The Fleet Lead

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 9: EPA is weakening the upcoming NOx rule and removing DEF derates Rhode Island is preparing for truck-only tolls USMCA is in an awkward position Diesel fell 9 cents, but oil futures spiked

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 2 Illinois Tollway is planning a 30% increase in toll rates FedEx is selling its 3PL arm for $1.4 billion Cargo thieves stole $1.7 million in condoms and lubricant Diesel prices fell 16 cents Have a happy 4th of July!

In this episode of The Fleet Lead, Jeremy Wolfe sits down with Arpan Podduturi, VP of product for transportation tech company Samsara, fresh off the Samsara Beyond user conference in Las Vegas. The tech company announced a suite of new cutting-edge technologies for fleet management: from new pedestrian detections to AI dispatch communication, LLMs, and beyond.

As downstream fuel margins tighten and market volatility grows, relying on manual spreadsheets and tribal knowledge may no longer be enough for modern fuel haulers. Bulk Transporter's Jason McDaniel sits down with Mike Scharf, CEO of fuel supply chain tech company Gravitate, to discuss how specialized software is transforming the sector. Timestamps: 01:55 — Gravitate's market footprint 02:35 — From consulting to software 04:40 — Price volatility pushing fleet innovation 08:14 — How generic freight tools fail fuel 14:44 — Autonomous dispatch 21:50 — How software helps smaller fleets 30:27 — Debunking AI misconceptions

It's not rocket science, but people management can be a difficult skill to grasp—especially for those technical employees trained to solve machines rather than personnel. A former pilot instructor and SpaceX training head, Matt Gjertsen has plenty of experience building teams with stellar technical skills. While techs have many attributes that make them ideal managers, they may not realize that management often means stepping away from problems. Gjertsen is promoting his upcoming book based off just that experience: In this episode, Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch asks Gjertsen how to step back from the wrench, build genuine trust, and help technical management truly blast off. Check out Gjertsen's podcast, Leadership Launchpad, here. Timestamps: 01:16 – Introduction 02:39 – Matt Gjertsen’s Background 06:59 – Shift from technical expert to people leader 09:54 – The delegation doom loop 14:21 – Building trust in diverse 17:33 – First principles leadership Framework 24:47 – Navigating generational shifts and labor shortages 30:25 – Root cause analysis for people problems 42:34 – Technique vs. procedure management

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of June 18: Dana Inc. is purchasing Eaton Mobility Nearly 800 Mack and Volvo trucks have “do not drive” warnings Autonomous truck company Einride goes public Diesel falls 22 cents, ceasefire hopes rise

What happens when commercial electric vehicles move past the pioneer phase? Paul Gioupis, founder and CEO of Zeem Solutions, has a front-row seat. Managing the ZEV fleet management company, Gioupis sees the massive data behind Zeem's over 350,000 charging sessions. In this episode, FleetOwner's Josh Fisher talks with Gioupis at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, discussing how the Tesla Semi is shattering range expectations and how the total cost of ownership (TCO) narrative is changing.

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of June 11 U.S. imposes duties on Mexican, Chinese trailer imports Amazon’s LTL arm opens for business World Cup congestion is underway Strong spot rates are here to stay Diesel fell 14 cents

It’s no surprise that America’s economic dominance since the late 19th century coincided with the start of its trucking industry. What may be surprising is that much of the automotive and trucking industries started not in Detroit, but it’s neighbor to the south, Cleveland. This is where Alexander Winton built the first semi-tractor to haul his company’s automobiles to early customers, and also where White Motor Co. got its start. For America 250, Cleveland’s Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum is hosting an exhibit called "Keep on Truckin" (a phrase coined by artist R. Crumb, who lived in Cleveland for a time) that showcases several early truck models. Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch visited the museum to discuss trucking’s past and evolution with the museum’s curator of transportation history, Aaron Warkentin. Timestamps: 01:45 — Origins of the semi-truck 04:30 — Early truck technology 07:10 — Old timey headlights 08:10 — Horsepower vs horses 10:00 — Motorless truck maintenance 11:35 — Truck design evolution 14:15 — The Crawford Museum's founding 22:50 — White Motor Company

