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HDT Talks TruckingTop Trucking Stories of 2022The editors of Heavy Duty Trucking, and hosts of HDT Talks Trucking, come together to talk about their top stories of 2022 in this special editorial panel episode.
This episode is sponsored by Citgo. Learn more at citgolubes.com
Throughout the year HDT Talks Trucking has been covering the top story each month in our Behind the News segment, those picks were based on website analytics data, but in this episode, we bring together our top editors to see what has stuck out to them the most in the industry, and in their own reporting. Welcome...2022-12-2117 minHDT Talks TruckingIs There a Diesel Fuel Shortage?Despite what you may have heard, no, we’re not running out of diesel fuel. But – low stockpiles do mean higher prices. In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, we break down what you should know and what this means for trucking fleets.
This episode is sponsored by Citgo. Learn more at citgolubes.com
Heavy Duty Trucking's top story from November was the news that stockpiles of distillate fuels (meaning diesel fuel and heating oil) were low. HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge joins Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic to talk:
What low distillate fuel stoc...2022-12-0808 min
HDT Talks TruckingSmart Trailers and BeyondSmart trailers, the internet of things, cloud computing, APIs … if this all makes your head swim, this episode of HDT Leadership Insights explores how these technologies can come together to help fleet managers effectively use the reams of data available to them today.
This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights video podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with Clarience Technologies.
Deborah Lockridge, editor in chief, Heavy Duty Trucking, talks to Nada Jiddou, executive vice president of Clarience Technologies and general manager of Road Ready, about:
Smart trailers
Breakdowns
Internet of things
Cloud computing
APIs
...2022-12-0613 minHDT Talks TruckingHow Trucking Companies Can Up Their Cybersecurity GameInternet security analysts say the number of ransomware attacks ballooned by 105% in 2022 compared to 2021 — and 2021 saw a 61% increase over 2020. Experts expect those numbers to be even higher next year. It’s no longer a case of if, but when, your trucking company will be targeted.
This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Citgo. Learn more at citgolubes.com
Big fleets have the resources to at least try to ward off a cyber attack, but where does that leave smaller fleets, ones without dedicated IT staff to develop and implement security measures? To gain a cle...2022-12-0122 min
HDT Talks TruckingHow Data Can Help Fleets Navigate Today’s ChallengesExplore some of the ways data can help you navigate some of the challenges facing trucking fleets, from fuel economy to downtime to parking.
This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, Geotab.
It’s nearly impossible to compete and succeed in trucking without using data to keep your fleet productive and safe. And the past couple of years have brought new pain points or the resurrection of old ones, many of which also can be addressed using data.
For some ideas on how data can he...2022-11-1615 minHDT Talks TruckingTruckers Win Lawsuit Against Unlawful Fingerprint ScansFingerprint scans, facial recognition, and vocal recognition are becoming relatively common in the trucking industry… and it’s leading to some lawsuits. Learn more about privacy rights and biometric data collection, and what trucking fleets should be looking out for, in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Citgo. Learn more ➡ http://www.citgolubes.com/
Our top story from October was news of more than 44,000 truck drivers in Illinois winning a lawsuit against BNSF Railway for unlawfully collecting fingerprint scans at rail yards the drivers entered...2022-11-1615 min
HDT Talks TruckingHow Smart Suspensions Can Help Trucking Fleets With Today’s ChallengesWe’ve heard about smart trailers and smart tires and even smart wiring harnesses — what about smart suspensions?
This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, Link Manufacturing.
In this HDT Leadership Insights interview, Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge talks to Link President Jim Huls about how this technology can improve driver retention, safety, and efficiency.
🎙 In this episode:
Smart suspensions
Driver comfort
Saving fuel
Health and safety
Learn more: Driving Link’s Smooth-Riding Semi-Active Cab Suspension2022-11-0325 minHDT Talks TruckingFrom Replacing Typewriters to Predictive PricingHDT Talk Trucking sits down with the founder of McLeod Software at the McLeod Software User Conference in Nashville to talk the progression of his trucking software company from simply printing a freight bill and driver paycheck in 1985 to what it is today.
This episode is sponsored by Citgo. Learn more at citgolubes.com
Learn more about Tom McLeod, president, CEO and founder of McLeod Software, and his career path. Interview by HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge.
🏫 Learn More
McLeod Market Analysis Tool Breaks Down Truckload Capacity, Vol...2022-10-3110 minHDT Talks TruckingAre Changes to ELD Rules in the Air?Why is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration contemplating changes to its mandatory electronic logging device rules — and what changes could be in the works?
This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Citgo.
Learn more ➡ www.citgolubes.com
Behind the News: Our top story on Truckinginfo.com from September was a notice from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration asking for input about possible changes to the ELD regulations. To dive into this, HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge talked to Brandon Wiseman, president of TruckSafe Consulting and partner with Childress Law. 2022-10-1925 minHDT Talks TruckingPlus on its Different Path to Autonomous TrucksLast year, Plus began selling its PlusDrive Level 2 autonomous control system, positioning it in the market as an advanced driver safety/assistance system. HDT Senior Contributing Editor Jack Roberts recently talked to Plus Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Shawn Kerrigan about the pathway his company has followed and how he sees the future of autonomous technology in trucking evolving.
This episode is sponsored by CAT Scale
Learn more at www.weighmytruck.com
Topics covered include:
Who is Plus?
Fleet reaction to PlusDrive
Why Level 2 autonomy?
Less driver stress
PlusDrive is in customer han...2022-10-0506 minHDT Talks TruckingBehind the News: One Man’s Fight to Address Challenges Facing FedEx Ground ContractorsSpencer Patton’s company is one of the largest FedEx Ground contractors in the United States — or it was, until his outspoken criticism of FedEx Ground led to the company canceling his contract and filing suit against another company he owns. HDT’s Deborah Lockridge talks to fellow fleet editor Chris Brown, who’s been covering the story and interviewed Patton, in this episode of the Behind the New segment of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by CAT Scale. Learn more about its WeighMyTruck app.
Patton has been an outspoken advocate for the roughly...2022-09-1313 minHDT Talks TruckingAre Your Brakes Ready for CVSA's Brake Safety Week?The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance conducts two major brake inspection initiatives each year, and year over year, the brake defect out-of-service rate remains about the same. Why aren’t we making progress in bringing that rate down?
Will Schaefer is the Director of Safety Programs at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and he has some thoughts on why the OOS rate isn’t improving. It’s got little to do with the brakes themselves. Schaefer and HDT’s Jim Park dig into some of the some of the reasons behind the seemingly immovable brake defect ou...2022-08-2526 minHDT Talks TruckingBehind the News: The Broader Impact of California’s AB5If you think California’s AB5 law won’t affect you because you don’t run in the state or use owner-operators, you might be surprised. Deborah Lockridge, HDT editor in chief, talked to Dean Croke, principal industry analyst for DAT Freight & Analytics, about this law that restricts the use of independent contractors and its potential broader impacts on trucking capacity and on how freight moves in and out of the state.
This episode is sponsored by CAT Scale. Learn more about its WeighMyTruck app.
