Fleet professionals navigating rapid changes in technology, regulation, and operations can now register for the 2026 Fleet Forward Conference, happening Oct. 20-22 on the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
Held on the East Coast for the primary time, this yr’s conference centers on the theme “Leading Fleets Through Transformation.” This system will bring together fleet, mobility, and technology leaders for 3 days of education, networking, and hands-on experiences exploring the forces reshaping fleet management.
“Fleet Forward Conference has all the time been about looking ahead, and this yr our location reflects that mission,” said Chris Brown, conference chair.
“Being just minutes from Washington, D.C., puts attendees on the crossroads of transportation policy, technology, and business. It is also our most accessible location yet for fleet professionals throughout the eastern United States, making it easier than ever to hitch the conversations shaping the longer term of fleet.”
Education Focused on Fleet Transformation
The tutorial program is organized around six pillars reflecting today’s evolving fleet landscape:
Attendees will hear from fleet executives, researchers, policymakers, and technology leaders addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges.
This system includes keynote presentations from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) President David Harkey, who will share early findings from the organization’s business vehicle safety research.
Within the closing keynote, Merchants Fleet’s CEO Matt Dyer will discuss how the fleet occupation is evolving right into a more strategic business function.
Additional educational sessions and speakers will likely be announced in the approaching weeks, expanding the conference program with practical case studies, fleet leadership discussions, and technology-focused presentations.
Recent IIHS Crash Test Experience
Recent for 2026, registered attendees may have the chance to take part in the IIHS Crash Test Experience, an optional behind-the-scenes visit to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Vehicle Research Center in Virginia.
The experience features a guided facility tour, a live vehicle crash test, and hands-on demonstrations of advanced crash-avoidance technologies, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), rear AEB, and self-parking systems. Attendees may even gain insight into IIHS’s vehicle safety research and testing procedures, with demonstrations expected to incorporate business vehicle safety technologies similar to delivery van AEB systems.
“It is a rare opportunity to see the technologies shaping fleet safety tested in a real-world research environment,” Brown said. “Fleet managers who’ve experienced IIHS crash tests have told us it was one of the crucial impactful experiences of their careers.”
The IIHS Crash Test Experience is accessible exclusively to registered Fleet Forward Conference attendees.
Collocation with NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium
FFC attendees also can register individually for NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium, a full-day certificate program happening Oct. 19, immediately before the conference opens.
The symposium will deal with constructing safer fleet operations through leadership, driver engagement, emerging technologies, and organizational culture.
Participants who complete this system and pass the certification exam will earn NAFA’s Fleet Safety Certificate, while also networking with fleet safety professionals from across North America.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotive-fleet.com