Volvo Trucks North America unveiled its new EPA 2027-compliant D13 engine at this year's Advanced Clean Transportation Expo. The Fleet Lead brought on Duane Tegels, VTNA's product marketing manager, to talk about its updated electrical architecture, aftertreatment, and engine block designs. The new engine hits aggressive NOx reductions while maintaining fuel economy and boosting engine braking performance. Timestamps: 0:57 – New electrical architecture 4:36 – Tips for maintaining the new engines 6:30 – Increased engine braking power 7:56 – Procurement advice 9:34 – VTNA's vocational plan 11:04 – Checking out the new engine

To celebrate America's 250th anniversary, the crews from FleetOwner and FleetMaintenance team up for an epic look at the trucking industry’s deep historical roots and its tech-driven future. From the first horse-drawn wagons that moved goods through the Thirteen Colonies to the 1897 invention of the semi-truck to today's shift toward alternative powertrains, we're breaking down how freight moves America. Plus, we dive into the Right to Repair Act, the multi-year freight recession, and the surprising history of how Henry Ford accidentally invented Kingsford charcoal. Timestamps: 0:57 – Colonial trade routes and the physical evolution of freight 3:08 – The 1897 invention of the semi-truck 5:57 – 13 diagnostic trouble codes 11:00 – NASCAR roots, North Carolina culture 13:46 – Eisenhower's interstate vision 18:05 – Regulatory shifts, alternative fuels 25:19 – The Federal Excise Tax (FET) debate 30:44 – The multi-year freight recession 35:21 – The Right to Repair Act 44:06 – Holiday plans and how Henry Ford invented Kingsford charcoal  

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of June 4: FedEx Freight completed its LTL spinoff Ohio is planning the expiration of 5,000 non-domiciled CDLs Congress considering more truck parking funding Attempts to repeal the Federal Excise Tax Diesel fell 17 cents

The National Tank Truck Carriers' new chairman is doing much more than continuing the association's long-held tradition of bald chairmen. Bulk Transporter's Jason McDaniel hosts Jeremy Mairs, president/CEO of Cox Transport and NTTC's chairman, to talk about his experience growing up in the industry and working under California regulations. What does Mairs have on the agenda for NTTC in the next couple years? Timestamps: 0:33 — Qualifications for tank truck association leadership? 1:16 — Jeremy met his wife at an NTTC event 2:33 — Experience as a driver 6:01 — Cox Petroleum's footprint 7:41 — How did your upbringing influence your trucking view? 10:09 — Jeremy's priorities as chairman 12:00 — FMCSA's Derek Bars 15:15 — Where NTTC can make the most progress 18:08 — What is it like operating in California? 23:54 — The Iran fuel shock 25:33 — Jeremy's industry outlook 27:30 — Why stay engaged with NTTC?

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of May 28. A House committee passed a surface transportation bill Motive is updating its dash cam tech offerings EV charging companies Voltera, Revel are merging In fuel this week, diesel fell 7 cents

There is a fundamental shift happening in how fleets hire, pay, and retain drivers. The trucking workforce is rapidly aging, and the critical population of 45- to 65-year-old drivers is shrinking. What happens when the demographic cliff hits your fleet? In this episode of The Fleet Lead, FleetOwner’s Josh Fisher sits down with Leah Shaver, president and CEO of the National Transportation Institute, a leading organization that tracks industry drivers’ wages, benefits, and retirement trends. Leah shares her experiences with driver demographics, how carriers approach age differences, driver retention, and more. Tune in to discover: The Root Causes: Why traditional retention strategies are failing the next generation. Creative Solutions: How carriers are moving past the “earn your stripes” mentality with flexible scheduling and modern incentives. The Legal & Cultural Hurdles: Navigating marijuana regulations and the generational communication rift. Episode Chapters & Timestamps 1:04 – Understanding the Driver Demographic Cliff 2:06 – The Compounding Factors Restricting Driver Supply 5:46 – Moving Past the “Earn Your Stripes” Mentality 8:49 – Creative Scheduling and Modern Incentives 10:11 – Bridging the Generational Communication Rift 21:17 – Navigating the Industry’s Marijuana Hurdles 27:20 – What Modern Drivers Actually Prefer 34:00 – Immediate Action Items: What Fleets Can Do Today

The Model Year 2027 prebuy has changed considerably over the last few years. What hasn't changed, though, is that fleets can still expect a several-thousand-dollar premium on the next series of compliant trucks. Don Davis, executive vice president of national accounts for Fleet Advantage, shares his perspective on the coming prebuy, equipment procurement, and overall truck lifecycle management. Timestamps: 1:30 – Is there still a prebuy? 3:34 – Are fleets starting to feel constrained equipment availability? 5:19 – How the prebuy changed    8:32 – The NOX rule's cost increases 9:53 – What should fleets do?