Each month, HDT's editors take a look behind some of Trucki...2022-08-0911 minHDT Talks TruckingWhat a Visit to Cummins Tells us About the Future of Truck EnginesCummins recently invited transportation journalists to Columbus, Indiana to discuss zero and near-zero emissions powertrain products it has in development, including a 6.7-liter engine that runs on 87 octane gasoline, and an battery-electric drivetrain for a Class 7 delivery truck. Jack Roberts and Jim Park share their observations on these two vehicles as well as the company's plans to position itself as a leading global provider of alternative powertrain products.
This episode is sponsored by CAT Scale. Learn more about its WeighMyTruck app.
Each month, HDT's editors take a look behind some of Truckinginfo.com's top stories...2022-07-2815 minHDT Talks TruckingBehind the News: The End of the Owner-Operator Model in California?News from the Supreme Court means the end of the owner-operator model as we know it in California – and it could have repercussions nationwide. HDT's editors share what they know about California's AB5 law in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by CAT Scale. Learn more about its WeighMyTruck app.
Each month, HDT's editors take a look behind some of Truckinginfo.com's top stories of the month. For June, the top story was news that the Supreme Court would not hear a case about whether California's AB5 law was unconstitutional. In thi...2022-07-1411 min
HDT Talks TruckingMeet Cummins' New Natural Gas Truck EngineCummins is betting its new X15N 15-liter natural gas engine is going to change the market for natural-gas-powered trucks. HDT's Jim Park stopped by the Cummins booth at ACT Expo recently to learn more.
This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Clarience Technologies.
Puneet Jhawar, the general manager of Cummins global natural gas business, walks us through Cummins’ reasons for developing this new engine and explains why it’s different from any previous natural gas engines the company has been involved with and how it fits in to emissions-reduction goals and regulations.
...2022-06-2909 min
HDT Talks TruckingThe Future of Fuel & Driver Satisfaction: View from the Truck StopJust what would it take for a truck stop to offer charging for long-haul electric trucks? We talk to Delia Meier of the Iowa 80 Group and CAT Scale to get the truck-stop view on that and on driver satisfaction.
This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, CAT Scale and its WeighMyTruck app.
In this episode:
The push to reduce trucking's carbon footprint
The challenges of long-haul trucking electrification
Driver shortage and productivity
Keeping drivers happy
Resources:
Iowa 80 Truck...2022-06-2411 minHDT Talks TruckingBehind the News: Clean-Truck Trends from ACT ExpoWhat are the latest trends in the push to decarbonize the trucking industry? Is electrification the answer? HDT's editors share what they learned at ACT Expo in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Clarience Technologies.
Each month, HDT's editors take a look behind some of Truckinginfo.com's top stories of the month. For May, it was all about electrification and alternative fuels. Equipment Editor Jim Park and Senior Contributing Editor Jack Roberts sit down with Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge to discuss what they took away from ACT Expo — plus the...2022-06-1518 min
HDT Talks TruckingSuccessful Strategies For Post-Pandemic Driver RecruitingAre your recruiting and retention teams keeping up with the changing truck driver job market? Learn more in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking's Leadership Insights interview.
This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, Tenstreet.
Tim Crawford, Tenstreet co-founder and CEO, talks to HDT’s Jim Park about the trends Tenstreet tracks that define the driver-carrier relationship, and gives on advice to fleets that want to stay ahead of the evolving dynamic.
🎙 In this Episode:
• Tr...2022-06-1025 min
HDT Talks TruckingBattery-Electric Isn't the Only Pathway to Zero-Emissions TrucksBattery electric is currently the dominant alternative to diesel discussed as the way to a zero-emissions future, but it’s not the only option. Jim Park and John Zelasko, chief sales officer at FEV North America, explore the various powertrain technologies likely to power tomorrow's fleets.
🎙 In this episode:
About FEV and its stake in the commercial vehicle market
EV adoption rates on the heavy duty side of the trucking industry
Level of interest among prospective buyers of battery-electric trucks
Market fit for alternative-fuel solutions
New engines or conversions for alternative fuels
How to keep diesel engines a...2022-05-2630 min
HDT Talks TruckingUsing Data in Setting Fleet Sustainability GoalsTrucking fleets face more and more pressures to create strong sustainability goals. But how do you figure out the right goals for your operations?
This episode is sponsored by, and produced in partnership, with Geotab.
Steve White, Geotab’s business development manager, heavy truck, talks to HDT’s Deborah Lockridge about how fleets can use telematics and data to find out where they are on their sustainability journey, where they want to go, and measure their progress in getting there.
🎙 In this episode:
Sustainability goals aren’t just for big fleets
Using telematic...2022-05-1211 minHDT Talks TruckingBehind the News: A New Type of Engine?Get insights behind the top trucking news from April 2022 with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge, Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic and Equipment Editor Jim Park on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Clarience Technologies. Learn more about here.
🎙 Today's topics include:
Achates Power developing an opposed-piston diesel engine that meets CARB's 2027 emissions regulations
Walmart's driver pay raises and private fleet development program
🚨Stay up to date on the latest industry news from HDT ➡ http://www.truckinginfo.com
📰 Sign up...2022-05-1011 minHDT Talks TruckingThe Diesel Engine at 125 Years: Still Going Strong and Getting Even CleanerThe first functional diesel engine was tested in 1897, making the “heat engine” 125 years old this year. Will the diesel see 150 years of service? Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum joined HDT’s Jim Park on Rudolph Diesel’s 164th birthday with a tribute to the engine’s inventor and look forward at its future.
🏫 Resources
Diesel Technology Forum
DTF: Nearer to Zero - The Big Picture on EPA’s Latest Proposed Emissions Regs
Rudolph Diesel’s Enduring Invention
🚨 Visit HDT to stay up to date on the latest indust...2022-04-2925 minHDT Talks TruckingTop Trucking News Stories of March 2022Get updates and insights on the top trucking news from March 2022 with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge and Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by:
Circle K Pro
Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
Clarience Technologies
Learn more about Clarience Technologies.
🎙 Today's topics include:
Reinstated Independent Contractor Definition
Navistar’s New San Antonio Plant
Fuel Prices
And more
🚨Stay up to date on the latest industry news from HDT: ➡ http://www.truckinginfo.com
2022-04-1212 min
HDT Talks TruckingGet Ready for Wireless Electronic Truck InspectionsWireless electronic truck inspections could revolutionize the harvesting of data from commercial vehicles. Inspections will be faster and more comprehensive, allowing far more inspections to be conducted every day. But there’s infrastructure to consider, and cost, and fleet sensitivity to sharing proprietary data. On this episode of HDT Leadership Insights, Steve Vaughn of PrePass explains how these inspections would be carried out, and the implications for industry.
🏫 Resources
Pre-Pass
CVSA Adds New Level VIII Electronic Inspection
🚨 Visit HDT to stay up to date on the latest industry news.
📰 Sign up for...2022-03-3025 minHDT Talks TruckingSmart Fuel-Buying Tips for FleetsThis episode is sponsored by Circle K. Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
With diesel prices at or near record highs, HDT Talks Trucking shares tips from fuel-buying expert Glen Sokolis about how fleets can save money beyond better fuel mileage.
