Learn about nuclear verdicts, preventing crashes, truck safety technology, and meet some of the most forward-thinking truck safety professionals in the country at the upcoming virtual Fleet Safety Experience event.

Heavy Duty Trucking and sister Bobit brands Work Truck and Automotive Fleet are putting on this virtual counterpart to the in-person Fleet Safety Conference online Sept. 21-23.

This virtual event will feature speakers and educational sessions for safety and risk management professionals from all fleet types. The program will provide solutions to the latest fleet safety challenges, offer current and expert insights, and practical education on improving safety. In addition, networking sessions will be held on each day of the virtual conference. 

Attendance for the Fleet Safety Experience is free for fleets. Suppliers can attend via a registration fee. Some of the highlights for heavy-duty trucking fleets will include:

HDT’s Safety and Compliance Award

Hear from two award-winning, forward-thinking trucking fleet safety professionals as HDT’s editors announce the 2021 HDT Safety and Compliance Award winner.

Equipment Editor Jim Park will then moderate a panel discussion with not only this year’s honoree, but also the 2020 winner, Adam Lang, chief risk officer for Halvor Lines.

The Safety and Compliance Award is sponsored by J.J. Keller. This session will be held from 2-3 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Anatomy of a Crash

In “Anatomy of a Crash,” the opening keynote of Fleet Safety Experience, Rob Molloy, highway safety director for the National Transportation Safety Board, will go beyond the headlines to help fleets understand the many factors that cause truck crashes.

Molloy will present data and analysis based on multiple investigations of medium- and heavy-duty truck crashes and discuss the NTSB’s investigative process, as well as its new Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements.

The presentation will then show how fleet operators can enhance safeguards, address warning signs, and reevaluate fleet safety policies to mitigate potential future crashes.

The opening keynote convenes on Sept. 21 at noon EST.

Nuclear Verdicts

Eight-figure nuclear verdicts involving commercial fleets are on the rise. What can they do to better protect their organizations and keep their drivers and other safe on the road?

Moderated by HDT’s Jim Park, a Fleet Safety Experience panel discussion will help companies navigate fleet liability when facing nuclear verdicts.

Ed Leonard from Tyson & Mendes law firm will discuss what’s fueling the trend of nuclear verdicts and provide steps to help fleets mitigate potential litigation. Matt Camden of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute will present research from the Institute on driver behavior, safety culture, and safety technologies.

Additionally, the seminar will feature on-the-ground learnings. Mauricio Berber, president of Predictive Coach and RMJ Technologies, will identify bad driving technologies as well as create targeted driver training to promote a safer overall fleet.

“Navigating Fleet Liability and Nuclear Verdicts” will take place on Sept. 21 at 3:30 pm EST.

Safety and Trucks of the Future

Collisions between large vehicle operators and other road users continue to be a leading public safety issue. How are new technologies, truck designs, and safety solutions converging to address the problem today?

The closing keynote at this year’s Fleet Safety Experience will deep dive into the answer.

In “How Will the Truck of the Future Enhance Road Safety?” keynote speaker David Braunstein, president of Together for Safer Roads (TSR), and Truck of the Future partners Jim Olson, Republic Services’ vice president of safety and Keith Kerman, deputy commissioner of New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and New York City’s first chief fleet officer, will share real-world learnings from TSR’s groundbreaking program.

Launched in 2020, TSR’s Truck of the Future program is a first-of-its kind initiative created to improve fleet safety by identifying and testing innovative and cost-effective solutions that eliminate collisions between large vehicle operators and other road users. 

The keynote seminar will educate attendees on the new frontier of innovations and systems to keep drivers safe behind the wheel — from improved cab designs and collision avoidance systems to interventions addressing driver visibility and better infrastructure planning. 

The closing keynote is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 23, at 3:30 p.m. EST.