Conference Quotes
“A caring culture is critical for retaining talent and enhancing performance. People perform better when they feel appreciated.” — Mike Pitcher, Global Fleet Conference keynote speaker
“We establish global processes, policies, tools, and metrics to maintain alignment across 142 countries.” — Noel Diaz, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
“Global fleet procurement requires a balance between standardization and local adaptation to meet regional needs while driving efficiency.” — Noel Diaz, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
“Global fleet strategies are adapting to include a range of mobility solutions, which align with trends in urbanization and cost-saving measures.” — Zingha Lucien, Element Fleet Management
“The greenest mile is the mile not driven.” — Dan Belknap, Wheels
“Multi-modality means looking at mobility on a trip level, not just assigning every driver a vehicle. We’re thinking through the best mode for each journey.” — Dan Belknap, Wheels
“The role of partnerships is huge… This is a relationship business.” — Gibran Lehmkuhl, Schindler Elevator Corp., winner of the 2024 Global Fleet Team of the Year Award.
“Effective fleet management isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about leveraging relationships and technology to achieve operational excellence.” — Cesni Ennis, Volkswagen Group of America
“Developing a relationship scorecard — evaluating partners as green, yellow, or red — helps identify and strengthen key collaborations.” — Craig Cheatle, Discount Tire
“Transitioning to net-zero fleets isn’t easy, but collaboration and incremental steps like adopting alternative fuels can drive progress.” — Kimberly Fisher, NOV
2024 Fleet Safety Conference Quotes
“Using methods such as The Edge, formerly known as The Reptile, plaintiffs’ attorneys tap into jurors’ emotional vulnerabilities to drive anger; in the process, they drive up damages.” — Cayce Lynch, Tyson & Mendes, keynote speaker
“By considering early on whether existing company policies will fuel an anger fire in trial, fleets can minimize nuclear risk early. A careful consideration of hiring and retention policies, combined with instructions given to drivers in case of an accident, can prevent jurors from buying into the plaintiff’s arguments that elevate the standard of care beyond what the law requires.” — Cayce Lynch, Tyson & Mendes
“Safety isn’t just about enforcing policies; it’s about creating a culture where drivers feel valued and are trained to prioritize safety in every decision they make.” — Sandra Doucette, senior manager of EHS at Advance Auto Parts, winner of the 2024 Fleet Safety Award
“We can’t assume drivers will do something just because it’s expected in their job.” — Alison Betz, ABA Technologies
“Most people respond better to a simple ‘thank you for doing that safely’ than to being reprimanded for unsafe behavior.” — Alison Betz, ABA Technologies
“Video does a really nice job of neutralizing the emotion and highlighting exactly what happened.” — Adam Kahn, Netradyne
“When you’re on a cell phone, even Bluetooth, the part of your brain that deals with imagination kicks in, making you four times more likely to crash.” — Steve Verret, Improv Learning
“Industrial athletes need preparation just like professional athletes; hydration, rest, and nutrition are fundamental.” — Jeff Martin, Lytx
“Safety policies must evolve with technology. Tools like telematics and in-cabin monitoring help identify risks in real-time, but they need actionable follow-up.”
— Janette Purdy, Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing
“We let them contest the (telematics-based) scoring if they feel it’s unfair, and that’s really helped with engagement.” — Janette Purdy, Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing
“Truck drivers have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes among any other occupation in the U.S.” — Dr. Mark Minera, Off Shift
“To cultivate a safety-first mindset, involve the C-suite and align safety goals with company objectives. Commitment from leadership is non-negotiable.” — Linda Ellis, UCB
“A culture of safety starts from the top and permeates every level of the organization. It’s not just a policy; it’s a shared value.” — Rich Kaczynski, A. Duie Pyle
“Driver health directly impacts fleet safety. Healthier drivers are safer drivers — this means focusing on both physical and mental well-being.” — Dr. Mark Minera, OffShift
“Distracted driving isn’t just about the hands — it’s about the brain. Solutions must address cognitive distractions, not just physical actions like phone use.” — Dr. Eldad Hochman, CorrActions
“Every fleet needs a crash protocol policy in place. Train your drivers to know exactly what to do — and not do — immediately after an incident.” — Carlos Pozo, crash reconstruction expert
“Telematics and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) significantly reduce claims and improve safety metrics when combined.” — John Wuich, Wheels
“Knowing your fleet’s risk exposure is critical — not just for assigned vehicles but any vehicle driven on company business, including rentals and personal use.” — SuYvonne Bell, Gilead Sciences