Glen Sokolis is CEO of Sokolis Group, a company he founded nearly 20 years ago to help fleets save money on fuel. Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge talks to Glen about why oil and fuel prices have spiked and what fleets can do about it short- and l...2022-03-2810 min
HDT Talks TruckingStandardizing Emerging TRU TechnologiesThe electrification of transport refrigeration equipment is evolving but charging and power sharing must be standardized before adoption occurs at scale. Host Jim Park and Matt Srnec, Thermo King’s lead electrical system engineer discuss the benefits and barriers to standardizing electric TRU technology. Fleets looking toward investing in electric TRUs and e-PTO will gain much from Matt’s insight.
This episode of HDT Leadership Insights is sponsored by and produced in partnership with Thermo King.
🏫 Resources
Download Thermo King's TRU Electrification position paper
Thermo King's Electrification landing page
🚨 Visit HDT...2022-03-1733 min
HDT Talks TruckingTop Trucking News Stories of February 2022Get updates and insights on the top trucking news from February 2022 with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge and Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Circle K Pro. Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
🎙 Today's topics include:
Cummins and the Road to Zero Emissions
How Will Russia-Ukraine Conflict Affect You?
CVSA's Inspection Blitz
And more
🚨Stay up to date on the latest industry news from HDT: ➡ truckinginfo.com
📰 Sign up for the HDT newsletter.
🤝 Follow and connect with HDT on so...2022-03-1509 minHDT Talks TruckingAre ELDs Responsible for Higher Crash Rates and More Risky Driving?A study published late in 2021 by the Supply Chain Management Research Center at the University of Arkansas is casting doubt on the safety benefits of ELDs. Researchers found that crash rates and incidents of unsafe driving among small fleets and owner-operators increased relative to large fleets following ELD implementation in December 2017. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, one of the study’s coauthors, Andrew Balthrop of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, explains his findings.
This episode is sponsored by Circle K. Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
🏫 Resources
(PDF...2022-02-2320 minHDT Talks TruckingTop Trucking News Stories of January 2022Get updates and insights on the top trucking news from January 2022 with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge and Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Circle K. Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
🎙 Today's topics include:
Controversy Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
New FMCSA Leadership
Werner Getting Natural Gas, Hydrogen Engines
and more!
📰 Sign up for the HDT newsletter!
🤝 Follow and connect with HDT on social media.
Connect with HDT on LinkedIn.
Like HDT on Facebook.
Follow HDT on Twitter.
...2022-02-1809 minHDT Talks TruckingHow Can We Prevent Another Lakewood Colorado Crash?The driver in the Lakewood, Colo. crash, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, paid a stiff price for his actions on the afternoon of April 25, 2019.
It would be easy to argue that the crash was entirely his fault, but my guest, Accident Plan founder and CEO, Brendan Dawson, says the carrier and the broker he was working for at the time bear some responsibility for not ensuring he was trained to drive in mountainous terrain. Would training have prevented that crash? Could more comprehensive training prevent other crashes?
This episode is sponsored by Circle K. Learn more about the C...2022-01-2630 min
HDT Talks TruckingThe Pathway to TRU ElectrificationBattery size and weight are significant barriers to developing electric power systems for mobile refrigeration units. Integration of the charging systems and AC/DC converters is another challenge for system developers. As the strategic insights leader at Thermo King, Paul Kroes is responsible for finding solutions to these problems. In this episode of Leadership Insights, Paul discusses the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in developing electric transportation refrigeration units.
💡 This episode is sponsored by and produced in partnership with Thermo King. Learn more about their all-electric solutions.
🎥 Watch an extended conversation with Paul as he...2022-01-2034 min
HDT Talks TruckingTop Trucking News Stories of December 2021Get updates and insights on the top trucking news from December 2021 with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge and Managing Editor Vesna Brajkovic on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
This episode is sponsored by Circle K. Learn more about the Circle K Fleet Card.
🎙 Today's topics include:
Will a truck driver serve a 110-year sentence for a fatal crash?
The latest on Nikola’s battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric trucks.
What the Biden administration is doing about the truck driver shortage.
And more!
🚨 Visit HDT to stay up to date on the latest industry news.
📰...2022-01-1113 min
HDT Talks TruckingInside a High School Truck Driver Training ProgramWith the industry facing a shortage of qualified drivers, fleet managers are faced with the challenge of both retaining CDL drivers, as well as attracting new ones to their operations. Is one answer to the driver shortage introducing young people to trucking and prepping high schoolers to obtain their CDL early on? In this special report, hear from Dave Dein, the mastermind behind one of that nation’s first high school truck driver programs and a co-founder of the Next Generation Trucking Association. Learn why Dein is passionate about ushering in the next generation of truck drivers, and what he...2021-11-0918 min
HDT Talks TruckingIs the Real World Ready for Driverless Trucks?There are currently, dozens of driverless trucks operating on interstate highways (with safety drivers) mixing and mingling with humanized cars and trucks. The technology obviously works. As they log more and more miles, we are hearing about few reported incidents of automation gone wrong. Does that mean they are ready for prime time? Christopher Hart doesn’t think so. He’s a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and he as been studying and observing automation in transportation for years. He’s still uneasy about sharing the road with driverless vehicles. Find out why on this episode of HDT...2021-11-0931 min
HDT Talks TruckingInspections and Maintenance for Autonomous TrucksRyder will soon be managing maintenance services for several fleets of autonomous vehicles. The company will be doing regular maintenance on the trucks as well as servicing the autonomous hardware and performing pre- and post-trip inspections. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Ryder’s director of new product strategy, Mike Plasencia, explains what it takes to keep driverless trucks running.
Ryder System
Embark, Ryder Partner on Nationwide Autonomous Fleet Network
TuSimple to Use Ryder Facilities to Expand Autonomous Trucking Network
Waymo Partners with Ryder on Autonomous-Truck Uptime
Follow HD...2021-11-0924 minHDT Talks TruckingDriving into the 3G SunsetRemember the Y2K scare? At the time, many people worried airplanes would fall from the sky and every bit of digital data ever collected would simply vanish. As it happened, very little changed that winter night January 31, 1999. Come the spring of 2022, however, when some wireless service providers start turning off their 3G networks, some older technology will quit working. Our guest, Michael Bloom, vice president of product and marketing for video and telematics provider, SmartWitness, explains what will happen when they throw the switch, and how fleets can avoid getting left in the digital dark.
SmartWitness2021-10-2625 min
HDT Talks TruckingIs Your Fleet Ready for FA-4 Oil?The FA-4 category oils have been available for almost five years now, but market penetration remains light. Despite the fuel saving benefits inherent to these lighter viscosity oils, fleets are being cautions about using it – and for a number of good reasons. In some cases, FA-4 is only recommended for engines from 2017 and newer. Certain restrictions may be keeping fleets from embracing the newest API oil category. On this episode, Tom Gauerke, national fleet account manager at Chevron Global Lubricants-North America, helps sort out the restrictions and explains who can start using FA-4 now and who should hold off....2021-10-2620 min
HDT Talks TruckingHow to Build an Electric Medium-duty FleetIt has been said that as of today, more than 5 million trucks in North America could be converted from fossil-fuel power to electric. The sweeping simplicity of that statement, however, belies the complexity of actually making it happen. Jim Castalez, the chief technology officer and founder of Motive Power Systems has been electrifying Class 4-6 delivery vehicle fleets for 12 years now. With more than a million miles under his belt, he has a few insights on how fleets can successfully make the switch from ICE to electric.
