Roadrageous

IMPROVLearning
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This is Roadrageous, the podcast for safer drivers, smarter training, and bold ideas. Featuring innovators and thought leaders from the driver training industry, we're here to inspire and educate.

  1. ١ أبريل

    Fleet Is Not the Stepchild: How Knoxville Is Redefining Municipal Fleet Leadership

    Fleet Is Not the Stepchild: Nicholas Bradshaw on Professionalizing Municipal Fleet Management Nicholas Bradshaw, Director of Fleet Services for the City of Knoxville, leads a 1,700-vehicle municipal fleet with a philosophy rooted in people-first hiring, life cycle analytics, and innovation. In this episode, he breaks down why fleet gets overlooked, what it takes to change that, and the practical steps he is taking in Knoxville to build a more professional, visible, and financially accountable fleet operation. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: How a career in building inspections and HR led to fleet leadership Why an HR background changes how you hire and manage a fleet team Fleet as the invisible backbone of city operations The case for life cycle data and total cost of ownership modeling Why fleet is on the leading edge of municipal innovation How Knoxville is using 3D printing to solve supply chain problems Telematics, fuel management, and moving from reactive to proactive maintenance Why fleet technicians are really IT professionals now Advice for anyone considering a career in public fleet management Key topics include Knoxville's use of 3D printing to manufacture parts in-house during supply chain disruptions, how telematics shifted the department from reactive to proactive, why hiring for attitude beats hiring for credentials, and how fleet managers can make the business case for life cycle replacement funding. Nicholas also shares his perspective on professionalizing the fleet industry through certifications, analytics, and intentional advocacy. If you work in public fleet or are considering a career in fleet management, this episode is a direct and energizing look at why the field matters more than most people realize. Resources: knoxvilletn.gov | improvlearning.com/fleet-training | apwa.net Good to go, or any tweaks needed?

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  2. ٣٠ مارس

    Why Safety Fails When It's Just a Priority: Steven Mock on Risk, Culture, and the Real Cost of a Claim

    Steven Mock is the Risk Mitigation Director at Brown and Brown and a Certified Safety Professional with 18 years of experience in safety training, compliance, underwriting, and fleet risk management. His track record includes taking a fleet from a 300% loss ratio to 21% in three years while tripling its size.  In this Road Rageous episode, Steve challenges the assumption that fleet safety is primarily a driver behavior problem. Most claims, he argues, trace back to failures in administrative controls: outdated training, unenforced policies, and telematics systems nobody uses. He makes the financial case for safety as a core value, not a priority, and shares the I-75 collision that permanently shaped how he thinks about defensive driving.  Key topics in this episode:  The collision on I-75 that turned Steve from safety advocate to true believer  The picture frame on the visor: building emotional buy-in for safe driving  Why both new drivers and 20-year veterans are your highest-risk groups  Why 85% of insurance claims trace back to administrative control failures  How to use telematics scorecards the same way you use a P&L  The NIOSH hierarchy of controls applied to fleet risk  Safe production versus production at any cost: the math always favors safety  Publicly praise, privately reprimand: leadership lessons from the Marine Corps  Connect with Steven Mock on LinkedIn or email steven.mock@bbrown.com.  Read the full episode article at improvlearning.com.

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  3. ١٤ مارس

    From Dealership to #1: How Tallahassee Fleet Became America's Municipal Gold Standard

