Record Attendance and Key Insights at EUFMC 2024

By all measures, the 71st annual EUFMC, held in June at the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center in Williamsburg, Virginia, was a rousing success. 

A record of 173 fleet representatives from electric utilities, contractors, co-ops and municipal operations, including 50 new members and eight new companies were on hand for the industry’s premiere event. Joining the fleet professionals were more than 360 attendees from over 90 companies that offer equipment, products and services for utility fleet operations.

In 2024, the EUFMC Drive-Thru Demonstration featured 44 manufacturers of mobile, mechanized, and automotive tools and equipment for the industry. The equipment show, which took place at a new location next to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, was the site of more than 60 displays.

The EUFMC keynote address was delivered by Mathias Carlbaum, president and chief executive officer of Navistar, Inc. Discussing “opportunities and challenges” for utility fleets, among other topics Carlbaum covered the transition to electric vehicles and the value of technology from global manufacturers. 

Examples of how leadership and teamwork lead to success were brought to EUFMC by two speakers.

Shane Kimbrough, vice president of strategic operations at Quanta Services and a former NASA astronaut, brought a unique perspective to EUFMC in a presentation that reflected his role at Quanta and his U.S. Army and NASA experience. Included were how to lead, invest in and empower people to achieve positive results, ways to build a highly functional organizational culture, the importance of training and education, and the need for every person in an organization to ensure that everyone goes home safely.

At Quanta Services, Kimbrough is currently leading several corporate initiatives, including the Quanta Elite Foreman and CEO Innovation Awards programs. He is also heading up efforts to recruit veterans and integrate robotic technology into operations.

A graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, Kimbrough attended the U.S. Army Aviation School, served in Operation Desert Storm, and commanded an Apache helicopter company. Selected by NASA in 2004, he has made two spaceflights to the International Space Station (ISS) and served as commander of the NASA/SpaceX Crew-2 Dragon spacecraft. He is the fourth person to fly on three different spacecraft and is fifth on the list for total time in space for all U.S. astronauts

Addressing breakdowns in fleet safety processes and procedures, and driving safety improvements through accountability and effective approaches to leadership, was the focus of a presentation at EUFMC by Eric Kapitulik, founder of The Program, a provider of leadership development and team building services.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Kapitulik served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years as an Infantry Officer and a Special Operations Officer. After earning an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, he founded The Program, a team of professionals that teaches organizations how to develop world-class leaders and teams.

In addition to offering key learning points about how great leaders and teams can drive fleet safety improvements, Kapitulik discussed his experiences in the U.S. Marine Corps and his survival of a tragic helicopter crash that killed seven Marines. He also detailed his subsequent efforts to raise money for a college scholarship fund for the children of his deceased teammates by competing in the world’s toughest endurance races and climbing the world’s tallest mountains.

Driving Safety, Sustainability and Technical Expertise

Presentations by fleet executives, manufacturers and industry experts during the EUFMC educational program covered a range of topics:

• Mutual Assistance Strategies: Hurricanes, ice storms, windstorms and gas emergencies! A group of fleet managers discussed mutual assistance strategies they’ve experienced firsthand in recent years. 
• Fleet Management 2.0 - AI: An investigation of the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence and what a fleet professional needs to embrace.
• Navigating Regulatory Shifts - CARB and EPA Updates for Truck Engine Standards: A panel of medium- and heavy-duty truck experts discussed what’s on the horizon for several regulatory impacts that will affect all fleet managers. They also discussed the 2027 emissions updates for trucks and equipment, and the CARB and EPA stance on diesel engines.
• Legislative Update: HillStaffer Senior Advisor Michael Taylor discussed what important legislation is pending in Washington that will affect fleet professionals.
• Safety Performance - Reducing High Energy Hazards: Many fleet managers are implementing strategies to reduce High Energy Serious Injuries and Fatalities. One fleet manager discussed his journey, along with a Q&A.
• EVs - The Next Steps: There was a discussion on what industry leaders are experiencing with the latest EVs. Cost comparisons to ICE models, user acceptance and many other topics were discussed.
• Electrifying Your Fleet - Charging Challenges for a Sustainable Future: A comprehensive look at the challenges fleet managers are facing to install electric vehicle charging infrastructures.
• Creative Technician Recruitment & Retention: Market challenges are making it difficult for many fleets to recruit and retain technicians. Two fleets discussed how they are combating this trend and offered solutions from a military perspective.
• Roundtables: This EUFMC signature event featured fleet representatives and suppliers discussing mutual challenges and finding solutions.

EUFMC hosted its second annual Women in Utility Fleet gathering in 2024. This year, more than 20 women fleet professionals who were registered to attend the conference were invited. Plans for the networking event in 2024 included building on ideas from last year’s attendees, who found discussions about fleet and career topics, and ways women in the industry have overcome challenges very valuable.

EUFMC will be held June 1 through June 4, 2025, at the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center in Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information, visit www.eufmc.com.