Motiv Power Systems
NACFE Electric Trucks
...2021-10-0735 min
HDT Talks TruckingIs There a Better Way to Measure Fuel Economy?How can fleets make informed decisions when buying fuel saving devices and technologies if they are looking at unreliable data? How often do we hear fleets say they automatically reduce vendor’s fuel-saving estimates by half? Our guest says he has the answer to that problem. Daryl Bear is the lead engineer & chief operating officer of Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions. He’s a mechanical engineer with 20 years’ experience in motorsports and automotive research and development. From his background in race-car engineering and testing comes a more efficient and accurate method of quantifying fuel savings for heavy trucks.
Mesill...2021-10-0749 min
HDT Talks TruckingMeet HDT's Managing Editor, Vesna BrajkovicMeet the newest member of HDT’s editorial team, managing editor, Vesna Brajkovic. Managing editors are to magazines what operations managers are to truck fleets. They tend to the day-to-day details of running a magazine and a website and are responsible for keeping everything on the rails. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Vesna talks about what she has learned about trucking since she started here in February, and shares a little of her personal side, discussing her love for soccer, golf, aviation and helping young women get a solid start in life.2021-09-2821 min
HDT Talks TruckingThe Secret Life of TruckstopsTruckstops and trucking are very much dependent on one another, yet the relationship isn’t always mutually beneficial. Whether it’s fuel prices, restaurant prices or the debate over paid parking, trucking and truckstops don’t always see eye to eye.
In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, truckstop business consultant, Don Baglien -- aka That Truckstop Guy -- pulls back the curtain and shares what it’s like on his side of the doors that never close. Don and host, Jim Park discuss the challenges of preparing fresh, healthy and reasonably priced menu options, the debate over com...2021-09-0652 min
HDT Talks TruckingElectric Trucks Are Producing Some Interesting PartnershipsWith medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification, we’re seeing a unique alignment of traditional truck manufacturers, tier-1 suppliers and start-up companies simultaneously competing and collaborating. We have companies that started building electric trucks in their garages now developing trucks for the parcel delivery market. We have two tier 1 suppliers going from axle, brake and driveline suppliers to providers of full electric powertrains. And we have major truck manufacturers working alongside silicon-valley start-ups. We asked Meritor's vice president for Global Business Development, T.J. Reed, if all these diverse interests play together in the same sandbox.
Meritor Blue Ho...2021-07-2431 min
HDT Talks TruckingGetting Back to the Basics on Electrical MaintenanceWhile the basic principles of Ohm’s Law haven’t changed, the architecture of a truck’s electrical system certainly has. Are fleets doing enough to keep their technicians ahead of the rapidly steepening technology adoption curve? Our guest on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking is Larry Rambeaux, a sales application engineer at Purkeys Fleet Electric in Rogers, Arkansas. He worries truck fleets could face a skills deficit as truck electrical systems grow ever more complex. Larry discusses some of the weaknesses in basic electrical maintenance and provides a few tips to help fleets keep the lights on now an...2021-07-2042 min
HDT Talks TruckingLearning to Master the Downsped DrivelineCruising down the highway at 900 rpm takes a bit of getting used to. Some drivers don’t like the way the truck feels, while others can’t get used to the way it sounds. And there are some drivers who don’t quite understand the relationship between engine torque and engine speed. There are proven fuel economy benefits to downsped engines, but drivers who drive those trucks the old-fashioned way are missing out. Jamie Hagen of Hell Bent Xpress in Aberdeen, South Dakota – an expert on the gear-fast, run-slow concept – explains how downspeeding works and shares his experience learning to love tru...2021-07-0937 min
HDT Talks TruckingGHG Phase 2 Will Change How We Build Diesel EnginesIt’s going to take a lot more than better aerodynamics and low-rolling resistance tires to meet the EPA’s next round of emissions reductions for heavy trucks. Trucks from model-year 2021 are included in the rulemaking. All the OEMs met those requirements handily, and vehicle owners hardly noticed. That probably won’t be the case in 2024 and we will certainly notice the changes needed to meet the 2027 standards. Joining me in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking to explain what these advanced technologies are and how they work is Dr. Mihai Dorobantu, the Eaton Vehicle Group’s director of Technolo...2021-07-0941 min
HDT Talks TruckingVolvo Trucks Sees Hydrogen Driving Fossil-free TruckingVolvo Trucks has committed to decarbonizing its share of the road transport system by 2050 using hydrogen fuel cells alongside battery-electric vehicles and biofuel- or possibly hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. The Volvo group sees battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric trucks as complementary rather than competitive, depending on the individual customer use case. Volvo believes battery-power will likely dominate the lower cargo weight classes in smaller trucks over shorter distances, while fuel-cell power will do the heavy lifting in long-haul applications. In this episode, Volvo Group's chief technology officer, Lars Stenqvist, explains how Volvo plans to achieve fossil-fuel-freedom by 2050.
cellcentric...2021-05-1426 min
HDT Talks TruckingElectric Trucks: The Road to Cost Parity with DieselThe market for battery- or fuel-cell-electric trucks is still in its infancy. It could be another 10-15 years before production and deployment numbers achieve a critical mass where scale begins to provide significant cost reductions. In the meantime, subsidies and incentives will keep the industry moving forward while the electrical infrastructure is built out and new efficiencies are realized in battery design and execution. Joining me on this episode to talk about the road to an electric future are Jeremy Frenznick, Dana's senior director of commercial vehicle engineering, and Beyza Sarioglu, Dana's senior director of strategy and business planning...2021-04-3030 min
HDT Talks TruckingHas FMCSA finally got hours-of-service right?The most recent update to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Hours of Service regulations went live September 29, 2020. They were two years in the making, and the changes came only after years of drivers asking for a bit more flexibility in how they manage their time. Did FMCSA get it right this time? To answer that question, we have Jerad Childress of Childress Law PLLC and Truck Safe Consulting along with Chris Woody, the safety manager at M&W Logistics of Nashville. Jerad explains the legal nuances of the changes while Chris shares his real-world perspective.