    From Dealership to #1: How Tallahassee Fleet Became America's Municipal Gold Standard Libsyn Show Notes Version Guest: Jeff Shepard, Fleet Manager, City of Tallahassee, Florida Topic: Building the 2025 #1 Municipal Fleet in America Duration: [Podcast Duration] Episode Summary Jeff Shepard transformed Tallahassee's 2,900-vehicle municipal fleet into America's #1 ranked operation. Starting as a dealership technician 32 years ago, Jeff built a 24/7 operation that manages police, fire, utilities, transit, solid waste, and airport operations while running 150 electric vehicles, 30 electric buses, public charging infrastructure, and in-house CDL training programs that have certified 180+ drivers. His secret: customer service mindset, radical transparency, relentless team support, and zero excuses on safety. Timestamps [1:12] From tractor sales to 32-year municipal fleet career [2:07] How customer service culture transformed city fleet operations [2:35] The Tallahassee way: no excuses on driver safety [2:47] Building career progression for technicians [3:08] Telematics and driver cameras across 2,900 vehicles [4:04] Overcoming driver resistance through exoneration stories [6:47] Managing 1 million miles monthly [7:10] Operating 150 EVs, 30 electric buses, public charging [8:24] 24/7 hurricane response and mutual aid operations [13:11] Building a 110-person team that never sleeps [16:57] Transparency dashboards: the #1 competitive advantage [17:31] Why manager-level buy-in changes everything [19:08] Owning mistakes and building diverse teams [19:55] Non-negotiables: brakes, safety, human life [21:16] In-house CDL training (certified 180+ drivers) [22:43] Writing training into vendor contracts [27:01] Advice for new fleet managers Key Takeaways ✓ Transparency is foundational — Create dashboards showing every department their vehicle mileage, downtime, repair history, and costs in real time ✓ Camera adoption works through exoneration — Start with one department, use driver protection stories, let other departments request adoption rather than mandate it ✓ 1M+ monthly miles requires telematics — Accurate mileage tracking and fault code monitoring aren't optional for diverse fleets ✓ In-house CDL training scales — When external programs can't meet demand, certified internal training programs deliver 180+ certified drivers ✓ Leadership buy-in transforms perception — When top management recognizes fleet as mission-critical infrastructure, everything changes ✓ 24/7 operations need 24/7 teams — Transit buses cleaned and ready at 5 AM, night crews fueling and repairing continuously ✓ Vendor contracts should include training — Make supplier training mandatory—it's cheaper than developing expertise in-house ✓ Embed factory technicians — Use maintenance contracts to place vendor specialists in your shop for complex equipment ✓ Non-negotiables center on human life — Vehicle safety (especially brakes) and technician safety can't be compromised for efficiency ✓ Support your team first — Train continuously, provide pathways, and back them when mistakes happen Quotable Moments "City of Tallahassee has a great organization with great benefits. So I said, man, I need to get on board with these guys." "We run a data-driven customer service operation. They're our customers. We don't dictate to them their equipment." "Just no excuses on driver safety. When we repair something, it's got to be back out on the road safely." "It saved the drivers more than it has called heartache on them because we always get driver complaints from the citizens and they pulled the camera up and said, no, he did not do that." "Our vehicles travel over 1 million miles a month here in town." "Transparency is my biggest thing. We have a dashboard that all of our customers can see." "You've got to get buy-in from the top, the manager's office." "If you make a mistake, just own it and go back and fix it. Bring your team involved, because your team's going to really give you great advice." "That's just non-negotiable to make mistakes and put our citizens and our customers in jeopardy—there's the human life that's involved with it." "Support your team and train and educate your team. That's the biggest thing." Action Items for Fleet Leaders Immediate (This Month) Create a transparency dashboard showing your top 3 metrics (mileage, downtime, costs) Schedule a meeting with your executive leadership to explain why fleet is mission-critical Identify one safety non-negotiable and communicate it to your team Short-Term (Next Quarter) Audit your technician training programs—identify skill gaps Start one in-house training initiative (CDL, vehicle-specific, or safety) Review vendor contracts—which ones should include training requirements? Long-Term (This Year) Build comprehensive telematics across your fleet Develop a camera/exoneration program starting with one department Create clear career progression pathways for technicians Establish monthly safety committee meetings with team input Resources Mentioned Jeff Shepard on LinkedIn City of Tallahassee Fleet Services SPIDER Driver Training by IMPROVLearning Chad Lindholm on LinkedIn Gary Alexander on LinkedIn American Public Works Association (APWA) Guest Profile Jeff Shepard is Fleet Manager for the City of Tallahassee, Florida, overseeing the 2025 #1 ranked fleet in America. With over 32 years of experience starting as a dealership technician, Jeff manages approximately 2,900 vehicles across police, fire, emergency services, utilities, transit, solid waste, airport operations, and the city's own power generation facilities. Under his leadership, Tallahassee operates 24/7, manages 1 million vehicle miles monthly, maintains 150 electric vehicles and 30+ electric buses, operates public EV charging infrastructure, and runs certified in-house CDL training programs that have certified 180+ drivers. His 110+ employee team includes 55 technicians, factory-trained specialists, and support staff. Jeff is known for his customer service approach to fleet management, radical transparency through real-time dashboards, uncompromising safety standards, and his commitment to team development. His philosophy: own your mistakes, support your team, train continuously, and never compromise on things involving human life. About This Episode This episode is part of the Roadrageous podcast series, where we interview fleet leaders, safety innovators, and operations experts driving real change in transportation and logistics. Brought to you by IMPROVLearning At IMPROVLearning, we understand that the #1 fleet requires more than technology and transparency—it requires trained drivers. Jeff Shepard's operation demonstrates the power of in-house training programs combined with proven behavior change methodology. SPIDER™ Driver Training develops the cognitive skills that prevent incidents across diverse fleets: hazard recognition, space management, and decision-making processes that work whether drivers are responding to hurricanes or navigating school zones. When you're managing 2,900 vehicles traveling 1 million miles monthly, every driver matters. Training determines outcomes. Learn more about IMPROVLearning

