PODCAST · business
The Fleet Lead
by Endeavor Business Media
The Fleet Lead podcast features journalists from Endeavor Business Media’s commercial vehicle brands, including FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, Bulk Transporter, and Trailer Body-Builders. It aims to help fleet owners, trucking professionals, and transportation industry leaders navigate the rapidly changing industry, covering topics like new technologies, efficiency, and regulatory shifts. The podcast features expert analysis and real-world insights from trusted trucking industry editors. New episodes will offer information essential for managing fleets, maximizing uptime and efficiency, and understanding the future of trailer design and autonomous trucks.
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85
This week in trucking: Driver school crackdown, autonomous SPAC merger
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of September 3: FMCSA is removing another 270 driver training schools PlusAI is going public … again! FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service pilot is moving forward Spot market rates are mixed In fuel this week, diesel prices fell by 5 cents
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84
This week in trucking: ATA leader out, trade war in
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of August 27: Chris Spear suddenly left the American Trucking Associations The trade war with Canada is bad news for freight demand Missouri started a $33 million project for truck parking on I-70 Descartes acquired a broker TMS for $100 million A new private equity operation is buying up carriers CVSA released its International Roadcheck enforcement results Kodiak and Aurora are authorized to test autonomous trucks in California Autonomous truck company Gatik got $200 million in extra funding Einride wants to buy 500 Tesla Semis Spot market rates fell once again Diesel shot up by 20 cents
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83
Driving the Chevy Express beyond 30 years of production
What has kept the Chevrolet Express driving strong for nearly three decades? In this episode of The Fleet Lead, Jade Brasher and Jeremy Wolfe dive into a hands-on review of GM's iconic commercial van after an unexpected rental car test drive. The van is certainly unique in the U.S., from its analog interior to its body-on-frame construction. Here's why this workhorse is still a top seller for commercial fleets—and what might be next for the platform in 2027.
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82
The evolution of truck maintenance software with Mitchell 1
John Hitch hosts Kristy Coffman, director of Mitchell 1’s commercial vehicle group, about the 20-year evolution of multi-brand truck repair software like TruckSeries. John and Kristy explore how modern diagnostic tools and interactive wiring diagrams help bridge the technician training gap, the responsible integration of emerging AI and what wearable tech in repair shops means for the future of commercial maintenance. Timestamps: 0:28 — Mitchell 1's 1946 origin and 20 years of TruckSeries 5:08 — Dave Costantino’s nationwide road trip 6:06 — Challenges in solving multi-brand repair data 9:59 — The evolution of wiring diagrams 15:14 — Turning TMC Recommended Practices directly into repair software 17:39 — The impact of AI on shop management 24:32 — Technician training gaps and how diagnostic tools help bridge the gap 27:18 — Wearable technology, smart glasses, and hands-free AI in the shop 34:15 — Updates on acquisition of Diesel Laptops
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81
How AI is supercharging HD vehicle maintenance w/ Fullbay's Shiva Bhardwaj
Can AI predict a vehicle breakdown 10 days before it happens? John Hitch welcomes Shiva Bhardwaj, SVP of product at Fullbay and former founder of Pitstop, to discuss how machine learning and telematics are changing fleet maintenance. FullBay is combining predictive algorithms with shop management software to streamline remote diagnostics, pre-order parts, and minimize downtime. Plus, Fullbay is building an AI agent Claudia, designed to handle shop calls and capture lost revenue.
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80
This week in trucking: Auto hauler acquisition, English rules
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of August 13: FMCSA is pursuing an English Language Proficiency rulemaking Proficient Auto Logistics is acquiring Hansen & Adkins for $130 million Trimble is considering selling its transportation unit Spot market rates keep falling Diesel fell 9 cents
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79
40,000 driverless hours: Kodiak AI's Atlas Energy partnership
Autonomous truck developer Kodiak AI is expanding its partnership with its milestone partner Atlas Energy Solutions. Atlas was one of the nation's first commercial autonomous deployments, where Atlas ran its own fleet of Kodiak-powered Peterbilts to haul frac sand in the Permian Basin. This year, Kodiak has already scaled Atlas’s fully autonomous fleet to 35 trucks running 24/7 without a driver in the cab—and the companies plan to scale that fleet to 100 trucks in 2027. Michael Wiesinger, COO of Kodiak AI, joins The Fleet Lead to explain how autonomous trucks continue moving into commercial deployments.
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78
What's up with truck operating costs? Up to $2.36 per mile
In this roundtable episode, the Fleet Lead's editors break down the latest ATRI report on the rising operational costs in trucking. From equipment pre-buys to AI in the shop and driver retention strategies, here is where operational costs are headed and what fleets can anticipate next. Timestamps: 01:33 - Driver quality and fleet retention 03:43 - Rising maintenance expenses 05:35 - Tanker carrier margins are doing good 07:14 - Equipment cost increases and the prebuy 10:08 - EPA's regulations 13:43 - Material tariffs and antidumping 14:57 - Freight rate fluctuations 16:08 - Fleet age averages are up 20:50 - Tech and AI adoption 26:34 - What’s next / Alt fuels
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This week in trucking: Trailer duties, new Daimler facility?