Trucksafe...2021-04-2830 min
HDT Talks TruckingCarriers Need to Get Better at Self DefenseTrucking's response to a crisis often tends to be reactive and defensive. That can leave a carrier on its back-foot when trying to defend a claim in court. It's not that we're not good at defending ourselves, it's that plaintiff's attorneys are better; they are often better organized and prepared, and they are better funded. Can trucking level that playing field and start fighting back? Brendan Dawson thinks we can. In fact, he thinks we must. He's an entrepreneur, a risk manager and a former fleet manager. He's also the founder and CEO of Accident Plan and he's the...2021-04-2836 min
HDT Talks TruckingAre Two AI Trucks Twice as Good as One?Autonomous truck teaching and testing is in full swing now, with close to a dozen companies in the game right now. One company, Locomation, says it can commercialize the technology faster by letting human drivers do some of the heavy lifting, while smoothing out the learning curve for the AI system. This, according to Locomation's co-founder and CEO, Dr. Çetin Meriçli, will more quickly transition the company from a research entity to a profitable business. Dr. Meriçli explains why his company is taking a different approach to AI development and how he sees the technology eventually coming to...2021-04-0335 min
HDT Talks TruckingAftertreatment Maintenance from A-ZAftertreatment systems remain the source of much confusion and frustration for fleets and drivers alike. In this episode we discuss some of the problems that arise from lack of maintenance and a general lack of understanding of how the systems function. Our guests bring nearly three decades of combined experience cleaning and servicing aftertreatment systems. Steve Hoke, president, of Diesel Emissions Service in Redding, California and DES's warranty and training manager, Steve "Junior" Stratton, help us make sense of the systems, explain what can go wrong with them, and reveal how to look after them.
Diesel Emissions...2021-04-0355 min
HDT Talks TruckingHDT Talks Trucking Season 6 TrailerSeason 6 of HDT Talks Trucking digs into bunch of hot-button issues, from aftertreatment system maintenance -- a perennial headache for fleets, to managing litigation costs resulting from accidents. We also have a fresh look at the burgeoning electric truck market. How soon will battery-powered trucks hit the mainstream? Automated trucks and Hours of Service are on deck too. We talk with an AI developer with double vision, and we ask the age-old question, are the new HOS rules working for carriers and drivers? And HDT Talks Trucking gets political with a look ahead at what the Biden administration means...2021-04-0302 minHDT Talks TruckingWill Self-driving Trucks Put Truck Drivers Out of Business?HDT Talks Trucking Special Report: Self-driving trucks will obviously displace some drivers. The question everyone is asking is how many and when. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new deputy administrator and current acting administrator, Meera Joshi, said in mid-March, "If it’s your livelihood that seems like it’s being threatened, it is an immediate problem." But realistically, given the development timelines for autonomous trucks, and near-term market penetration, if you are a truck driver today, it's unlikely you will lose your job to a robotic truck. Finch Fulton, vice president of policy and strategy for Locomation and form...2021-03-1729 min
HDT Talks TruckingLeadership Insights: Turning Trends into ActionsFrom the latest in data intelligence to effectively using data to improve safety and operations, Dr. Ashim Bose, Omnitracs' chief data and AI officer, discusses how fleets can overcome the challenge of managing vast amounts of data and begin putting that data to work. This is part 1 of our three-episode conversation with Omnitracs. This episode was produced in partnership with Omnitracs – discover how Omnitracs can improve your customer service, efficiency, and revenue by making better business decisions at Omnitracs.com/platform.
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LinkedIn 2021-02-2328 min
HDT Talks TruckingLeadership Insights: Efficiency, Productivity and Smaller Fleets TooData is the key to profitability. Omnitracs' chief data and AI officer, Dr. Ashim Bose, focuses on how operational data can improve efficiency and productivity. He also explains how smaller fleets can use data and advanced analytics to improve their efficiency and productivity, too. This is part 3 of our three-episode conversation with Omnitracs. This episode was produced in partnership with Omnitracs – discover how Omnitracs can improve your customer service, efficiency, and revenue by making better business decisions at Omnitracs.com/platform.
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LinkedIn 2021-02-2326 min
HDT Talks TruckingLeadership Insights: Taking Safety to the EdgeData flows by the gigabyte from trucks today. Much of that data can help make your drivers safer and keep your drivers safe. From fatigue warnings and traffic alerts to weather and even Covid-19 hot-spot alerts, Omnitracs' chief data and AI officer, Ashim Bose, discusses how fleets can benefit from this treasure trove of data. This is part 2 of our three-episode conversation with Omnitracs. This episode was produced in partnership with Omnitracs – discover how Omnitracs can improve your customer service, efficiency, and revenue by making better business decisions at Omnitracs.com/platform.
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T...2021-02-2329 minHDT Talks TruckingHDT Editorial Roundtable-Looking back at 2020 and ahead at 2021We assembled the editorial team for a look back at 2020 and a look ahead at 2021. Deborah Lockridge, David Cullen, Jack Roberts, and I offer our reflections on the year just passed and the year ahead through a trucking lens -- what will this industry see from the Biden administration? How much of our long wish list will be fulfilled this year or over the next four years? Will we see more emissions regulations? Will Electric trucks become mainstream? The HDT Editorial team tackle those questions and more.
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F...2021-01-0851 minHDT Talks TruckingAre You Worried About Cybersecurity? You Should Be.The world is electronic now, which means there are doorways into our lives and our business that we'd prefer stayed closed. But as the recent Russian hack of the U.S. government shows, we can't always keep the bad guys out. Big fleets have the resources to protect themselves and can hire the expertise they need. Small fleets may not even see themselves as targets, and that leads to a denial of the problem, compounded perhaps by not knowing how to begin building a defense. Kevin Linardic is the chief technology officer at Carrier Logistics, Inc. He provides his...2021-01-0839 minHDT Talks TruckingMeet Adam Lang, winner of HDT's Safety & Compliance Award for 2020Running a fleet's Human Resources and Safety & Compliance departments would be challenging at any point in time, but more so through a pandemic. Adam Lang, chief risk officer for Halvor Lines of Superior, Wisconsin, came to trucking just eight years ago, but he has made quite an impression in that short time, including being named HDT's Safety & Compliance Award winner for 2020. We spoke with Adam about the state of the industry and the pressing issues that trucking will face in the New Year as well as his thoughts on the year just past.
Halvor Lines
A...2021-01-0847 minHDT Talks TruckingWhat Can Fleets do About the High Cost of Insurance?We're facing what some have called a crisis with insurance costs right now. Premiums continue to escalate in lock step claims costs, from medical expenses to vehicle repair costs. The so-called nuclear verdicts are a factor too. Many insurance companies have exited the market, so those that remain can be very selective about the risk they take on. For a better understanding of the state of the insurance market today, we speak with Reliance Partners' founder and CEO, Andrew Ladebauche and the company's director of safety, Brian Runnels. The pair explain how we got here and offer advice on...2021-01-0846 minHDT Talks TruckingFuel Economy Testing Pioneers Chuck Blake and Bob WesselsChuck Blake and Bob Wessels hardly need an introduction, but for the record, Chuck was Detroit Diesel's senior technical support manager when he retired in 2018, and Bob was the assistant chief engineer and a project manager at Caterpillar when he retired in 2006. Together, they charted new territory in fuel economy testing and validation. Under the auspices of the ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council, Bob and Chuck, along with several other partners in crime, basically wrote the book on fuel testing, producing the TMC/SAE Type II (RP 1102) "In-Service Fuel Consumption Test Procedure.” As TMC's Robert Braswell writes, they recognized th...2021-01-081h 06HDT Talks TruckingHDT Talks Trucking Season 5 TrailerSeason 5 of HDT Talks Trucking delves into a couple of current industry concerns, insurance costs and cybersecurity. Andrew Ladebauche and Brian Runnels of Reliance Partners shed some light on why truck insurance is so pricey. Kevin Linardic, the Chief Technology Officer at Carrier Logistics Incorporated talks about the need to lock down your data. HDT's editorial team, Deb Lockridge, David Cullen and Jack Roberts, looks back at the year we'd all like to forget, and forward to what we can expect from 2021. We meet Adam Lang, chief risk officer of Halvor Lines. He's Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine's Safety & Compliance...2021-01-0403 minHDT Talks TruckingOn the Road to Smarter Smart TrailersHDT Talks Trucking Special Report: Smart Trailers Smart Trailers are upending how truck fleets do business. These formerly brainless boxes are now providing insights and intelligence to fleets that help improve efficiency and productivity while making fleets proactive rather than reactive. Paul Menig of Business Accelerants discusses where this technology can take us, and what we'll need to do to get there.