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  4. ٤ مارس

    From South Dakota to Florida: How Patti Earley Built a 40-Year Legacy in Fleet Leadership

    From South Dakota to Florida: Patti Earley on 40 Years in Fleet Leadership Patti Earley is the Fleet Fuel Operations Manager at Florida Power and Light and a past president of NAFA Fleet Management Association. With more than 40 years in the industry, she is one of the most recognized voices in fleet today and the inaugural recipient of NAFA's Tom Johnson Award. In this Road Rageous episode, Patti discusses the evolution of women in fleet leadership, what it takes to manage fuel operations for a 5,800-vehicle emergency response fleet, and the leadership traits that have sustained a four-decade career. Key topics in this episode: How fleet management has evolved for women over 40-plus years Operational challenges of managing a utility fleet through hurricane season FPL's approach to biodiesel, EVs, and alternative fuel transition at scale Why adaptability and persistence are the traits that last FPL's Rewire initiative and thoughtful AI adoption Building technician pipelines through trade schools and military SkillBridge programs Mentorship, certification, and what NAFA has meant to a long career Timestamps: [1:01] How a college job at South Dakota State University launched a 40+ year fleet career [2:20] Evolution of women in fleet leadership: from rare to reshaping the industry [4:10] Mentorship and professional networks as career catalysts for women entering fleet [6:03] Fleet Fuel Operations at FPL: managing 3,800 vehicles across emergency response operations [7:11] Hurricane restoration logistics and the pressures of emergency response fleet management [9:10] Fuel diversification strategy: biodiesel, hybrids, EVs, and infrastructure constraints [12:05] Technology adoption mindset: early adopter, but strategically selective [14:30] The Rewire project: how FPL is embracing AI company-wide and making jobs more efficient [18:35] The real concern: technology displacement, retraining, and ethical adoption [20:08] Workforce development through technical school partnerships and SkillBridge program [22:22] Why today's diesel technicians aren't wrench-turners—they're highly technical professionals [23:50] Leadership traits for an era of disruption: adaptability, persistence, calm under stress [25:30] The confidence habit: preparation as the antidote to imposter syndrome In this episode… Patti Earley represents a rare combination: a four-decade veteran of fleet management who actively embraces technological disruption while remaining grounded in people-first leadership. She's seen the industry transform from a male-dominated field where women were nearly invisible to one where women are reshaping leadership at every level—three of the last six NAFA presidents have been women. But this episode isn't about nostalgia. It's about how leaders prepare for the future. As AI and automation reshape fleet operations—from route optimization to predictive maintenance to autonomous vehicle research—organizations need leaders who understand both the technology opportunity and the human reality. That's Patti. At Florida Power & Light, she manages 3,800 vehicles, 5,800 pieces of equipment, and 100 diesel technicians across 29 garages. She oversees 80% diesel operations (70% biodiesel), plus hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. She stages emergency response fleets during hurricanes and coordinates massive restoration efforts. She's launching company-wide AI adoption through the Rewire project while simultaneously investing in workforce development through technical school partnerships and military transition programs. How does she balance innovation with pragmatism? Disruption with stability? Technology with people? That's the real conversation. Connect with Patti Earley on LinkedIn. If you are a young woman considering a career in fleet, she is open to the conversation. Read the full episode article at improvlearning.com.