Transportation is a major part of America's identity, and few regions are as steeped in automotive history as North Carolina. The Spirit of Innovation is more than alive in The Tar Heel State, from NASCAR to truck OEMS. Fleet Maintenance editor Lucas Roberto visited Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame where Winston Kelly, executive director of the facility, explained North Carolina's automotive culture, how the region's talent draws OEMs like Daimler Truck North America, Mack Trucks, and Volvo Truck North America. He also shared some lessons that commercial vehicle technicians can take from motorsports mechanics.

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of May 21: California launched an electric truck rebate program FMCSA's new registration system is live Einride has an autonomous deployment in the Midwest FMCSA announced $217 million in grant funding Spot rates hit record highs Diesel dropped 4 cents

The commercial transportation industry is staring down the EPA 2027 emissions standards. With the chances of prebuy chaos still high, is there a significant risk in waiting too long to secure your build slots? At ACT Expo, Josh Fisher hosts International's David Hillman to discuss the mid-2026 trucking market ahead of the EPA 2027 emissions regulations, early fleet planning, and International's S13 integrated powertrain. Timestamps: 1:27 – Growing demand for fleet equipment 4:19 – What is the risk of waiting too long to prebuy? 9:05 – How fleet concerns evolved with connected vehicles 11:07 – What is the single question fleet executives should be asking their dealers to prepare for 2027?

Here are the latest headlines from the trucking industry as of May 14: The Supreme Court affirmed broker hiring liability Cargo theft bill passed the House Tariffs bounced in court Tesla Semi entered serial production California issued autonomous truck rules Several carriers are adopting autonomous fleets ACT Expo featured engine, e-axle, electric truck announcements Diesel remained at $5.64 per gallon

The commercial vehicle market faces vanishing equipment slots as the EPA prebuy emerges. Mixed with rising driver retention struggles and a shift toward private capacity, the North American trucking market is certainly chaotic. Ken Vieth, president and senior analyst for ACT Research, talks with Josh Fisher about driver retention, equipment availability, and fleets' "planning nightmare." 01:16 — The driver shortage returns 04:56 — Will private fleets continue growing? 08:04 — The EPA prebuy 13:38 — Electric vehicles, competition with China 15:24 — Could autonomous tech help with labor problems? 17:42 — One of the most volatile times for trucking

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 30: The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse added more identity verification FMCSA’s new registration system is coming soon Freightliner is getting new driver assistance safety features Bot Auto completed its first fully driverless commercial haul (EMBARGO LIFTS THURSDAY MORNING) Descartes acquired an AI driver safety company for $28 million dollars Diesel fell again by 5 cents You can find the Bot Auto interview episode on Podbean here.

Over the last couple decades, truck manufacturers have made massive strides in fuel efficiency, helping carriers haul more for less fuel. At Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA), the VNL achieved a 7% efficiency boost in the last model alone! Volvo's engineers brought those significant fuel savings through a combination of aerodynamic redesigns, engine geometry changes, intelligent drivetrain software, and more. In this episode Duane Tegels, product marketing manager for VTNA, explains how the company accomplished it. Timestamps: 00:30 — How much VNL's fuel efficiency has improved 02:50 — The importance of cutting through air 04:20 — Powertrain improvements 06:15 — The RPM sweet spot 08:50 — Intelligent powertrain software

Military service members often have no easy path into fleet management—even if they've worked as technicians while serving. Thanks to the work of the military's SkillBridge Program and Shzoom Technologies, members of the NAFA Fleet Management Association now have easy—and affordable—access to these determined workers. Ingrid Cook Moravitz, founder and CEO of Shzoom, tells Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch how the program benefits everyone involved: participating shops, servicemembers, and the industry as a whole. Timestamps: 1:44 - How Uptime works 4:10 - What is the FleetGap Program? 6:07 - Shazoom's work with Skill Bridge 8:21 - The government pays pre-apprentice wages 10:42 - In the shop while active duty

With today’s diesel prices, the best way to reduce fuel costs is to run new equipment. The Freightliner Cascadia’s fuel efficiency has improved an impressive 35% since 2007. The constant improvement of the nation's most popular Class 8 vehicle is thanks to Daimler Truck North America’s engineers and their incremental tweaks to the tractor’s aerodynamics and powertrain. In this episode, DTNA’s Greg Treinen, VP of on-highway market development, and Steve Collins, director of field sales engineering, describe the many small ways that DTNA made efficiency gains in the Cascadia—from bumper air ducts to combustion timing. Timestamps: 0:32 — How much has the Cascadia’s efficiency improved? 1:18: Aerodynamic and other improvements 4:48: Efficiency improvements in the Gen 6 Detroit engine. 8:07: The rise of integrated powertrain components. 16:01: New electrical architecture and computational power.

