4Gen Logistics has one of the largest zero-emission drayage fleets in Southern California — with 64 battery-electric trucks and 15 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. But getting there hasn’t been easy.In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Editor Deborah Lockridge sits down with Brad Bayne, VP of Strategic Initiatives at 4Gen Logistics and a 2023 HDT Truck…

In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Deborah Lockridge catches up with 2023 HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Brad Bayne of 4Gen Logistics for a progress report on zero-emission trucks during this time of deregulation. ▶️ Topics include: The current makeup of 4Gen’s zero-emission fleet The fallout from Nikola’s bankruptcy Customer expectations vs. cost r…

At Polaris Transportation Group, sustainability isn’t just about emissions — it’s about people, culture, technology, and giving back. Brenda Brajkovich from Polaris chats with HDT’s Deborah Lockridge about how the company is building a stronger, more inclusive workplace while staying ahead in cross-border trucking and logistics.…

AI adoption in the trucking industry is skyrocketing — and leaders, executives, and managers of heavy-duty trucking fleets are taking notice. In this HDT Leadership Insights podcast, HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge sits down with Tim Haynes, VP of Digital and Customer Data at Penske Transportation Solutions, to discuss how arti…

From pet policies and panic buttons to sign language and management diversity, trucking fleets are finding new ways to support a changing professional truck driver population. Join host Deborah Lockridge and guest Mark Murrell of the Best Fleets to Drive For program as they unpack what successful fleets are doing right to retain a more diverse driv…

Tammie Dean has an advantage when recruiting and mentoring women drivers at Lily Transportation: She’s experienced life on the road as a female driver. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks to Tammie about an initiative she started to help recruit and support women drivers, called Lily Ladies. Learn More About Attract…

How is a new Volvo heavy-duty truck like your smartphone? After Volvo Trucks North America launched the all-new Volvo VNR regional truck, HDT's Deborah Lockridge chatted with Johann Agebrand, director of product marketing, about the newest Volvo Connect updates.​What you'll learn in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking: How Volvo Trucks' new VNR and …

Chicago's Connor Hudziak had never driven a real truck before. However, the young man loved playing "American Truck Simulator" after school and work. Connor never dreamed his passion for the computer game would help him win a trip to Western Star's Star Nation customer appreciation event in Bend, Oregon -- or that the professional truckers there wo…

What's the best path to decarbonization for your trucking fleet? The North American Council for Freight Efficiency is looking at the "messy middle" of alternative fuels and drivetrains for long haul in this year's Run on Less. North American Council for Freight Efficiency Executive Director Mike Roeth joins HDT Editor & Associate Publisher Deborah …

Learn how Atlas World Group creates high-performing teams by teaching employees how to look at different points of view. Kelly Cruse, VP of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Atlas, joins HDT's Deborah Lockridge to talk about the trucking and logistics company's award-winning program. Sponsored by: Shell Multi Service Fuel Card In this…

Renewable natural gas is, well, a natural when it comes to replacing diesel as a clean fuel for truck fleets. Hexagon Ability's senior vice president, global sales and marketing Americas, tells HDT Talks Trucking why. Eric Bippus thinks that a new era of "common sense" in Washington could help fleets adopt one of the cleanest and most diesel-like f…

Jamie Hagen has gone from being a fleet driver to a small fleet owner. He's also become a well-known social media trucking influencer with an insider relationship to Mack Trucks in the process. And he's learned some valuable lessons about trucking along the way. (Pssst! He's also been given a sneak-peek at the new Mack Class 8 truck coming soon!) 🤝…

There are some important issues in trucking -- such as cargo theft, human trafficking, truck parking -- where working with law enforcement can help get things done.That's why the American Trucking Associations created the Law Enforcement Advisory Board. HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks to Mark Savage, chair of the board and director of connected truck…

Renewable natural gas is an amazing clean fuel. It can deliver diesel-like range and performance on the highway, while emitting vastly reduced tailpipe emissions. So why won't environmental regulatory agency approve it as a practical solution to help fleets move away from diesel toward cleaner fuels? HDT sat down with Chad Lindholm, executive vice …

A small group of women in trucking and logistics have founded a nonprofit organization to help human trafficking victims.HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge talks to Gift of Freedom co-founder Sharon Siar about the initiative, its inspiration, its goals, and how people can help."We're just taking it one step at a time, and one chil…

Volvo Trucks sees autonomous trucks as an entirely new mode of freight transportation. Sasko Cuklev, head of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and Jason Gillespie, senior director, continuous improvement and innovation, DHL Supply Chain, talk about the two companies' new autonomous trucks initiative in Texas and why it is an important milestone in the de…

