NAFA New Jersey Chapter Holds Annual Ride & Drive Event

A cloudy sky hung over Birchwood Manor, but that didn't stop NAFA's New Jersey Chapter from hosting its annual Ride & Drive event on Tuesday, September 10. 

The event kicked off around 9:00 a.m. when the nearly 50 fleet professionals in attendance gathered together for breakfast and a showcase. This provided fleet managers the chance to meet with service providers and a number of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to discuss topics including new technologies and sustainability efforts.

 

The test drive began at 10:00 a.m., as everyone made their way outside to try out the latest models from some of the automotive industry’s leading manufacturers and put them through their paces.

Each car, truck, and van included a map of the test course that took drivers out of the parking lot and onto the surrounding roads. This allowed them to test performance features including acceleration, braking, and the overall handling and drivability of the vehicles.

Many of the OEMs that were in attendance had vehicles that were equipped with the latest in automotive technology. From blind spot monitoring and autonomous braking systems to 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control, it is clear that these cars and trucks are built to reduce the costs associated with vehicle crashes and save lives should a crash occur. A few also touted the latest in sustainable technology, as a handful of the vehicles were either gasoline/electric hybrids or fully electric.

Attendees began making their way back inside the banquet hall at noon for a buffet lunch and a chance to  take advantage of some great networking opportunities. Chapter Chair Nancy Murray, CAFM®, said that they took a bit of a different approach to the Ride & Drive this year, handing out cards so each attendee could collect stickers from each manufacturer whose vehicles they test drove. Completed cards were then entered into a prize drawing. At registration, attendees were also given a raffle ticket with their badge, which entered them into a separate drawing for prizes that were generously donated by sponsors.