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  5. ٥ فبراير

    Silent Support, Massive Impact: How Fleet Operations Run a City—And Earn Zero Credit for It

    Silent Support, Massive Impact Craig Croner is Deputy Director of Fleet Operations for the City of Glendale with 30+ years experience managing 1,500 assets across police, fire, waste, and municipal operations. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [1:27] From high school shop class to 30 years in fleet leadership [5:32] What "invisible infrastructure" really means in municipal operations [8:11] Managing everything from police cars to combine harvesters [10:06] Why onboarding safety training is non-negotiable [12:17] The evolution from paper files to integrated fleet management systems [13:22] How GPS technology went from "Big Brother" to exoneration tool [17:43] The parking lot story: How GPS saved a driver's reputation [21:04] The cardiac event rescue: GPS technology that saved a life [22:57] Advice for new fleet managers entering the industry [27:44] Why "adaptive" is the future of fleet operations In this episode… Most cities run invisible infrastructure. Firefighters respond, police intervene, waste trucks collect—but nobody thinks about the fleet operations behind it all. After 30 years in fleet management, Craig Croner proved that invisibility isn't a limitation—it's the goal. Managing 1,500 assets so smoothly that operators never think about vehicles. Integrating GPS, telematics, and safety seamlessly. Reframing technology from surveillance to support. Listen to how Craig built excellence that nobody sees. Quotable Moments: "Hopefully they get to do their job without thinking about the vehicle. That's our job." "We're the silent source that gets things done." "The first thing that comes to an operator's mind is, 'Oh, it's Big Brother looking at me.'" "We're not looking at you. We're looking at things where we can exonerate you." "In a million years, I would never have thought I could use GPS to help a family find answers in a crisis." "There's a difference between being on the cutting edge and the bleeding edge of technology." Action Steps: Define fleet's support role clearly. Ensure operators won't have to think about vehicle reliability. Invest in comprehensive onboarding safety training. Day one means full safety certification for new technicians. Build integration into technology strategy. GPS, telematics, and maintenance platforms should talk to each other. Test and pilot before scaling. Know your ROI before investing broadly. Reframe GPS technology as support, not surveillance. Train supervisors to tell the real story: optimization, efficiency, exoneration. Use GPS for driver exoneration first. Collect stories where technology proved your driver was right. Be on the cutting edge, not the bleeding edge. Adopt technology after proven track record, not day one. Accept the invisibility. Your greatest success is when nobody knows you're there. The Invisible Infrastructure Craig manages everything from police cars to fire trucks to waste vehicles to graders. In the private sector, you specialize. In public sector, you become a generalist. "You can't be specialized in one specific field. You have to be really good at multiple fields and understand the equipment." Safety starts on day one: comprehensive onboarding for technicians covering lifting vehicles, overhead cranes, and all safety protocols. But safety also means every vehicle leaving the yard is safe for the operator. One tire flying off due to improper torque creates real consequences. Technology evolved from paper files (1996) to integrated platforms. Today, Geotab GPS talks to FASTER fleet management. A driver reports a vehicle issue and it automatically generates a work order. Diagnostic codes surface before failures happen. From "Big Brother" to Exoneration Tool When GPS first appeared, operators feared surveillance. Craig's solution: reframe it. "It's up to fleet management to sell the program not based on 'it's a gotcha,' but 'it really helps us drive being more efficient,'" he explains. Fuel optimization, idle time reduction, vehicle diagnostics, cost savings. But the most powerful benefit? Exoneration. A code compliance officer gets backed into by another vehicle in a parking lot. The at-fault driver claims the fleet vehicle hit them. GPS data showed exactly what happened—and exonerated the driver completely. "That word gets out. You have to be able to pinpoint those things and raise that awareness. It's not just about Big Brother. It actually helps you guard against something." The culture shifted. Operators started trusting technology because they saw it work in their favor. The Cardiac Event: When GPS Became a Family Support Tool A code compliance officer suffered a cardiac event and became non-responsive at the VA hospital. His wife, searching for answers, contacted the supervisor. GPS immediately confirmed the vehicle location at the hospital and relayed it to the family. The technology didn't alert emergency responders or activate rescue protocols—instead, it gave the spouse the critical information she needed to locate her husband and connect with hospital staff. This single detail transformed GPS from a surveillance tool into genuine family protection Testing Before Scaling Craig has seen implementations fail when organizations hope technology solves problems. "The worst implementations are always, 'We hope that it does this,' or they're not testing as they implement," he says. His approach: pilot, test, measure ROI, then scale. Will it save man hours? Improve DOT compliance? Free up staff for meaningful work? "There's a difference between being on the cutting edge and the bleeding edge of technology." Advice for New Fleet Managers Find a mentor. Get certified through APWA programs. Join GFX (Government Fleet Executives). Remember that fleet exists to enable frontline operations. "Fleet management isn't for the weak. But there's a lot of rewards because when you see a fire truck on scene, you know you played a role." Key Takeaways ✓ Fleet's job is invisibility—make vehicles work so operators never think about them ✓ Comprehensive onboarding prevents workplace incidents ✓ Integrate systems so inspections automatically generate work orders ✓ Reframe GPS from surveillance to support through exoneration ✓ Test and pilot technology before scaling ✓ Use GPS for driver exoneration stories to build trust ✓ Be on the cutting edge, not the bleeding edge ✓ Greatest success is when nobody notices you're there Resources mentioned in this episode: Craig Croner on LinkedIn City of Glendale Fleet Services GFX – Government Fleet Executives APWA – American Public Works Association Geotab GPS & Telematics SPIDER® Driver Training Chad Lindholm on LinkedIn Gary Alexander on LinkedIn About Craig Croner Craig Croner is Deputy Director of Fleet Operations for the City of Glendale, Arizona, leading a team of 36 managing 1,500 assets across police, fire, solid waste, and municipal operations. With 30+ years of fleet management experience spanning beverage industry safety direction and centralized fleet services for the City of Boise, Craig brings a unique perspective on complex public sector infrastructure. A nationally recognized speaker and GFX advisor, Craig was inducted into the 2025 Public Fleet Hall of Fame for advancing fleet operations and technology integration in the public sector. This episode is brought to you by IMPROVLearning. At IMPROVLearning, we're dedicated to transforming driver education through innovative, research-backed training methods. Our SPIDER™ Driver Training platform combines humor with proven brain-training techniques to help drivers anticipate and avoid dangers on the road. Fleet operations provide the vehicles. SPIDER training develops the cognitive skills that complement your fleet infrastructure: hazard recognition, space management, and split-second decision-making. To learn more about how IMPROVLearning complements your fleet strategy, visit improvlearning.com.