Meet Kaitlynn Aikin – a 20-year-old diesel technician at Southeastern Freight Lines who is challenging stereotypes and inspiring the next generation of female technicians. Sponsored by Apollo Tires HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks to this young star diesel technician about how she is thriving in a field where fewer than 5% of diesel technicians in tru…

Artificial intelligence: What is it, and how can it help trucking fleets? Penske experts share insights from their work with AI, both as a tool for customers and in their own shop and operations. This episode of HDT Leadership Insights is produced in partnership with, and sponsored by, Penske. HDT's Deborah Lockridge explores AI with Penske's Tim H…

Tolls are becoming a serious management issue for fleets across North America. But new toll verification technologies can help fleet managers bring order to chaos. Chandler Love, senior product manager, tolls, PrePass, talks about how new GPS-enabled toll verification technology works. And how it can save fleets money, time and hassles dealing with…

Explore how trucking fleets can deal with shifting emissions regulations and plan for adoption of zero-emission trucks as HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks to Lacy Robertson, Director of Sustainability Solutions & Public Policy with Rush Enterprises. Sponsored by: CAT Scale Apollo Tires In This Episode: Meet the Expert: Lacy Robertson Navigating Comple…

Helping lawmakers and regulators understand the trucking industry is vital on important topics ranging from electric trucks to independent contractor misclassification. David Heller with the Truckload Carriers Association recently spoke to HDT's Deborah Lockridge about the group's annual Call on Washington. Here are the highlights in this Short Tak…

How are truck makers using artificial intelligence to change how fleets keep their trucks on the road and generating revenue?To learn more, HDT executive editor Jack Roberts sat down with Volvo Trucks North America connectivity expert Magnus Gustafson at the recent American Trucking Associations' Management Conference and Exhibition for this episod…

Get a peek at some technology that may soon make its way into the trucks you buy as HDT's Jack Roberts shares insights from the big IAA commercial vehicle show in Europe. Sponsored by: CAT Scale and Apollo Tires On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, HDT’s Deborah Lockridge and Jack Roberts talk about the biggest trends from around the globe showca…

Just how far will Foodliner stretch its oil drain intervals? Can Roehl Transport master artificial intelligence? Meet two of HDT's Truck Fleet Innovators on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.Sponsored by CAT ScaleHDT’s Deborah Lockridge talks to two HDT Truck Fleet Innovators, Kyle Neumann of Foodliner and John Paape of Roehl Transport, during Hea…

Why aren't trucks as safe as airplanes? Should motor carriers be required to carry more insurance? On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Deborah Lockridge talks to Lane Kidd of The Trucking Alliance about an essay he wrote on trucking's duty to public safety. This episode sponsored by CAT Scale In this episode: Can you compare trucking's safety re…

When is trucking going to climb back up the back side of the latest cycle? How can trucking fleets do a better job of preparing for these ups and downs?On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, HDT’s Deborah Lockridge talks to Brian Holland, president and CEO of Fleet Advantage, for a mid-year look at the state of the economy and the trucking industry…

The infrastructure needed to support California's hydrogen economy is not going to sprout up from the ground by itself. Calstart is supporting that growth through programs like Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE) Hydrogen funding lane. The program is intended to support ydrogenmedium- and heavy-duty as well as offroad vehicle infrastructu…

Learn what the Next Generation in Trucking Association is doing to bring more drivers and technicians into trucking as a first career choice. One of the biggest challenges trucking fleets face is finding good drivers and diesel technicians. For various reasons, from regulations to insurance to a lack of awareness of trucking-related careers, it’s o…

Hydrogen is widely thought of as the ideal energy source for long-haul trucking. It will take trucks places batteries can only dream of today. Renewable sources of hydrogen promise carbon-free, zero-emissions energy for trucking. We seem to be on the cusp of a new era; truly clean, greentrucking. Or are we? Dr. David Cebon has very strong opinions …

Is artificial intelligence the next big leap in truck driver recruiting and retention technology? Communicating with drivers on the road has come a long way since the days of pay phones, and it looks like AI will help take it even further. This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights video podcast is produced in partnership with, and sponsored by, Ten…

Heavy-duty truck batteries are often overlooked — until a driver goes to crank up the truck and it won’t start. In an age where nearly every system on a truck is “smart,” can technology help? This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, EnerSys, manufacturer of Odyssey Batteries. HDT's Deborah Lockrid…

The National Transportation Institute's Leah Shaver challenges some conventional thinking about women in trucking, from behind the wheel to the board room, in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking. Shaver is president and CEO of the National Transportation Institute, which recently surveyed women about the challenges they encounter in the trucking ind…

The automotive cybersecurity landscape is evolving, movingbeyond mere ransomware attacks on fleets. While that is something to be guarded against, hackers can now weaponize connected vehicles in ways that sooner or later will compromise safety. Software defined vehicles and unsecure APIs and mobile services are opening new attack vectors for the ba…

