| |
Public safety fleet managers from throughout North America will gather at Manheim's Greater New Orleans Auto Auction for NAFA's PSG Roadeo on Saturday, April 25. The Roadeo, one of the most popular events at NAFA's annual Institute & Expo, lets public safety fleet managers test their prowess behind the wheel in timed events and see some of the newest emergency safety vehicles, while offering an afternoon of networking among colleagues over a barbecue lunch.
The Roadeo features vehicles provided by Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, American Chariot, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and T3 Motion, Inc. Fleet managers will get the opportunity to skillfully maneuver through different courses while being timed for speed and accuracy as they learn how each manufacturer's vehicle differ in the way it handles various situations. It's a truly unique way to take a test drive!
"More and more, fleet managers are having to multi-task," said Jeffery Jeter, Director of Fleet Services for Spotsylvania County Schools in Fredericksburg, Virginia. "Coming to the I&E, looking at these things and driving them, opens up a new perspective. It helps you decide what's best for your county or city. For a fleet manager, it's really important to be involved in the spec writing for apparatus."
While the heart of the Roadeo lies in the timed competitions and networking, the event always includes a few new surprises to the program each year. This year's event will feature motorcycle demonstrations by a local police department and an extrication performed by local firefighters.
Buses will depart from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center between 11:30 am and 11:40 am to take the fleet managers to Manheim's Greater New Orleans Auto Auction, which is located about 40 minutes away. The Roadeo runs from 11:30 am to 4 pm at which time buses will return the fleet managers to the Convention Center. The event is restricted to Institute & Expo registrants with a public safety badge. A valid driver's license is required for all who choose to participant in getting behind a wheel.
About NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA Fleet Management Association (nafa.org) is a not-for-profit, individual membership professional society serving the needs of members who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance and repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles including in excess of 1.1 million trucks of which 350 thousand are medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
About NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo
NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo (nafaIandE.org) will be held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center April 25-28. Global automotive industry expert, Graeme Maxton, will provide the Keynote Address. The I&E features over 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops; the Public Safety Roadeo and a large collection of emergency vehicles, the Green Fleet Ride-and-Drive where you can test drive various alternative fuel vehicles; the Green Zone, which contains the latest in "green" products, information, and services; and an Expo Floor with more than 150 companies showing their products and services. Future I&E locations include Detroit (2010), Charlotte (2011), St. Louis (2012), and Atlantic City (2013).
|
gwien[.]nafa.org 