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  6. ٢٢ يناير

    We're in the People Business: How Waste Connections Puts Culture Over Compliance

    We're in the People Business: How Waste Connections Puts Culture Over Compliance Brandon Leonard is the Region Safety Manager at Waste Connections with over 20 years of fleet experience. He leads safety strategy across waste and recycling operations, emphasizing servant leadership, people-first culture, and empowering frontline employees to make safe decisions in complex operating environments. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [1:11] How washing trucks at 17 led to a safety leadership career [4:45] What a day in the life of a waste collection driver actually looks like [7:46] Unique safety challenges in waste management operations [10:39] Balancing safety, performance, and service reliability [14:16] Interview questions that reveal safety mindset [17:48] Why onboarding never stops at day 15 [22:07] Using DriveCam to coach behavior, not punish outcomes [28:35] Managing change without overcomplicating safety programs [32:44] The one thing every safety leader must genuinely do In this episode… Waste collection drivers start their routes between midnight and 6 AM, navigating blind spots, hydraulic systems, and residential streets where impatient drivers create daily risks. They shake containers at 3 AM to check for sleeping occupants. They build relationships with customers multiple times every month. And they do this in every weather condition imaginable. This isn't typical fleet operations. This is waste management—and it demands a fundamentally different approach to safety. According to Brandon Leonard, the key isn't compliance checklists or disciplinary action. It's culture. It's hiring people who genuinely care. It's leaders who serve their teams instead of managing metrics. It's technology that prevents incidents instead of just reacting to them. After 6½ years in safety leadership, Brandon discovered something critical: Safety managers don't drive results directly. District managers, supervisors, and frontline leaders do. Brandon's job is to influence them and equip them with everything needed to keep their teams safe. His insight: Strong safety practices make consistent service possible. Reliability comes from drivers empowered to say "I'm not comfortable with this stop"—and meaning it. In this Roadrageous episode, Brandon reveals how Waste Connections builds safety cultures that scale, why "be safe but hurry up" creates dangerous pressure, and what happens when you genuinely care about people in an industry that never stops moving. Quotable Moments: "We're in the people business and we pick up trash. But who we are is we're in the people business." "If there's not a driver that reports directly to you, how do you affect change? Those are the ones you gotta influence." "We expect high performance, but never at the expense of safety. Never." "Telling people to be safe but to hurry up doesn't work. We have found that out time and time again." "We want to coach to prevent, not coach to react." "If you don't care about people, you shouldn't be in leadership." "Safety is more than compliance. You have to genuinely care about people." "Everybody wants to do great work. They're not doing it wrong because they want to do it wrong." Action Steps: Ask deep-diving interview questions that reveal authentic safety mindset—not yes/no answers Extend onboarding beyond day 15 by treating it as 90+ days of continuous check-ins Empower drivers to refuse unsafe stops by making it clear that saying "I'm not comfortable" is expected Use DriveCam to coach proactively, not react with discipline after the fact Defend drivers when AI gets it wrong by removing false positives and building trust in the system Train leaders on servant leadership, not just driver safety procedures Start change management by explaining "why" instead of just announcing policies Keep safety programs simple—complexity creates confusion and resistance Build teams that challenge you by creating psychological safety for difficult conversations Care genuinely about people while still measuring what matters The Hidden Complexity of Waste Collection When people think about waste collection, they picture a simple pickup. The reality is far more complex. Drivers conduct pre-trip inspections between midnight and 6 AM, then operate trucks with hydraulics, manage extreme blind spots, navigate tight alleys, and deal with an impatient public. On commercial routes, they face a unique challenge: people sleeping in dumpsters. Brandon explains the procedure: "We're servicing at 3 AM. We train to shake containers to make sure nobody's in there. There's a lot of time people are sleeping in there. That's scary for everyone." Beyond safety concerns, the job is intensely physical. Drivers work in all weather conditions, and they're also doing something critical: building customer relationships that lead to contract renewals. "They're not only