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of August 6: New trailer import antidumping duties are on the way Kodiak AI expanded its driverless truck partnership with Atlas Energy Daimler Truck is building a new domestic manufacturing facility For-hire rates decreased again Diesel went up by 4 cents
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76
This week in trucking: Nuclear verdict, driver pay bump
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 30: C.H. Robinson lost a lawsuit with a nuclear verdict Mack and Volvo are softening their trucks’ DEF derates Averitt announced a driver pay increase Senators proposed a bill to crack down on chameleon carriers Spot market rates decreased Diesel prices went up by 18 cents
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75
This week in trucking: Tariffs, autonomous expansions
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 13: Trump administration tariffs are back in the news cycle Some California CDL holders must retake their written exams Pennsylvania passed a law discouraging CDL mills Aurora announced second-generation autonomous truck Einride acquired Flipturn for as much as $73 million ArcBest is cutting back on its footprint Samsara gotrebrand Diesel jumped 34 cents, Houthi troubles raised oil prices
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74
Update on EPA27 prebuy and how recent changes affect truck TCO
The economies of truck purchasing, buying, and maintaining can be messy—especially after EPA once again changed OEMs' outlook for equipment regulations over the next few years. In this episode, The Fleet Lead's Jeremy Wolfe and John Hitch join Fleet Advantage experts Brian Antonellis and Mac Hudson for a roundtable discussion on truck lifecycle management. The panel looks at the regulatory rollback on EPA warranty mandates, the post-COVID used truck market, and why the 500,000-mile mark remains critical to vehicle replacement strategy.
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73
America 250: Mack Trucks, Allentown, and American manufacturing
Mack Trucks has called the Allentown area home for more than a century. Doug Maney, curator of the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, discusses the company's innovations, the origins of the Bulldog mascot, and why Mack's history remains closely tied to American manufacturing and trucking today.
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72
This week in trucking: New bridge to Canada, spot market slips
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 16 The Gordie Howe International Bridge may finally open this month EPA appointed a new aftermarket emissions certificate authority Spot market rates are dropping In fuel this week, diesel increased 22 cents
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71
How Werner scaled dashcams across 8,000 trucks
How does one of the nation's largest carriers manage a dashcam deployment across more than 8,000 trucks? Adam Cassidy, senior director of safety at Werner Enterprises (No. 11 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire), breaks down Werner’s five-year evolution with Samsara's camera technology, moving from basic forward-facing dash cams to an advanced AI multicam setup.
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70
This week in trucking: Goodbye DEF derates, hello truck parking
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
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69
This week in trucking: Illinois toll increase, condom heist
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!
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68
Cutting-edge fleet technology with Samsara VP Arpan Podduturi
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.
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67
Gravitate: How tech is rewriting the fuel supply chain
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
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Former SpaceX technical trainer on why some leaders fail to launch, others blast off
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
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This week in trucking: Dana buys Eaton Mobility, "do not drive" warnings
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
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64
Zeem's Paul Gioupis: EVs facing "major inflection year"
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.
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63
This week in trucking: Trailer duties, LTL disruption, World Cup congestion
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
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62
Truck and Roll: Origins of the semi-truck and early auto maintenance challenges
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
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61
A look under the hood at Volvo Trucks' next D13 engine
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
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Truck Yeah! America’s 250-Year Trucking History & Tech Future
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
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This week in trucking: FedEx Freight, Ohio non-dom CDLs
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
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58
National Tank Truck Carriers' new chairman, Jeremy Mairs
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?
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This week in trucking: Driver bathrooms, charging consolidation
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
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56
Driver Demographic Cliff: How fleets can survive the workforce aging crisis
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
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55
EPA 2027 Prebuy: Build slots, fleet strategies, and powertrain planning
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?
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54
America 250: How NASCAR and North Carolina helped shape American trucking
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.
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53
This week in trucking: New registration system, electric truck rebates
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
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52
International on prebuy capacity: Can carriers still get build slots before EPA 27?
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?
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51
This week in trucking: Broker liability, autonomous boom
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
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50
The 11th hour: Vanishing truck slots and the return of the driver shortage
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
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This week in trucking: Freightliner safety tech, Clearinghouse security
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.
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48
How Volvo raised the VNL's fuel efficiency
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
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The FleetGap Initiative: get experienced help for your fleet at zero financial risk
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
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46
How Daimler engineers boost the Cascadia's fuel efficiency
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.
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45
This week in trucking: DataQ upgrade, new autonomous drayage truck
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
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44
What fuel efficiency techniques are fleets using?
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?
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This week in trucking: Paper medical certs extended, chameleon carriers exposed
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
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42
Van interior upfits that boost residual value?
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.
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41
BeyondTrucks on trucking's bend toward AI
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
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This week in trucking: Idaho speed limits, more Iran chaos
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
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What you missed at Q1's fleet trade shows
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
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This week in trucking: ELD tampering out-of-service extension, Indiana's 1,790 non-dom CDLs
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
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Volvo Trucks' Peter Voorhoeve on tariffs, market timing, the all-new VNR, and North American manufacturing
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
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Is broker liability about to change? Supreme Court case on Montgomery could decide
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.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Fleet Lead podcast features journalists from Endeavor Business Media’s commercial vehicle brands, including FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, Bulk Transporter, and Trailer Body-Builders. It aims to help fleet owners, trucking professionals, and transportation industry leaders navigate the rapidly changing industry, covering topics like new technologies, efficiency, and regulatory shifts. The podcast features expert analysis and real-world insights from trusted trucking industry editors. New episodes will offer information essential for managing fleets, maximizing uptime and efficiency, and understanding the future of trailer design and autonomous trucks.
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