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 23: FMCSA is improving DataQ reviews Ohio publicly called out hundreds of carriers for unpaid tolls PlusAI is no longer going public A new autonomous trucking company entered the market Diesel dropped by 21 cents

Fuel costs are often top-of-mind for many motor carriers—especially with the recent diesel spike. The best way to cut fuel costs is to improve a tractor's miles-per-gallon. This episode of the Fleet Load hosts Yunsu Park, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's (NACFE's) director of engineering, to talk about the fuel efficiency equipment and practices that make the biggest impact—and those that are popular among carriers. Timestamps:  0:22 – Yunsu's expertise 3:21 – Today's high-impact fuel efficiency equipment 5:56 – Fuel-saving operations 9:42 – Popular—and unpopular—efficiency options 12:18 – Liftable axles save fuel?

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 16: Drivers’ paper medical card exemption extended to October FMCSA is quietly allowing some states to reissue non-domiciled CDLs An episode of ‘60 Minutes’ focuses on chameleon carriers Private equity acquired Carrier Logistics A proposed bill would increase minimum insurance requirements Diesel prices FELL by 4 cents  

Legend Fleet Solutions produces van liners and floors that can increase residual value by 10-35%. These products prevent cargo damage, keeping fleet vehicles like "brand new" for resale. The Fleet Lead's Kevin Jones hosts Legend's Jerry Simpson, sales representative, and Brendand Church, chief marketing officer, to hear more. Timestamps: 01:40 — A fleet ROI case study 02:32 — How do skeptical buyers respond? 04:19  — Leaving the products with vehicles adds value 07:03 — What makes Legend unique 10:33 — How the company is handling tariff impacts.

Jason McDaniel hosts BeyondTrucks' CEO Hans Galland and Head of Product Mariah Alf to discuss the technological evolution of the trucking industry. The company's transportation management system has a host of AI tools, from rating calculations to natural language interfacing—but, they note, AI in trucking should not just be a "hammer looking for a nail."   Timestamps: 05:59 — Growth of transportation technology and BeyondTrucks' differentiator 13:15 — AI applications in for-hire trucking and BeyondTrucks 20:05 — What fleets should look for in AI 24:26 — Guarding against data overload 27:55 — BeyondTrucks' "AI rate agents" feature 38:00 — Carriers' technology adoption during the freight recession

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 9: Idaho is allowing semi-trucks to travel 80 mph The Iran War is raising aluminum prices FMCSA is working on its truck parking survey Diesel prices are up 24 cents Strait of Hormuz's potential reopening is messy

Did you miss your chance to attend the year's major trade shows? From Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week to ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council, Work Truck Week, and beyond, the Fleet Lead's hosts talk about the major events and announcements that defined each conference—featuring Trailer-Body Builder's Kevin Jones, FleetOwner's Jade Brasher, Bulk Transporter's Jason McDaniel, and Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch. Timestamps: 01:11 – Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week 02:44 – Work Truck Week, vehicle reveals 04:44 – Fleet adoption of AI 11:34 – TMC annual meeting: latest parts and labor data 23:35 – Upcoming 2026 events

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 2: Indiana removed nearly 1,800 non-domiciled CDLs International and Ryder are using an autonomous truck for real freight Out-of-service orders will now treat ELD tampering differently EPA is removing DEF sensor requirements? Diesel prices rose three cents  

