"There is a lot of speculation as to what might occur," he said. "A lot of organizations are stuck because they don't have the financial foundation to scrap their fleet of 15-passenger vans and go to something else."

He said that as yet "there is not a clear direction for people to go," just "varying opinions" on what to do with the vans.

The 15-passenger vans, made by Ford and previously by Dodge, were the subject of a pair of warnings issued over the last few years by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Mr. Leemon is risk management director for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Riverton, Wyo., which trains instructors for outdoor adventure programs such as those offered by Outward Bound USA, YMCA, universities and other organizations.

He said that a Ford Motor Company engineer who spoke at the conference had "made it very clear that roof racks should be removed from the vans."

But the controversy over the safety of the vehicle continues. "Ford says these vehicles are fine." The federal government, however, warns that if they are filled to capacity, "they handle differently."

He said the government advised organizations to hire experienced drivers, as loaded vehicles "have a higher propensity for rolling over in a single vehicle crash." Yet even the National Highway Transportation Administration, which previously issued warnings, did not warn against loading the vehicle to its capacity.

Some organizations, however, are feeling pressure from the attention the issue has received in the media and "have chosen to abandon use of these vehicles altogether," Mr. Leemon said.

Though he said Ford didn't answer as to its future plans, "my sense is that Ford is going to continue making [the vans]," he said. Dodge discontinued manufacturing the vans for reasons that did not include rollover propensity, he said.