The hauling industry is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Across areas such as driver safety, smarter routing, and predictive fleet maintenance, AI is enabling municipalities and private haulers to reduce costs, improve service quality and safety, and meet sustainability goals. This five-person panel will discuss real-world applications of AI across waste and recycling collection, such as driver behavioral coaching systems that detect fatigue and distraction, intelligent route optimization that minimizes fuel waste and emissions, and predictive maintenance tools that prevent costly breakdowns. The panel includes municipality solid waste leaders from the cities of Tampa (Florida), Columbus (Georgia), and Loveland (Colorado), alongside an executive from a leading waste equipment manufacturer and the founder of an AI startup innovating in the waste collection space. It offers a range of perspectives from public and private sector operations.

Whether the attendees are municipal officials overseeing collections or operators in private hauling, this session will offer actionable recommendations to integrate AI for a safer, smarter, and more efficient hauling operation. Learning objectives include: 

1. Identify how AI technologies are being applied across different use cases by waste and recycling haulers.
2. Understand key implementation considerations and practical tips to achieve operational and sustainability goals.
3. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into existing waste hauling infrastructure, including staffing, data readiness, and change management.

The session will feature audience Q&A woven into the discussion, inviting attendees to share how they’re addressing the same operational challenges explored by the panelists. This interactive format will foster relatable, real-world learning and set the stage for a deeper exchange of ideas.