
Work Fleet Forum
September 27, 2023
There are plenty of fleet industry gatherings. But for 15 years, one unique fleet meeting has stood out for its intimacy, its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, and its productivity for the work truck fleet leaders lucky enough to secure an invitation.
Work Fleet Forum, taking place November 6 – 9, 2023, is a curated VIP event; a working retreat that brings together work truck fleet leaders from field service, utilities, telecom, building repair, infrastructure, and food distribution. Fleets share real-world tips – for instance how to upfit trucks to maximize tech efficiency – that save time, save money, and keep drivers safe.
Just 50 fleet managers are accepted each year, a formula that ensures The Forum has a comfortable, candid atmosphere where attendees can speak freely while helping each other run smarter, more efficient fleets.
This year’s Work Fleet Forum is in Las Vegas at the Palms Resort. One lucky participant will be awarded a free stay in the hotel’s Sky Suite, the VIP penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows at the top of the hotel, just like we’ve seen in the movies.
When not interacting with fellow fleet leaders, attendees will enjoy a special pre-event day with time to enjoy activities, including rides in driverless Teslas, crushing cars with bulldozers, visiting the Grand Canyon, and riding ATVs in the desert. Further, while in Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, there’s always time to explore, relax at the resort pool, or simply enjoy all that the city has to offer.
The Work Fleet Forum is just $199 for qualifying fleet managers, and includes a hotel room for three nights and all meals. It also features a rooftop, open-sky dinner atop the high-rise resort. The event invites fleet managers with at least 100 vans, pickups, service bodies, or box trucks to apply at www.WorkFleetForum.com. Registration for the fifty available spots is first-come, first-serve, and must be complete by Oct. 15 to qualify for the VIP Sky Suite drawing.
Fleet leaders who’ve attended the event before say they enjoy the casual atmosphere of The Forum, and the opportunity to meet with industry colleagues from around the country.
Jodi Suiter, Director of Fleet for national grounds contractor BrightView calls Work Fleet “an embarrassing amount of fun!” while adding, “It’s always a productive use of my time.”
Louisville Gas & Electric’s Jeff Schneider makes his plans to attend months in advance. And Chuck Bunting, former fleet manager at NiSource admits he “goes to two fleet meetings a year, and one of them is always The Work Fleet Forum.”
This year’s event will include fleet leaders from Con Edison, Quanta Services, Compass, and Schindler Elevator. Suppliers, many of whom have attended for over a decade, give Work Fleet Forum high marks, too. Gary Mott, President of vehicle remarketer FLD, Inc., said “Work Fleet Forum was the kind of event we’d been waiting for – we’ve attended every year since.”
Peter Young, EVP of van interior provider Ranger Design added: “Work Fleet is always a great program and we’ve helped a lot of the fleets we’ve met here.”
In addition to FLD and Ranger, other service providers include ARE, Comdata, Versalift and Kingbee Van Rentals to name a few. Mobileye – a provider of safety equipment – will present a keynote address on the latest safety technology for work trucks.
With plenty of time for casual interaction, fleet managers are offered a myriad of approaches to learning, including roundtables, small-group meetings, and one-on-one conversations. They have time to talk candidly with each other about common struggles, from supply chain limits to dealing with internal company issues. The ‘choose-your-own-meetings’ format also lets fleet leaders source strategically, previewing new technologies, innovative vehicle accessories, and meeting individually with key service providers.
The creator of the Work Fleet Forum, Scott Goldman believes “Work Fleet Forum is the perfect place for fleet manager attendees to get answers from fellow fleet leaders who are asking the same questions you are.”
”How do you answer your CEO when they ask about EVs? Being here can help,” Goldman said. “Everyone is struggling to find new vehicles and hire skilled employees. Bringing fleets together who have the same issues, we can help everyone find better solutions.”
“I’ve loved trucks since I was a kid,” continued Goldman, who once managed trucks for a family business. “To this day, I’ll still stop and admire a well-designed work truck.” He also believes moving the event to Vegas reinforces how special the event is, and that The Forum is simply “the perfect place for fleet leaders to be.”
Goldman has been in the event space for decades. While in high school, he ran a printing business and traveled to an industry show that said he was too young for admission. Undaunted, he found a back door into the expo hall and discovered he loved how events bring entire industries together in one place. Of all the shows he’s worked on, including some that have won national awards, he says Work Fleet is his favorite.
Fleet managers interested in attending Work Fleet Forum can apply at WorkFleetForum.com or by calling (800) 746-9646. The Sky Suite drawing is open to those registered by October 15, and registration ends October 28. Cost for qualified delegates is $199, which includes hotel room for three nights and all meals at the program. Attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance and discounts on select items. Fleet managers can also receive airfare reimbursement from The Forum, if their company approves, of up to $600 to travel to and from the event.