Safety “Dream Team” Added as Presenters at THE ZONE 2013 Transportation Conference

Seattle, Wash. — Zonar has announced an expanded lineup of presenters for its upcoming fleet management conference titled, “ THE ZONE 2013,” scheduled for May 14-16 at the Grand Hyatt Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.

While much of the 3-day event will focus on ways to improve fleet efficiency through technology, Zonar is also hosting an all-star lineup of speakers who will address safety topics and ways to comply with recent changes to federal regulations.

“Maintaining safe and compliant fleets has always been paramount for fleet managers,” said Chris Oliver, Zonar chief marketing officer. “As such, we’ve dedicated an entire learning track to transportation safety and regulatory compliance. THE ZONE brings together some of the top vehicle safety experts in the country so attendees can get a head start in preparing for regulatory changes.”

In addition to the numerous presenters previously announced, the conference will feature:

• Annette Sandberg, past Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) administrator
• Steve Keppler, executive director at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
• Rob Abbott, vice president of safety policy at the American Trucking Associations (ATA)
Michael Martin, executive director at the National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
• Gary Petty, president and CEO at the National Private Truck Council (NPTC)
• Tom Moore, senior vice president of education at the National Private Truck Council (NPTC)

THE ZONE conference comes two weeks before Roadcheck 2013, the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world, with approximately 14 trucks and buses being inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during a 72-hour period. Roadcheck, which is conducted annually and is sponsored by CVSA with support from FMCSA and other organizations, takes place this year on June 4-6, 2013. The safety panel line up at THE ZONE will provide actionable information fleets can use to improve their operations and better prepare for Roadcheck.

“In 2012, CVSA member jurisdictions conducted 74,072 truck and bus inspections during Roadcheck. During this three-day event, 21 percent of vehicles and just under 5 percent of drivers inspected were placed out of service for violations,” said the CVSA’s executive director, Steve Keppler. “The role of technology in helping fleets of all types meet these ever-changing rules is crucial in running a safe, efficient, and compliant operation.”

Attendees at THE ZONE will leave with a greater understanding of possible future legislation and ways to improve their operation today. The event features three keynote presentations and 72 breakout learning sessions providing fleet professionals an ideal opportunity to network and gain insider knowledge from industry professionals and leading fleet executives. Session topics include the latest trends in fleet management, impending transportation regulation, operational safety, driver retention, fuel efficiency, management best practices and more.

THE ZONE also features keynote speakers including motivational business speaker and entertainer, Mike Rayburn, noted business author, David Goldsmith and internationally popular comedian, John Pinette. In addition, attendees will hear best practices from leading fleets representing a variety of industries.

“Zonar business partners, industry organizations and transportation experts are all helping make THE ZONE one of the most valuable events of the year,” continued Oliver. “THE ZONE is not just for Zonar users. Any fleet executive interested in improving their operations through technology will walk away with new insights, best practices and valuable relationships that will help them immediately make improvements and better prepare for the future. We are pulling out all the stops to provide the information and tools fleet managers need to develop top performing fleets.”

Registration for THE ZONE 2013 is now open. Learn more about THE ZONE 2013 and register at the Zonar website.