Fleet management: FedFleet 2012 delivers more in Louisville

The 12th annual FedFleet Conference and Exposition in Louisville, Ky., welcomes motor and aviation fleet professionals in government June 25-28. The theme of this year’s event is “FedFleet 2012 and more,” with the “more” including transportation-policy and real-property-policy communities added to those who will attend the events at the Galt House Hotel and Kentucky International Convention Center.

This year’s hosts include the GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA Fleet Program, Federal Fleet Policy Council (FEDFLEET) and the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy. The agenda includes more than 40 educational training sessions and networking opportunities for the more than 1,500 participants representing all levels of federal, state and local governments from across the U.S. Attendees will have opportunities to view approximately 200 exhibitors’ displays and how-to clinics in the exhibit hall at the Kentucky International Convention Center (Hall 2CD).

The conference begins June 25 with several federal agency meetings. Held in conjunction with the conference, the meetings allow agencies to accomplish annual training requirements and access subject-matter experts from agencies such as GSA and DOE, as well as product/service providers.

In addition to agency meetings on June 25, a full day of aircraft-safety course classes will be offered as well as training sessions. A tour of UPS Worldport, the largest fully automated package-handling facility in the world, is on the agenda. Opening day culminates with the opening of the exhibit hall for all attendees.

The “Basic Fleet Policy-Specific Education” class previously held on Sunday before the FedFleet kickoff now will be a series of workshops held throughout the week. The workshop series is geared to those who are new to federal fleet management and those who need a refresher in the basics of fleet management. Some of the workshops are listed below.

Basic fleet policy track days and times

Monday — 2:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
“What do New Federal Fleet Managers Need to Know? What are the Annual Events in Federal Fleet Management?”
Speakers: Karl Wolfe and Connie Aaron

Tuesday — 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
“Learning ‘Fleet Speak’ and Fleet Metrics Overview”
Speakers: Adlore Chaudier and Gary Hatfield

Wednesday — 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
“GSA Motor-Vehicle Management — Fleet and Automotive”
Speaker: Erin Sembach

Thursday — 9:45 a.m.-11 a.m.
“Basics of Fleet Sustainability and Energy Management”
Speakers: Mark Reichhardt, Navid Ahdieh and Ryan Daley

Continuing with the “and more” theme on Wednesday, June 27, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., there will be a training opportunity with vendor panels in the exhibit hall. The four additional training sessions will cover fleet management information systems, telematics, batteries and medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers.

Another addition to FedFleet 2012 is a computer lab. This year, select presentations will be cybercast via teleconferencing.

Training sessions

Workforce development

“Telling and Selling Your Story Through the Media”
Speaker Greg Romano assists participants in understanding the role mass media plays in communicating government initiatives, policies and successes to the public and stakeholders. Participants will learn how to make sure the media gets the story right. They will learn how to craft their message — with an emphasis on the governmentwide messages they need to be sharing, and learn when and how to talk to the media and how to prepare for a media interview. Following the workshop, there will be opportunities to practice newfound or well-remembered skills.

Transportation workshops

“Greening the Freight Transportation Supply Chain”

Buddy Polovich from the EPA leads this session, which provides an overview of the environmental and sustainability issues in transportation, and the role of carbon efficiency benchmarking in freight-transportation management. Polovich will explain the EPA SmartWay and how this public-private, market-based collaboration helps freight companies improve fuel efficiency and reduce costs, while increasing environmental performance, and enhancing U.S. energy security. Participants will learn how federal agencies can use the SmartWay freight-performance benchmarking tools in transportation planning and environmental reporting.

“Hot Topics in GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy and Federal Acquisition Service”
Lois Mandell, GSA-OGP, and John Blanchard, FAS’ Center for Transportation Management, talk about new initiatives under way in transportation operations.

Personal property workshops

“Disposal of Special Items”
Speaker Gary Thompson provides workshop participants with information to help make cost-effective decisions while complying with laws and regulations on hazardous-materials disposal.

Real property workshops

“How to Implement Telework in Your Agency” — Session 1
Personnel from the Louisville, Ky., Telework Exchange Office will discuss the effects alternative workplace arrangements can have on agencies.

“Federal Meeting Facilities (FMF) Tool” — Session 2
Led by Pathina Fitzgerald, participants will learn about the GSA Office of Asset and Transportation Management’s FMF Tool. The web-based tool collects and displays information on federal-agency conference and meeting rooms. The tool provides a public report that identifies federal agencies that have conference and meeting space for other agencies’ use. Conducting business and hosting or sponsoring conferences in space controlled by the federal government is a way to reduce travel and related costs.

Go to this site for more information on FedFleet 2012.