“Sustainable practices are tied to safety. Electric and alternative fuel vehicles require unique safety protocols, from maintenance to driver training.” — Chris Woody, M&W Transportation
“Technology must empower rather than overwhelm. Telematics and AI-driven tools can identify issues, but human oversight is critical for meaningful change.” — Yoav Zilber, SaverOne
“Fleet managers should consider the human element when introducing technology. It’s not just about what tools can do but how drivers will react to them.” — Tom Gallogly, Samba Safety
“Knowing your fleet is essential. Without understanding where your vehicles are, their fuel use, and replacement schedules, you’re blind to potential safety risks.” — Bradley Northup, City of Carlsbad
2024 Fleet Forward Conference Quotes
“AI is here. It’s everywhere… it could be as big as the internet, 100 times over.” — Amir Sayegh, Geotab, keynote speaker
“Imagine if you had an AI agent scheduling repairs and optimizing routes autonomously.” — Amir Sayegh, Geotab
“This transition is not going to be quick or easy, but with collaboration, we can look forward to innovations that will make EVs more sustainable and appealing for fleet operators.” — Stephanie Valdez Streat, Cox Automotive
“The shift to EVs introduces new training needs for drivers. Educating on charging behaviors and vehicle differences is critical for avoiding operational mishaps.” — Laolu Adeola, Leke Services
“A fleet manager’s schedule is good, but connected data can tell you when a battery is degrading in real-time.” — Mark Norman, FM Capital
“We’re only five years into embedded telematics, but we now have about 45 million connected vehicles on the road.” — JC Mauricio, Ford Pro
“We have access to thousands of data signals… we know more about that vehicle than anyone else because we built it.” — Eddie Nath, Stellantis
“The running costs of an EV are almost always much lower than an ICE vehicle… but you have to think about the long-term infrastructure investment.” — Josh Green, Inspiration Mobility
“We’re starting to see that hydrogen might be better suited for heavy-duty in our climate.” — Heidi Hicks, City of Edmonton
“If you’re thinking about electrification, the first call you need to make is to the utility.” — Bradley Northup, City of Carlsbad
“To maximize EV uptime, you need a phased replacement strategy and a proactive monitoring system for chargers.” — Bernardo Raymundo, The Mobility House
“The transition to zero-emission vehicles is as much an infrastructure challenge as a fleet one — planning beyond vehicles is key.” — Tom Solomon, Rivian
“Optimizing charging infrastructure isn’t just about power, it’s about planning. Build for scalability to avoid costly retrofits.” — Kevin Prince, Revolv
“We’ve moved from a public fueling model to a private one, requiring fleets to rethink and restructure how they handle refueling logistics.” — Kate Harrison, MoveEV
“Incentives (derived from legislation such as) the Inflation Reduction Act can dramatically improve ROI, but fleet managers must act while these programs are still available.” — Dedrick Roper, Momentum
“A robust TCO analysis must consider not just vehicle costs but also charging infrastructure and operational downtime.” — Josh Green, Inspiration Mobility
“Fleets operating at parity or below the cost of diesel are really leaning into electrification but balancing it with hybrids and ICE vehicles for specific roles.” — Paul Gioupis, Zeem Solutions
“One size doesn’t fit all, so we’re really looking at a mixed fleet. Light duty makes sense for electric, but for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, it gets more complex… We’re starting to explore hydrogen and dual-fuel technology.” — Heidi Hicks, City of Edmonton
“When temperatures drop below minus 15 degrees Celsius, we’re losing anywhere between 30% and 50% of total range. This adds difficulty to route optimization and utilization.” — Heidi Hicks, City of Edmonton
“We’re helping fleets comply with clean air regulations by incorporating co-located services. This means combining multiple fleets in one depot to share costs and maximize infrastructure usage.” — Michelle Brown, Pioneer eMobility
“Drivers are coming back to the charger with about 67% of charge left. They’re charging it up to full as a precaution instead of waiting and charging it after the next use.” — Lanelle Duke, Utilimarc
“Electric pickup trucks have the lowest average daily mileage (in the Utilimarc consortium) at about 49 miles per day, compared to 73 for ICE vehicles. These trucks are returning with batteries at about 45% full.” — Lanelle Duke, Utilimarc
“Simulation tools are helping predict and optimize fleet performance to reduce range-related anxiety by providing data on battery health, expected usage, and charging strategies.” — Joel Donham, Wide Sense
“Software-driven charging schedules can reduce demand charges and align with grid-friendly practices, keeping costs predictable.” — Joel Donham, WideSense
“Fleet has a ton of opportunity, but people need to see it as a career path.” — Jeb Lopez, Wheelz Up