picking up the trash," Brandon says. "They're getting contracts through great service and great humanity." The "Be Safe But Hurry Up" Problem Every fleet struggles with the tension between safety and productivity. Brandon confronts it directly. "Productivity matters. Numbers matter. KPIs matter," he acknowledges. "But telling people to be safe but to hurry up doesn't work." The message creates cognitive dissonance and pressure where judgment lapses happen. But Brandon also challenges the inverse: "Slow doesn't automatically mean safer. If you're going 35 on a 75-mile-an-hour highway, that's not safe." The solution is empowerment. "We expect high performance, but never at the expense of safety. Reliability comes from drivers who feel empowered to make the right decisions all the time." This works because drivers see conditions supervisors don't. Construction changes traffic patterns. New buildings create visibility issues. What was safe last year might not be safe today. Hiring for Safety: The Questions That Matter Most safety failures don't start on the road. They start in the interview. "Don't just hire butts in seats," Brandon warns. "When you're down three or four drivers, it's easy to make those decisions. But usually you're just in a vicious cycle for six months to a year." Here's what doesn't work: "Is safety a value to you?"—followed by the expected answer "Yes" with zero information gained. Here's what works: "What does safety mean to you?" "Give me a time when you were unsafe, how that made you feel, and how you corrected it." "Have you seen coworkers do something unsafe, and how did you respond?" "You're asking questions and getting to know who they are," Brandon explains. "They're authentically answering because they don't expect those." The key hiring criterion isn't experience. It's genuine care about safety and others. Onboarding That Never Ends Waste Connections has a 15-day onboarding program with 23 modules. But Brandon's philosophy goes deeper: Onboarding doesn't stop at day 15. "You have to continuously talk to this employee to see how they're doing. Onboarding is 90 days, six months—it could be whatever it is." Instead of cramming modules, drivers complete two per day—a pace designed for retention, not just completion. "If you throw a whole bunch of knowledge at them, they're just starting, nervous, and they're never going to retain any of that information." The program prioritizes culture over tactics by teaching who the company is first, then how to do the job. "We want to get their buy-in, get their family's buy-in to who they are working for." DriveCam: Exoneration Over Discipline Brandon's approach separates average programs from exceptional ones. "DriveCam is one of our number one tools. But we want to coach to prevent, not coach to react." They view cameras as exoneration tools first, coaching tools second, and disciplinary tools last. "It exonerates our employees a lot more than it hurts them. When it can show everything they're doing right—because they do so much right—it helps them get confidence in the system." Brandon sees proof in driver behavior: drivers come in saying "Hey, this is what I did. Let's talk about it," or "Look at this incident I avoided by being alert and aware." That's trust, not fear. But this only works if leaders coach rather than just discipline. "If you use this as a disciplinary tool and don't put the time and energy to make them better—doing ride-alongs, taking them to lunch, getting to know them—you're failing them." When AI Gets It Wrong Brandon's response: Defend your drivers. "You can't allow AI to coach your employees. AI is not right 100% of the time. It's your job to defend your employees and say, 'This guy's doing everything right. We need to remove this.'" This builds invaluable respect and trust. He also warns against soft coaching, which destroys credibility. Either the behavior was unsafe and needs correction, or it wasn't and should be removed. Training Leaders, Not Just Drivers Most fleet safety programs focus exclusively on drivers. Waste Connections invests heavily in leadership development. "It's not just drivers you're training. It's district managers, division vice presidents. Training never stops for any of us." But the training isn't about safety procedures—it's about serving people. "We bring people to corporate for specific trainings—not how to be safer, how to get to know your people better. How do you serve your people that then will follow you to be safer?" Change Management: Start With Why Brandon's approach comes down to three principles: 1. Start with Why. "People need to understand why you're doing something—not just because it's a policy. People are far more willing to embrace change when they understand the reason behind it." 2. Get Input (Even If You Can't Change the Outcome). "If you get people's input, at least they had a word in it. Doesn't mean you have to do what they said, but you have to listen." 3. Keep It Simple. "Simple scales a lot better every