Business Accelerants
Great Dane Fleet Pulse
Phillips Connect Technologies
Peterson Pulse
Road Ready System
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L...2020-12-1544 minHDT Talks TruckingEverything You Need to Know about Hydrogen Fuel CellsHDT Talks Trucking Special Report: Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Hydrogen fuel cells' place in the heavy-duty trucking market is not well understood. Many see fuel cells and batteries as competitors. Loop Energy's Ben Nyland sees them as complimentary rather than competitive. Loop Energy is a new name to North American ears, but the company has been developing its fuel cell technology for the past two decades. It's currently a significant player in the European and Chinese markets, and it now has wheels on the ground here. Ben Nyland provides a detailed look behind the fuel cell curtain: how they work...2020-11-1344 minHDT Talks TruckingThe Need for SleepTruck drivers' lifestyles and work environments don't always compliment their need for restful and restorative sleep. In an industry where much of the focus on sleep and fatigue is related to compliance, sometimes the need for proper sleep takes a back seat to the rules. This episode is about the importance of sleep. Sleep specialist and best-selling author, Dr. Chris Winter, explains why we need sleep, and what happens when you don't get enough. Dr. Winter offers some tips you can use to ensure you get the sleep you need.
Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine
...2020-11-0240 minHDT Talks TruckingHDT's Alternative Fuel OverviewDecades will pass before diesel disappears from our vocabulary. Despite what you may have read on the internet, no single alternative energy source will dominate the way diesel fuel has for generations. As we move closer to wide-scale adoption of alternative fuels, it's becoming clear that trucks will need a little bit of everything to keep all its wheels turning as greenly as possible. Join Deborah Lockridge and Jim Park as they explore the pros and cons associated with three of today's most promising alternatives to diesel: battery electric, fuel-cell electric and renewable natural gas.
Links to...2020-10-2039 minHDT Talks TruckingWhat Penske Has Learned About Electric Trucks, So FarWe know there will be challenges integrating electric trucks into traditional fleets, but until recently we haven't had many real-world examples from which to learn. Penske Truck Leasing has had a trial and evaluation project underway in southern California since 2017. They are trying to understand everything that would go right and everything that could go wrong. From dealing with the utility companies, to planning the layout of the yard and coaxing drivers to get the best battery performance, they are learning more every day. Penske's head of fleet procurement and planning, Paul Rosa, shares his experience with integrating all...2020-10-1638 minHDT Talks TruckingYes Virginia, Diesel Does Have a FutureRumors surrounding the death of diesel are, as Mark Twain once said, greatly exaggerated. While some people can't wait for the last puff of smoke from an internal combustion engine, Allen Schaeffer isn't among them. He's the head of the Diesel Technology Forum, and one of diesel's greatest proponents. If you're worried about the sustained attacks on trucking's fuel of choice, Allen Schaeffer explains why diesel engines aren't going anywhere anytime soon. And if you think diesel is dead, or even on its last legs, after listing to this episode you may come away with a completely different point...2020-10-1636 minHDT Talks TruckingRenewable Natural Gas, the Energy Source Nobody's Talking AboutThe search for cleaner energy sources for transportation is taking trucking in some interesting directions, but one source is often overlooked or even dismissed: renewable natural gas. RNG is methane gas produced by decomposing organic matter from sources such as landfills, dairy farms, and wastewater treatment plants. It can be economically collected and used to power trucks. It's already a source of fuel for many refuse collection fleets. Hugh Donnell of Cummins Westport, maker of the engines that turn this harmful waste gas into motive power, describes the challenges and benefits of wider adoption of RNG as a truck...2020-10-1533 minHDT Talks TruckingWhat Can we Learn from Truck Crash Investigations?Truck accidents usually bring tragic results, but some good can come from the follow up investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board doesn't investigate every truck crash, but digs deep into some for insight that could help prevent future crashes of a similar nature. Robert Molloy, a transportation research analyst and the director of the Office of Highway Safety at NTSB explains why it investigates certain crashes, and shares some of the conclusions drawn from two specific truck accidents -- a rear-end collision with stopped traffic in Miami, Oklahoma, and a collision with an autonomous shuttle bus in Las Vegas.2020-10-1538 minHDT Talks TruckingHDT Talks Trucking Season 4 TrailerSeason 4 rounds out our first year of podcasts, and what an interesting year it's been. This season we look at the future of fuel, including battery electric and renewable natural gas, and our tried-and-true diesel engines. We also have one special episode that's bound to put you to sleep. Our guest list includes Alan Schaeffer of the Diesel Technology Forum, Hugh Donnell of Cummins Westport, Paul Rosa of Penske Truck Leasing, and Rob Molloy of the National Transportation Safety Board. And HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge joins host Jim Park for a discussion on alternative fuels, the cover st...2020-10-0704 minHDT Talks TruckingCops & Robots: How Do We Enforce Robotic Trucks?AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS SPECIAL REPORT: There are only a few dozen autonomous trucks on America's highways today, but the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is already thinking about how to police them. They aren't above the law. It's up to people like our guest, Will Schaefer, the Director of Safety Programs at CVSA, to figure out how trucking's safety rules can be applied to trucks that have no drivers. How will police officers pull over trucks that they can't communicate with directly? Can you charge a computer with causing, or not avoiding, a crash? Will Schaefer muses on how enforcement could pr...2020-10-0736 minHDT Talks TruckingAre Autonomous Truck Ready for the Road?AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS SPECIAL REPORT: Mary “Missy” Cummings calls herself a techno-realist. By day, she's a professor at Duke University and the director of Duke's Humans and Autonomy lab. Her day-to-day work is in artificial intelligence and robotics, and she’s quite skeptical about some of claims of autonomous driving’s current practitioners. Although she says she's 100% behind robotic trucks in the long term, she says the hype surrounding autonomous cars and trucks has pushed far beyond what the technology is actually capable of today. Find out why Dr. Cummings is concerned about how fast autonomous trucks appear to be approach...2020-09-0831 minHDT Talks TruckingRobotic Trucking, the Waymo WayAUTONOMOUS TRUCKS SPECIAL REPORT: Vijaysai (Vijay) Patnaik helped start and is now the Product Lead for Waymo’s self-driving trucks program. He says he’s confident the company will be able to safely and responsibly deploy this technology on public roads. Since Waymo began work on autonomous cars more than a decade ago, the company’s cars and trucks have logged more than 20 million real-world miles plus 15 billion more miles in computer simulations. Vijay explains some of the intricacies of the autonomy that controls the trucks and how it interacts with other road users. He talks about how the autono...2020-09-0830 minHDT Talks TruckingKeeping Drivers Healthier and Happier During the PandemicStaying healthy while living in a truck is a tough thing to do at the best of times. Staying healthy and positive becomes doubly difficult living under the stress of a pandemic. In this COVID-19 Special Report, trainer, nutritionist and holistic health coach Sergio Rojas shares some great ideas on how to up your wellness game. He has worked with celebrities and professional sports teams like the Chicago Bulls. Today, he is HDT's Health and Wellness columnist and was previously the Director of Wellness at Hirschbach Motor Lines. He now runs a wellness consultancy called Vitality by Sergio. On...2020-07-2932 minHDT Talks TruckingCould Autonomous Trucks Still be Decades Away?Stefan Seltz-Axmacher created and ran Starsky Robotics, billed as the first venture to operate a truly driverless truck on a public highway. The company started in 2015 but closed its doors five years later, when, as he put it, the downpour of investor interest became a drizzle. He says investors were not prepared to fund the “last mile” of the project – honing and perfecting the artificial intelligence so that it performed flawlessly 100% of the time, a task that may have taken years. Will other AI-driven autonomous truck ventures run into similar problems perfecting their technology?
