Work Truck Week 2023's educational sessions will be held throughout the conference and cover topics from manufacturing to leadership.
- Work Truck Industry Economic Overview and Market Forecast (Tuesday, March 7, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm): Gain economic and market information to help optimize business planning processes. With expert analysis from NTEA and S&P Global Mobility, learn commercial vehicle industry market trends and how they’re affected by U.S. and global economic cycles. This session includes a North American chassis sales forecast — a critical component of market planning.
- Building Better Commercial Vehicles – Spec’ing 101 (Tuesday, March 7, 3 pm – 4:15 pm): Learn how to spec’ and sell the right vehicles for your customers to minimize total cost of ownership and build loyalty. Explore how changing elements in your commercial vehicle specifications can be the foundation for improved sales and growth. Learn how your organization can utilize resources available from NTEA and TruckScience to help enhance processes and optimize vehicle efficiency.
- Top Tech Trends Impacting Work Trucks (Tuesday, March 7, 3 pm – 4:15 pm): Commercial vehicle technology is changing at an ever-increasing pace, driving new considerations upfitters must navigate in addition to the common issues they routinely face. Based on questions received by NTEA’s Technical Services Department, this session will focus on newer and existing trends upfitters encounter in their obligations to provide safe, high-quality vehicles to meet customer needs. A variety of topics will be covered, including lighting, certification, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, upfit limitations, payload and weight considerations, and more.
- How Seasoned Leaders Keep Their Edge (Wednesday, March 8, 8 am – 9:15 am): Too often when professionals have the most to offer, their inspiration begins to fail them. Frequently, they reach burnout, and can become unfocused and complacent. By this, their example to younger employees is undermined and can cause a department-wide — even a company-wide — malaise. During this session, learn 21 ways to take the pressure off and perform at your best; discover five “edge corrosives” and how to defeat them; leverage four ways to keep your decision-making sharp; and find the one key to focusing on the big picture.
- Top Upfitting Risk Exposures for Multi-Stage Manufacturers (Wednesday, March 8, 8 am – 9:15 am): Learn common areas of risk exposure faced by multi-stage manufacturers, and gain recommendations for risk mitigation. Key topics include exhaust and fuel system routing, electrical routing, tires, towing, lighting, advanced safety system integration, warning labels, weight distribution/ center of gravity analyses, and preventive maintenance. Steve Tuskan has over 35 years of transportation industry experience with a wide range of knowledge gained through positions in truck and trailer manufacturing, fleet operations and forensic consulting. He specializes in the investigation, analysis, and reconstruction of vehicular incidents involving passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, pedestrians and bicycles.
- Trends Impacting the North American Commercial Vehicle Population (Wednesday, March 8, 8 am – 9:15 am): Representatives from industry-leading data organizations will join NTEA to examine current and anticipated trends within the registered commercial vehicle population. Work truck markets will be analyzed by weight class, vehicle type, and fuel type along with a deep dive into the cargo van segment. There will also be analysis of regional trends. Participants will gain insight into how to adjust their market and production plans.
- Upcoming U.S. Department of Energy Initiatives Affecting the Commercial Vehicle Industry (Wednesday, March 8, 8 am – 9:15 am): Join the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy for updates on their latest research and development initiatives impacting the commercial vehicle industry. Attendees will also learn about potential opportunities for the industry to help support upcoming projects and programs.
- Fleet Purchasing Outlook – What Customers Are Saying (Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): During this session, NTEA will share results of its 11th annual Fleet Purchasing Outlook, which assesses commercial fleet procurement plans and industry purchasing. Gain insights from peers on their direct intentions for the upcoming purchasing cycle, and get an understanding of acquisition behaviors and trends. Vehicle upfitters, manufacturers and distributors can hear firsthand perspectives to support business strategies, while fleet professionals can understand what’s trending within the industry for the coming year.
- Invigorate Your Best, Don’t Pander to the Rest: How to Make Your Best Performers Flourish (Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): All too often, business leaders unwittingly create a happier environment for their poor performers than their best. Time and again, the best performers are burned out and uninspired. By this, their output is compromised, their capabilities aren’t maximized, and frequently they leave. Often, we don’t even realize what we’re doing to cause these destructive undercurrents. During this session, discover what your good employees really want; get ideas for keeping them inspired and motivated; find out how to create a culture in which your best thrive; and learn how to stop being sucked into the “poor employee vortex” in which we spend far too much time and emotional energy.
- Power Management and Electrical Integration on Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): Upfitting Considerations and Challenges (Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): The increasing complexity of the vocational market is presenting new challenges for commercial vehicles. Integration between a cab/chassis and bodies within the multi-stage manufacturing space took huge steps forward with electronic data links and multiplexing. Now, the industry needs to do it again with electrification for BEVs. Join this session to hear important considerations and challenges of integrating body power needs into the chassis powertrain rechargeable batteries. Is it more important to know your truck can make it home or to get the job done?
- The Future of Borders and the Work Truck Industry (Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): Do borders matter to the work truck industry? Companies within the commercial vehicle market move equipment, vehicles and people across the shared borders of the United States, Canada and Mexico almost daily. Learn the latest policy developments and economic factors that will influence how cross-border business is conducted going forward.
- Importance of Managing Work Truck Fleet Data in 2023 (Thursday, March 9, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): In today’s online and digital environment, fleets are collecting, storing and utilizing more data than ever before. This information becomes the basis for making data-driven decisions for the organization. Consequently, managing this data has become a critical issue for fleet owners across all industries. Effective data management provides data visibility, reliability, and security, and needs to be a priority for fleet management organizations. During this session, learn the most important elements of an effective data management plan.
- Safety Considerations for Upfitting on Electric Vehicles (Thursday, March 9, 9:30 am – 10:45 am): This session will help prepare technicians and workforce personnel for the new technology of battery electric and zero-emission vehicles. Learn the tools required and training necessary to create a safe work condition as well as tips on how to get your shops and facilities prepared for zero-emission vehicles. Additional topics include safe handling and repair of zero-emission vehicles, lockout/tagout, zero voltage verification, AC voltage safety, high voltage personal protective equipment, and other important safety tips.