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  7. ٩ يناير

    When Technology Meets Tight Alleys: Running a Modern Municipal Fleet

    Municipal fleets operate under a microscope. Every dollar is taxpayer money. Every decision faces scrutiny. Every vehicle supports critical public services. So how do you balance innovation, sustainability, and reliability at massive scale? Eric Winterset knows. As Fleet Services Bureau Manager for the City of Long Beach, he oversees 1,600 rolling stock units serving police, fire, refuse, helicopters, boats, and beach maintenance. Under his leadership, Long Beach has become an early adopter of AI-powered predictive maintenance, automated tire monitoring, and flexible EV infrastructure—while managing operations that never stop. In this episode, Eric reveals: How AI predictive maintenance increased fleet availability from 90% to 93% Why he intentionally let vehicles break down to prove the technology works The automated tire monitoring posts eliminating surprise downtime Flexible EV infrastructure strategies (solar chargers, propane trailers) that bridge the gap before permanent installations Why major EV manufacturers are pausing production—and what it means for fleet planning The hidden training challenge nobody discusses (spoiler: it's not just about vehicles) Real differences between private and public sector fleet operations How Long Beach manages one of only three municipal towing operations in the U.S. Whether you're in municipal fleet management, considering EV adoption, or navigating technology implementation at scale, Eric's nearly 30 years of experience offers practical frameworks for pilots, buy-in, and flexibility. Listen now to discover how Long Beach is building the fleet of the future—one innovation at a time. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Eric Winterset on LinkedIn City of Long Beach Fleet Services Pitstop – AI Predictive Maintenance SPIDER® Driver Training Chad Lindholm on LinkedIn Gary Alexander on LinkedIn Network of Employers for Traffic Safety Long Beach City College Subscribe for more fleet safety insights and industry innovations! SPONSORED BY: IMPROV Learning Transform driver education with SPIDER™ Driver Training—research-backed methods that help drivers anticipate and avoid dangers on the road. Visit: https://www.improvlearning.com/ #FleetManagement #MunicipalFleet #PredictiveMaintenance #AIinFleet #EVInfrastructure #Sustainability #FleetSafety #RoadRageous #Podcast

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  8. ١٢‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Stop Collecting Data. Start Changing Drivers.

