Fleet technologies and electric vehicles were major topics at the recent Northern California chapter of the Municipal Equipment Maintenance Association (MEMA). The group held its annual event at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club on Sept. 26.

The event brought together approximately 110 fleet professionals from over 35 Northern California MEMA Chapter Member Fleets. It included keynote speakers Bill Griffiths from Chevin and Steve Saltzgiver from Mercury Associates; various talks about electric vehicles, implementing alternative fuels in the fleet, and telematics; a vendor expo; and several boat tours.

“We’re just trying to do more regional things, because there are so many people who can’t travel, especially to national conferences,” said Keith Leech, MEMA NorCal chairman. “One of the great opportunities is when we can all bring two or three people out of the shop who can’t normally get out to participate and get a glimpse of our world, to understand what fleet management, not just fleet maintenance, is all about.”

Leech added that the agenda reflected best practices as well as the pressing concerns of local fleet managers — notably, state regulations that require transit agencies and those providing shuttle buses to major airports to transition to zero-emission electric vehicles.

Ernesto Martinez, equipment specification & acquisitions supervisor with Sacramento County, said Griffith’s keynote presentation, “Best Practices in Implementing Fleet Management Information Systems and Lessons Learned” was a highlight for him in that it provided information about project management that can be applied across different projects.

Attendee Freddy Barajas, fleet supervisor for the City of San Leandro, said he appreciated the collaboration between agencies and vendors in the industry.

“I learned a lot about GPS and the telematics companies,” he added.