The Green Fleet Conference this week in Schaumburg, Ill., will highlight alternative fuels, fuel efficiency and sustainability. There will be in-depth discussions and expert panels, a ride-and-drive of sustainable vehicles and an expo showcasing the latest green equipment and products.

While the conference has plenty of information to offer any fleet, there will be several events tailored specifically to managers of trucking fleets. 

New this year is the Heavy Duty Symposium, a series of panels directed at heavy-duty fleets featuring experts from across the industry.

On Oct. 29, there will be a panel on natural gas vehicles with representatives from Kwik Trip, Ozinga Bros. and Paper Transit. These early adopters will discuss good and bad lessons learned while implementing natural gas fuel into their fleets.

There will also be a forward-looking panel about the future of alternative fuels and powertrains. It will provide a deep dive into the cutting edge of green technology with presenters from TransPower, Oberon Fuels, Achates Power and Solazyme discussing what new innovations we might see in the coming years.

HDT's special June issue, "121 Ways to Save Money on Fuel," will be the focus of another session, which will highlight some of the most innovative and effective ideas our editors have uncovered – from changing driving habits to tire inflation. The panel will be moderated by HDT Publisher David Moniz.

Finally, there will be a panel on the SuperTruck program - concept trucks built from a Department of Energy grant that was given to four different North American truck and engine manufacturing groups. The companies were tasked with creating the most efficient truck possible using aerodynamics, fuel efficient engines, and driver assistance technologies to wring out the most from every gallon of fuel.

In addition to panels at the Heavy Duty Symposium, HDT will recognize companies in this year's Top 50 Green Fleets, which will be featured in our November issue. Those companies in attendance will recieve special recognition as fleets that have made the commitment to be more sustainable. 

This year's  Ride and Drive event features hands-on, behind-the-wheel time with green vehicles of all shapes and sizes. These vehicles include hybrid trucks from Ford, an electric van from Zenith and a fuel-efficient International ProStar. Attendees are encouraged to test out as many vehicles as possible and drive them on a outdoor road course and enjoy a carnival-like atmosphere.

For more information and a full schedule of events, go to the Green Fleet Conference website.