    EPISODE SUMMARY: Fleets have safety policies everywhere—but drivers make real-time decisions about whether to follow them. Nancy Bendickson reveals how systematic gap assessment transforms disconnected safety programs into accountability structures that actually stick, turning telematics alerts into behavioral change through collaborative implementation, not top-down mandates. With 40+ years of experience in safety leadership and risk control, Nancy has shaped safety programs for multinational corporations, led global fleet audits, and investigated everything from routine crashes to complex international incidents. As Aon's GRC thought leader for transportation safety, she partners with large clients to analyze loss data, uncover risk drivers, and build strategies that meaningfully reduce risk. In this episode, we explore what separates fleets that transform their safety outcomes from those stuck in compliance theater—and the collaborative, data-driven approach that actually works. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [2:59] How a dietetics degree led Nancy into insurance risk analysis and why her unconventional path shaped her safety approach [5:11] Why people stay in safety careers for decades—and what makes the work truly rewarding [6:12] The gap assessment framework: Your starting point for meaningful safety improvement (what to evaluate, why it matters) [10:54] The most common safety gaps Nancy finds across fleets (and why they systematically undermine programs) [12:30] Why management buy-in is non-negotiable for safety program success (and how to build it) [15:15] How telematics transformed fleet safety monitoring—and why data without action creates liability [18:45] The critical difference between telematics data (what happened) and fleet cameras (why it happened) [20:22] Building accountability structures when drivers make real-time safety decisions in the field [30:51] Creating collaborative safety implementation that gains genuine organizational buy-in [36:56] How to reduce total cost of risk through strategic loss prevention and targeted initiatives [40:29] What's next: Making telematics implementation truly effective in 2025 and beyond KEY TAKEAWAYS: The gap assessment process examines 8 critical areas: management support, driver selection, training, vehicle management, substance abuse programs, incident management, driver monitoring, and accountability/role clarity Many organizations implement telematics but fail to maximize impact because they lack processes around data management, coaching protocols, corrective action, and continuous monitoring Effective safety programs require collaborative planning, not consultant prescriptions—genuine organizational buy-in separates successful programs from those that fade Forward-facing cameras provide critical context that telematics alone cannot—showing not just what happened, but why and who was at fault The real gap in fleet safety isn't data collection; it's turning data into driver behavior change through structured coaching and accountability Safety leaders who succeed are those who remain flexible, learn continuously, and adapt their approach as organizational needs change Total cost of risk reduction involves frequency management, severity management, documented loss control practices, and sustainable safety culture GUEST BIO: Nancy Bendickson is a Managing Consultant at Aon with over 40 years of experience in safety leadership, risk control, and strategic loss prevention. She partners with large casualty clients to analyze loss data, uncover key risk drivers, and implement targeted strategies for meaningful risk reduction across fleet operations, occupational safety, and general liability exposures. Her career spans diverse roles including 14 years in insurance loss control, leadership at Minnesota Safety Council, corporate safety management at Cargill (where she led global fleet task forces), and 29 years at Aon. She has conducted safety audits for multinational corporations, investigated incidents internationally (including a notable truck accident in Papua New Guinea), and contributes expertise to the EMS Safety Foundation. As Aon's GRC thought leader for transportation and food safety, Nancy brings rare combination of operational insight and technical mastery. Her work demonstrates that effective safety leadership requires honest assessment, collaborative implementation, and unwavering focus on reducing risk. QUOTABLE MOMENTS: "When I get a new assignment, I need to figure out what's the current state. Where are their pain points? What are their trends for losses?" "We have telematics data now. How well are you managing that data? Do you have a process in place to help you make sure that events are being handled?" "As a consultant, I can only go so far, but if we can gain some buy in and have this ongoing strategy, we're going to have more success." "Now we have a true picture of what happened. Where did it happen? And we can know, yep, I need to definitely settle that one right away, because we know we've got fault there." "The big lot in life for us in casualty risk control is, how can I impact that total cost of risk for a client?" "You got to be flexible and just kind of be ready to move and change as the client is providing focus for you." TOPICS DISCUSSED: #FleetSafety #SafetyLeadership #Telematics #GapAssessment #RiskManagement #DriverTraining #FleetManagement #BehavioralChange #CasualtyRiskControl #InsuranceSavings #SafetyCulture #AccountabilityStructures #FleetCameras #LossPrevention #Aon #ImprovedLearning #SPIDER CONNECT WITH NANCY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-bendickson-cds-csp-arm-54616714/ RESOURCES MENTIONED: Aon Risk Solutions - Transportation: https://www.aon.com/en/solutions/transportation EMS Safety Foundation: https://www.emsafe.org/ SPIDER® Driver Training - IMPROVLearning: https://www.improvlearning.com/fleet-training/ Minnesota Safety Council Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS): https://trafficsafety.org National Safety Council (NSC): https://www.nsc.org

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