Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in specialty financing, fleet data analytics, fleet management services, and life cycle cost management, announced today that Nathan Rhoads, CTP, Fleet Services Director, is set to speak at FMI, The Food Industry Association 2024 Supply Chain Forum in Nashville from September 16-18. Rhoads’ session titled “Navigating the Zero-Emission Mandate: Strategic Procurement for Food Distribution Fleets Amidst CARB and EPA Regulations,” will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at 10:15am CST.

The 2024 Supply Chain Forum is designed to empower executives with strategy, vision, and leadership, providing insights and tools to navigate the tenuous balance between supply chain efficiency and resiliency. The conference will focus on the food retail supply chain and how data-driven insights are transforming how food distributors forecast consumer demand for products and optimize inventory management to track products in real-time.

As California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) pushes forward with mandates for zero-emission trucks along with 14 other states, and with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) backing these initiatives, food industry companies with private fleets are facing critical procurement decisions. By 2035, California will require that half of all heavy-duty truck sales be electric. CARB regulations will affect all Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) operating in California, whether or not California is the home state of the unit or company, meaning the entire refrigerated transportation industry will be impacted by this change.

This regulatory shift, coupled with anticipated supply chain disruptions and economic challenges, will result in the largest truck prebuy ever, beginning in 2025 into 2026 and will even further drive up the cost of diesel trucks to the tune of $25,000 - $30,000 extra per unit.

During his session, Rhoads will address the urgent need for strategic asset acquisition in response to these evolving regulations, as well as provide action items for immediate planning. As the food industry works to maintain a greener footprint, there is a significant risk of exacerbating supply chain issues through reactionary procurement approaches. To help mitigate these challenges, Rhoads will outline the importance of developing a flexible multi-year procurement plan, aligning with OEM offerings, and leveraging performance data to evaluate the viability of electric vehicles. He will also discuss strategies for developing ESG roadmaps that align with industry sustainability goals.

Rhoads brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the FMI Supply Chain Forum, specializing in optimizing fleet operations, cost-saving strategies, and regulatory compliance. As a Certified Transportation Professional (CTP), he has extensive expertise in Life Cycle Cost Management, Strategic Capital Planning, Operations Management, Inventory Management, and Continuous Improvement. His career includes significant roles at companies including Reinhart and PepsiCo, where he oversaw over 20,000 assets and managed operations across 150 locations.

“As many industries, especially the food industry, face unprecedented challenges with the push for zero-emission trucks, Fleet Advantage remains committed to helping organizations navigate these changes through strategic fleet management and procurement planning,” said Brian Holland, President and CEO of Fleet Advantage. “Nathan understands the critical role that data-driven decisions play in aligning fleet operations with regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. His session will educate organization leaders on how to effectively manage these transitions while minimizing disruptions and maintaining operational efficiency.”