Starsky Robotics
The End...2020-07-1734 minHDT Talks TruckingMeet HDT's 2020 Truck Fleet Innovators, Part 1What do maintenance data, safety technology, and more efficient pup trailers have in common? They’re all tactics taken by HDT’s 2020 Truck Fleet Innovators. Heavy Duty Trucking has presented its Innovator awards annually since 2006. They recognize fleet executives for their leadership role in fostering innovation in their companies and the industry. The hunt for the winners of this year's award, sponsored by ConMet, led us to Doug Lloyd, director of maintenance, Averitt Express of Cookeville, Tennessee; Chris Woody, safety manager, M&W Logistics of Nashville, Tennessee; and Mike Palmer, vice president of fleet services, Estes Express Lines in Rich...2020-07-1732 minHDT Talks TruckingTruck Safety’s Most WantedWhat are the most important truck safety improvements in the eyes of the folks who investigate transportation accidents? The National Transportation Safety Board's 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements offers 268 recommendations for improving transportation safety. The list includes identifying and treating truck drivers who may be at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, and requiring forward collision warning and/or avoidance systems on all highway vehicles – including heavy trucks. NTSB board members Thomas Chapman and Michael Graham tell HDT Talks Trucking why the agency wants to see these changes implemented, and how the number of crash fatalities co...2020-07-1733 minHDT Talks TruckingMeet HDT's 2020 Fleet Innovators, Part 2Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes, from listening to your employees for the little tweaks that make their workdays more productive, to be a test fleet for new logistics systems and autonomous platoons, to leading a digital transformation at one of the country’s biggest truckload carriers. Heavy Duty Trucking's Truck Fleet Innovator awards, presented annually since 2006 and sponsored this year by ConMet, recognize fleet executives for their leadership role in fostering innovation in their companies and the industry. This episode features a conversation with Darrel Wilson, CEO of Wilson Logistics of Springfield, Missouri. Deborah Lockridge did the or...2020-07-1724 minHDT Talks TruckingHow to Improve Driver RetentionDriver turnover is a costly problem, but it's doubly hard to swallow when you already have good drivers, but you can hang onto them. Jim Park's guests in this episode, Jane Jazrawy of CarriersEdge along with Brad Fulton and Allyson Smith both of Stay Metrics, offer some tips that can help solve your retention problems.
Driver Satisfaction Survey
Best Fleets to Drive For
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LinkedIn 2020-07-1734 minHDT Talks TruckingThe Future of Fuel EconomySometime later this year the first of the GHG 2021 trucks will hit dealer lots. To meet the first round of GHG reduction targets, these trucks will be fitted mostly with existing fuel-saving technology; aero devices, low-rolling resistance tires, etc. To meet the 2024 and 2027 targets, truck makers may need to get a bit more aggressive in their use of advanced technologies. HDT's Jim Park and Mike Roeth of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency discuss how truck and engine makers will achieve those goals. As well, Robb Janak of Jacobs Engine Brakes and Joel Morrow, moderator of the 9+ MPG...2020-07-1735 minHDT Talks TruckingSeason Three TrailerHDT Talks Trucking's third season casts an eye toward the future. We talk with Stefan Seltz-Axmacher, the CEO and co-founder of now-defunct driverless truck startup, Starsky Robotics, about the possible future of autonomous trucks. We'll also dig into some of the advanced fuel-saving technology we might need to meet the strict fuel economy standards imposed by Phase 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction regulations. And we'll find out why The National Transportation Safety Board wants to see drivers tested for obstructive sleep apnea.
As well, we'll meet HDT's 2020 Fleet Innovators; six people who are never satisfied with...2020-06-1804 minHDT Talks TruckingSurviving COVID-19Kansas City-based team lease-operators Chanté and Chris Drew contracted COVID-19 in late March while on the road. For the next nine days, the trucking team made their way home, searching for decent-paying loads and places along the way to get tested. The pair made it back to Kansas City and got their tests. He tested positive, she did not – but healthcare professionals said she surely had the disease too. After a month at home in self-isolation with no income, the couple is back on the road. Doctors gave them a clean bill of health, but many of the symptoms ling...2020-06-1035 minHDT Talks TruckingTruck Driving During a Pandemic (Part I)Meet seven drivers who live on the front line of the battle with COVID-19. They mix and mingle with shippers and receivers, other drivers at truck stops, and restaurant workers. They can't be certain they won't contract COVID-19, so stress and anxiety become part of everyday life. Many of them haven't seen a friend or family member since February. While we're cooped up at home wishing we could get out, going home isn't an option for many drivers. They are making the best out of living in 8-foot by 8-foot boxes, eating take-out food, and searching for clean washrooms.2020-05-0833 minHDT Talks TruckingTruck Driving During a Pandemic (Part II)Part II continues the discussion with seven truck drivers who are out in the wild working during the pandemic. In this episode, they discuss the steps they take to stay COVID-free and talk about how their companies are supporting them through the crisis. They share their fears about bringing the virus home, and how they deal with the isolation and loneliness brought on by social distancing. While the threat of contracting COVID-19 weighs heavy, they also worry about the health of the economy and their own financial well-being. They say it's a fine line between a healthy economy and...2020-05-0833 minHDT Talks TruckingHow Can Fleets Reduce Unscheduled Downtime?Some fleets manage to do a very good job with certain maintenance tasks. That begs the question: if some fleets are so good at maintenance, why can't everyone else be that good too? In this episode, Jim Buell, the executive vice president of sales and marketing at FleetNet America shares some of the findings from the TMC FleetNet vertical benchmarking survey that shows how much better some fleets are than others. And Tony Morthland, the director of equipment and facilities at Nussbaum Transportation, shares his strategies for making the best of the time he has with his trucks in...2020-04-0130 minHDT Talks TruckingMaking Sense of All Those Economic NumbersHDT editor-in-chief, Deborah Lockridge speaks with veteran trucking industry analyst and HDT columnist, Jeff Kauffman, who is also the managing director for Loop Capital Markets and the head of Tahoe Ventures, a transportation consulting company. Deborah and Jeff won't be trying to sort out where the economy is today, because everything is going to change. Instead, they'll be discussing aspects of the economy that affect trucking directly and helping you make some sense of some of the terms and numbers you hear in economic forecasts.