With cross-border tariffs making headlines and the average North American tractor reaching the oldest age in years, fleets are caught between a soft freight market and the impending 2027 emissions cliff.  FleetOwner was at Volvo Group's largest manufacturing plant in the world this week and sat down with Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve in Dublin, Virginia. He breaks down how a $500 million investment in the New River Valley plant and a new $700 million facility in Mexico are insulating Volvo's supply chain—and what that means for your next purchasing cycle. We also discuss how Volvo Trucks' redesigned VNL and VNR models are serving as "smartphones on wheels," leveraging automated over-the-air updates to slash unplanned downtime by 24%. Plus, Voorhoeve explains why the all-new VNR's "Swiss Army knife" versatility and standard safety features are critical tools for regional fleets trying to survive on thin margins. Catch this episode of The Fleet Lead podcast here or search for The Fleet Lead on your favorite podcast app. Timestamps: 1:37 – Are customers following Peter’s previous advice to buy trucks now? 4:27 – The new VNR model 8:06 – Connectivity, over-the-air updates 9:47 – A $700 million investment in Monterrey, Mexico 12:17 – How tariffs impact Volvo 14:34 – Peter's advice to fleets on equipment purchasing

The Supreme Court took up the opportunity to standardize how states look at negligent hiring claims against freight brokers. The decision could change how brokers view the risk of small carriers. The case is Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, also known as Montgomery v. C.H. Robinson. The legal battle started with a truck collision in 2017. Hear more from FleetOwner's Jeremy Wolfe and Matt Reh, a partner and trial attorney with Armstrong Teasdale who represented C.H. Robinson in the lawsuit.

Heavy-duty repair businesses are doing better, survey finds Hendrickson shows off its new wheel-end sensor In the spot market, refrigerated and flatbed rates are still up In fuel this week, diesel is up 30 cents and counting

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of March 19. Another House bill mandating English proficiency just passed committee Stoughton Trailers successfully completed a 40-mph rear impact guard crash test Trailer manufacturer Hyundai Translead is bringing manufacturing to the U.S. In the storied Motive-Samsara legal battle, Samsara recently won $30 million Diesel prices shot up 21 cents and continue to rise

Autonomous trucking has real-world operations today—and the developers have bold plans for commercialization within the next two years. This week, the Fleet Lead's Jeremy Wolfe is hosting interviews with four of the industry's autonomous developers. PlusAI is taking a software-first approach to autonomous trucking, supplying its virtual driver technology to several major OEMs, rather than operating its own fleet. Dr. Shawn Kerrigan, co-founder and COO, joins the Fleet Lead to discuss the company's global data strategy, its factory-integrated trucks, and its roadmap to commercial launch in 2027. Timestamps: 0:35 - PlusAI's company history 1:35 - PlusAI's global partner strategy 2:32 - Roadmap for commercializing in the U.S. 4:50 - Technology designed to work across various truck platforms 6:46 - Where are PlusAI's trucks on the road today? 8:48 - Recent breakthroughs and the road ahead 14:10 - Benefits of autonomous trucking 15:18 - Challenges for fleets adopting autonomous trucks

A high-stakes trade dispute could reshape the North American trailer market. U.S. manufacturers say low-priced imports from China, Mexico, and Canada are harming domestic production. Importers argue the industry’s struggles stem from the prolonged freight downturn, not unfair trade. The U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled that domestic trailer builders have a case.   Timestamps: 1:11 - U.S. trailer makers claim unfair competition from imports 6:52 - Importers rebut coalition's claims, blame downturn on 'macroeconomic' forces 11:46 - What's next for regulators and the trailer industry

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of March 12: California removed 13,000 non-domiciled CDLs. Pell Grants might pay for some workforce training Daimler producing new camera system for medium-duty, vocational trucks Harbinger Motors is launching a medium-duty cabover truck Diesel prices shot up by a whopping $0.96

Autonomous trucking has real-world operations today—and the developers have bold plans for commercialization within the next two years. This week, the Fleet Lead's Jeremy Wolfe is hosting interviews with four of the industry's autonomous developers. Torc Robotics is integrating autonomous software into the Freightliner Cascadia, the most popular Class 8 truck in the U.S. for many years. The developer is also using generative AI to develop training simulations for its virtual driver. Andrew Culhane, Torc’s chief commercial officer, describes the company’s work and the state of the technology. Timestamps: 1:54 - Benefits of autonomous vehicles 4:56 - The growing pains a carrier might face 6:12 - What makes Torc unique? 8:29 - Torc’s current operations 10:19 - Recent major milestones 18:09 - Torc's near-future plans.