With more attention being paid to Scope 3 emissions, mayneed to take a more proactive approach and a deeper dive into your company’s operations to attract and keep customers. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, HDT’s DeborahLockridge talks with one fleet that’s ahead of the curve in meeting shipper demands for more sustainable transportation. Sh…

We are seeing a distressing increase in the number of truckrollover crashes these days. And while they are fewer in number, the number of runaway truck crashes on mountain grades remain a problem. What's behind the increase isn't completely clear, but many believe it's a lack of driver training and understanding of vehicle dynamics. Brian Bullock, …

We are seeing a distressing increase in the number of truck rollover crashes these days. And while they are fewer in number, the number of runaway truck crashes on mountain grades remain a problem. What's behind the increase isn't completely clear, but many believe it's a lack of driver training and understanding of vehicle dynamics. Brian Bullock,…

Truck driver log falsification violations can lead to out-of-service orders, fines, bad federal safety scores, failed DOT audits, civil penalties, even nuclear verdicts. What can motor carriers do? Log falsifications were the fourth most common driver-relatedviolation discovered in roadside inspections from 2019 to 2023. And they’re the second most…

Did you know that your fleet’s driver manuals and policies could become the detonator of a nuclear verdict against your trucking company? We’ll learn more about this plaintiffs’ attorney tactic from trucking attorney Doug Marcello in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking. This episode is sponsored by Scraper Systems Snow Removal by Rite Hite If you’re…

Microgrids, sometimes called distributed energy resources, are local sources of electricity operating separately from the utility grid. They typically produce electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar, but they can also be powered by hydro, natural gas, hydrogen, or even small modular nuclear reactors. This episode of HDT Talks Truc…

One Energy is an industrial power company and installer ofon-site, behind-the-meter, wind energy systems. In early October, the company unveiled its first 30 megawatt battery-electric truck charging site. The site is fully developed, energized, and waiting for its first fleet customers in Findlay, Ohio. This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsor…

Meet Sarah Cates. She's the rock-star safety director at ThomasE. Keller Trucking of Defiance, Ohio. Her bosses love her. Her drivers love her. And she's the recipient of HDT's 2023 Safety & Compliance award, sponsored by J.J. Keller & Associates. Cates has been the director of safety for only three years, but her success in totally transforming th…

What can trucking fleets do now to transform their operations and be ready to take advantage of the next freight upturn? HDT's Deborah Lockridge talked to Tom McLeod about why this is the right time for a tune-up. This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by: CAT Scale — Learn more about its WeighMyTruck app. And by Scraper Systems snow remov…

Having a truck placed out of service during a roadside inspection means unhappy drivers and customers, truck downtime, expensive repairs, fines, and dings on your safety score. What if someone other than a DOT inspector had noticed the problem? This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Scraper Systems And by CAT Scale. Learn more about its…

Trucking has a parking problem. The number of trucks seeking parking exceeds the number of available spaces. Projections suggest the number of trucks requiring overnight parking will grow significantly in the coming years. The federal government has pledged close to $1 billion to develop additional truck parking. Will that be enough? Will those spa…

Bison Transport is arguably the safest large fleet in North America. Bison has taken home the Truckload Carriers Association Grand Prize fleet safety award for large carrier fleets for 13 years in a row. The company has won top honors no less than 16 times in all. In this episode, you’ll meet one of the architects of Bison’s safety master plan, Gar…

Trucking fleet owner John Vaccaro became a big believer in automatic emergency braking, dashcams, and other advanced safety systems after he nearly lost his business due to what could have been a so-called nuclear verdict. This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Double Coin. Are automatic emergency braking systems ready for prime time? A…

Understanding what your drivers are experiencing and how they feel about their jobs is critical to keeping them happy. Happy drivers tend to stay put. This episode is about the importance of opening up communication channels with your drivers – and keeping them open. This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Double Coin. Automated dispatch…

The softer freight market has made truck drivers more likely to seek greener pastures. What can fleets learn about recruiting and retention from job application data? This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights video podcast is produced in partnership with, and sponsored by, Tenstreet. Make driver communication more transparent, effective and easy at…

Today, clean diesels make up 57% of the commercial vehicle population. That’s nearly double where we were a decade ago. And it’s a 10% jump over this time last year. So what's going on?This episode of HDT Talks Trucking is sponsored by Double Coin. The march toward a low-carbon, low emission future has been slow and technically challenging. But we …

At a time when fleet expansion is an iffy proposition, adding additional carrying capacity to your existing fleet can lower equipment costs, increase profits, and even help reduce your carbon footprint. This episode of HDT's Leadership Insights video podcast is sponsored by, and produced in partnership with Kinedyne. There are only so many square f…