Jeff Kauffman on LinkedIn
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2020-04-0131 minHDT Talks TruckingElectric Trucks Might Not be as Easy as We First ThoughtVehicle electrification is probably the most profound change ever to hit transportation -- and the trucking industry in particular -- but getting those trucks into widespread service will be challenging. Jim Park talks with Rick Mihelic, the director of future technologies at the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), about where we'll get all the energy to power those electric trucks, and how those trucks will change just about everything we currently know about buying, selling, operating, and maintaining trucks.
NACFE truck electrification report
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Facebook 2020-04-0125 minHDT Talks TruckingSelf-driving Trucks: Savior or Scourge for Trucking?Driverless trucks are still a few years off when you talk about the long-haul sector, but they are already in play on other markets, such as drayage and terminal tractors. We are making real progress toward a time when self-driving trucks become commonplace, but there are still lots of questions: Which applications does early adoption make the most sense? How will the regulators make rules regarding such complex technology? Are they really a solution to the driver shortage? Richard Bishop of Bishop Consulting is an automated vehicle industry analyst, and he has been a watcher and player in this...2020-04-0137 minHDT Talks TruckingMeet HDT’s Emerging LeadersWhere is the next generation of trucking leaders coming from? HDT editor-in-chief, Deborah Lockridge, discusses HDT’s annual Emerging Leaders awards and talks to three of our past honorees about their views of trends and issues facing trucking, including what fleets and the industry can do to recruit and encourage young leaders like themselves. This episode features discussions with Olivia Young, director of marketing and national sales manager for Colorado-based Navajo Express, Kyle Kottke, general manager of Minnesota-based Kottke Trucking, and Zach Meiborg, president of Illinois-based Meiborg Bros. Read about HDT's Emerging Leaders awards program.
2019 HDT Emerging Le...2020-04-0127 minHDT Talks TruckingDoes California's AB-5 law mean the end of the owner-operator?There have long been allegations of employee misclassification in the trucking industry, especially among companies that abuse the lease-purchase contractor model. But aside from those examples, there is ample case law around the country suggesting any subcontractor performing work that is ostensibly the same as the contracting entity must be declared an employee. That calls into question this industry's relationships with its owner-operators. In this episode, Jim Park talks about the potential impact of AB-5 and other efforts to end employee misclassification with HDT editor-in-chief, Deborah Lockridge. They are joined by Julie Gutman Dickinson, California local counsel to the...2020-04-0125 minHDT Talks TruckingSeason Two TrailerAre truck owner-operators trucking entrepreneurs, or poorly disguised employees? HDT’s editors dig into the issue of employee misclassification, California’s effort to crack down on it, and what that could mean for trucking. We’ll explore autonomous trucks: What will they mean for drivers? Is the technology ready? Our editors will share maintenance lessons learned at this year’s Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting, where we also learned some more surprising facts about electric trucks – are you ready to rethink the way you buy trucks? And we’ll introduce you to some of HDT’s Emerging Leaders, part of the next ge...2020-03-1202 min
HDT Talks TruckingWhat Does the Delay of the Entry-Level Driver Training Rule Mean for Trucking?The entry-level driver training requirements were a long time coming – and now they’re going to be even longer, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced a two-year delay just days before the new regulation was to go into effect Feb. 7. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, we have three people with a stake in the ELDT program, and they aren't happy that it's been pushed back. Some say the delay will allow CDL mills more time to crank out under-qualified drivers. Our guests are:
Don Lefeve, president and CEO of the Commercial Vehicle Training Asso...2020-02-1930 min
HDT Talks TruckingELDs: The Gift That Keeps on GivingOnce the final deadline for mandatory electronic logging devices came and went on Dec. 18, 2019, you might have thought that was the end of the story. Everyone’s now on ELDs, fleets are compliant, everything’s good, right? But plenty of issues remain unresolved and plenty of questions remain unanswered.
In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Mike Ahart, VP of regulatory affairs at Omnitracs, says there are still a good number of things fleets have yet to get their heads around – including the diagnostic and malfunction provisions of the rule.
John Seidl, a former commercial vehicl...2020-02-1922 min
HDT Talks TruckingHow Do We Get Started with Electric Trucks?We’ve written a lot about electric trucks over the past five years or so. Yet there’s still a lot we don’t know about how they’re going to work in real-world fleet operations. How will we integrate them into our fleets? How much will they cost? How much will we pay for electricity compared to diesel? Will we be able to maintain our productivity and still run at a profit? Every subject we bring up leads mostly to more questions. We're still looking for answers, but there are few certainties at this stage of the game.
In...2020-02-0425 min
HDT Talks TruckingDoes Trucking Have a Drug Problem?There’s been a lot of recent activity on the drug-testing front in trucking: The debut of FMCSA’s long-awaited Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a doubling of the percentage of drivers who must be randomly tested, and increased interest in alternatives to traditional urine testing. How is the legalization of marijuana in many states affecting the drug-testing of trucking’s safety-sensitive workers? What will the Clearinghouse mean for motor carriers? Why do some in the industry advocate for hair testing? We spoke with Dave Osiecki, the president and CEO of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, to get some insight into these questi...2020-02-0425 min
HDT Talks TruckingHow Far Have We Come with Electric Trucks?It seems that hardly a week goes by here at Heavy Duty Trucking that we aren’t reporting on something related to electric trucks, so we’re digging into the electric future in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
Podcast host and Equipment Editor Jim Park and HDT Senior Editor Jack Roberts share their experiences driving and reporting on various electric trucks over the last several years. You’ll also hear briefly from Bill Combs, the director of Connected Fleet at Penske Transportation Solutions, and Chris Nordh, the senior director of advanced vehicle technology at Ryder Systems, with s...2020-01-2125 min
HDT Talks TruckingWhat Does It Take to Turn Around a Fleet with a Sagging Safety Record?What can trucking companies do to improve their safety records? Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, fleets live and die by their CSA BASICs in the Safety Measurement System. CSA considers nearly everything a fleet does, from roadside violations and crashes to compliance audit results. It doesn't take much to slip down into the risky category, and it's a long, hard climb back to respectability.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute looked at a diverse group of failing fleets that turned themselves around. Virginia Tech senior researcher Matt Camden shared the results of...2020-01-2124 minHDT Talks TruckingSeason One TrailerListen to a preview of what's to come on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast! HDT Equipment Editor, Jim Park, gives an overview of what topics the podcast covers, as well as a sneak peek with clips from season one.2020-01-0801 min