Autonomous trucking has real-world operations today—and the developers have bold plans for commercialization within the next two years. This week, the Fleet Lead's Jeremy Wolfe is hosting interviews with four of the industry's autonomous developers. Bot Auto operates its own autonomous truck fleet to pursue a transportation-as-a-service model, vying for the business of shippers and brokers. The company is focused on minimizing its cost per mile, achieving costs significantly below its competitors. Xiaodi Hou, Bot Auto's founder and CEO, joins the Fleet Lead to talk about the state of autonomous trucking. Timestamps: 0:34 - Benefits of autonomous technology 2:24 - Challenges to autonomous operation 6:41 - The history of Bot Auto 8:43 - The "Transportation as a Service" model 11:27 - Cost per mile compared to competitors 16:32 - Bot Auto's active truck fleet 19:58 - Texas partnerships 22:54 - Bot Auto's future roadmap

Autonomous trucking has real-world operations today—and the developers have bold plans for commercialization within the next two years. This week, the Fleet Lead's Jeremy Wolfe is hosting interviews with four of the industry's autonomous developers. Kodiak AI is a public autonomous truck developer with a focus on OEM-agnostic upfitting and edge computing. It achieved some of the first major autonomous milestones in recent years under its partnership with Atlas Energy. Here Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak AI, describes the state of autonomy today and outlines the company's achievements.

Here are the big stories from this week in trucking as of March 5: OEMs announced two new vocational trucks The Trump administration is changing independent contractor classification The Supreme Court is hearing arguments around broker liability Torc Robotics is moving autonomous hauls to Michigan Bot Auto is working with a broker for Texas hauls Diesel prices jumped 9 cents  

Jim Mullen is replacing Jim Ward as president of the Truckload Carriers Association in early April. How will Mullen use his deep trucking industry experience—as a former mega-carrier executive, past FMCSA acting administrator, and leader in autonomous trucking and the Clean Freight Coalition—to guide the truckload sector through a massive regulatory shift? FleetOwner's Josh Fisher sat down with Mullen at TCA's Truckload 2026 to discuss his "360-degree" perspective and his strategy for navigating trucking's new era of enforcement and economic recovery. Timestamps: 0:40 - Industry sentiment 4:15 - Career background 7:30 - Lobbying and regulatory relations 10:30 - Impact of enforcement 13:20 - Hours of Service (HOS) pilot 16:00 - Clean Freight Coalition's future 24:20 - Autonomous technology 27:50 - Advice for carriers

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of February 26: The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs FMCSA is continuing its driver qualification crackdown Daimler revealed its next heavy-duty engine Spot rates increased over 2 cents Diesel prices jumped 10 cents

As EPA's new NOx standards creep nearer, Daimler Truck North America this month revealed its next generation of complaint heavy-duty engines. The Detroit-branded Gen 6 diesel engines will be available in 13-, 15-, and 16-liter options that meet the looming 35-milligram NOx limit, and will power future Freightliner and Western Star trucks. In the historic Detroit Manufacturing Plant, FleetOwner's Josh Fisher talks with David Carson, SVP of sales and marketing at DTNA, about the new engine, the state of on-highway and vocational trucking, and Carson's advice for fleets. To avoid a repeat of the 2022 capacity crunch and manage the rising maintenance costs of aging equipment, Carson advises fleet managers to "order early, order often" rather than waiting for perfect economic certainty.

The relocation of manufacturing back to the U.S. could be a boon for domestic freight. The pandemic recently spurred business interest in reshoring, but tariff volatility also paralyzed many investment decisions. Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute, explains the current state of U.S. reshoring. Timestamps: 00:42 - The Reshoring Institute's mission 04:00 - Global supply chain vulnerability 06:30 - Tariff volatility and business paralysis 12:45 - Manufacturing moving to Mexico

Here are the trucking industry's headlines this week, as of February 12: EPA finalizes removal of trucks’ greenhouse gas regulations FMCSA makes another attempt to tighten non-domiciled CDLs TCA's next president will be Jim Mullen In fuel, diesel prices rose by 1 cent

Modern work trucks have become very advanced, and OEMs' strategies to manage those trucks even more advanced. Ford Pro's Eric Rice, general manager of U.S. fleet sales, details the industry's latest trends: driver assistance, predictive maintenance, the technician shortage, and more. Timestamps: 02:23 - Total cost of ownership 07:35 - Advanced safety tech 11:35 - The technician shortage 16:30 - Machine learning for actionable data 18:30 - Race to zero downtime