Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nicole, founder of the African American Women Trucking Association (AAWTA).  Nicole transitioned from the insurance industry into trucking, where a failed 3-truck operation and $20,000 loss inspired her to create AAWTA. Now three years in, the organization supports truckers—especially those facing barriers to entry—through education, wellness, mentorship, and community building.

AAWTA recently lau...

In this episode, Lindsey sit down with Bryan Boyd, Senior National Account Manager at Hendrickson, who shares his 26-year journey from the shop floor to managing relationships with top 100 fleets. Bryan reflects on Hendrickson’s "big company, small feel" culture and how training and development—especially for Gen Z—have been vital to retention and growth.

We dive into Hendrickson’s recent presence at the Technology Student...

In this inspiring episode of Next Gen Talks, Lindsey Trent interviews Chris Jones, a commercial driving instructor at Gateway Technical College. Chris shares his powerful journey from facing homelessness to building a successful trucking business and now training the next generation of drivers. He discusses Gateway’s nine-week CDL program, the importance of patience and empathy in teaching, and why reaching young people—especially ...

In this episode, Lindsey Trent sits down with Melanie Simard, Vice President of Safety Compliance at ISAAC Instruments, to explore her inspiring and unconventional journey through the trucking industry. From starting in logistics to driving heavy loads across tough routes, Melanie broke barriers in a male-dominated field and steadily transitioned into leadership roles focused on safety and technology. She shares insights into the e...

In the latest episode featuring Christy Choice from Tenstreet, Christy shared her journey from healthcare software to the trucking industry, highlighting her passion for the field's regulation and continuous learning opportunities. She discussed Tenstreet's comprehensive fleet management solutions that support the entire driver lifecycle, along with exciting new features introduced at their annual user conference. Christy...

In this episode of NGT Talks, host Lindsey Trent engages with Brad Klepper and Marilyn Surber  from Driver's Legal Plan, who share insights into their 35-year history as a national law firm dedicated to defending CDL drivers and motor carriers. The discussion covers the company's affordable legal services, wherein drivers pay a flat fee of $100 per case for traffic violations, with a 95% success rate without requiring the...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Natalia Corchado from the International Road Transport Union (IRU), focusing on the critical issues facing the road transport sector. Natalia highlighted IRU’s role in advocating for trucking, bus, coach, and taxi industries, and discussed the organization’s efforts to tackle decarbonization, driver shortages, and digitalization amidst a challenging economic landscape. A significant portion of th...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nisrine Masri with Movers Dispatch.  Nisrine, a seasoned professional in the moving and storage industry, shares insights from her two-decade career, highlighting her journey from sales to owning her own moving company for 22 years. The discussion focused on the industry's high-stress nature for clients and the specific skill sets required for drivers, along with the challenges of recruiting...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Hailey, a Gen Z representative from Roehl Logistics,  about her insights and experiences within the trucking industry, emphasizing her unique background and daily responsibilities including customer relations and logistics management. Throughout the conversation, she expressed gratitude to sponsors and highlighted the intricate nature of supply chain logistics, viewing it as a complex "puzzl...

In this episode, Lindsey interviews Kelsea, a legal expert specializing in downtime claims for trucking companies. Kelsea shares her journey into trucking industry law and highlights the importance of downtime claims, which help recover lost income when trucks are out of service, particularly for smaller fleets or those with specialized equipment. The discussion covers essential tips for filing insurance claims, such as utilizing d...

In this episode, Lindsey introduces Kailey Brownfield, a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University and HR Generalist at Sofo Foods. 

Kaylee shares her journey from academia to the trucking industry, highlighting her internships at Honda and ES Wagner, which she secured through job fairs and platforms like Handshake and LinkedIn.

In her current role at Sofo Foods, Kailey collaborates with a five-member HR team, focus...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Elise, an Environmental Specialist at Alaska West Express. 

They discusses her unique journey into the trucking industry, starting from her background in aviation and ecology. The conversation highlights the critical role of environmental compliance and safety in transportation, detailing Elise's responsibilities in managing hazardous materials and ensuring environmental regulation...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Dave Harrison, the Executive Director of Fastport.

Dave shares his diverse background—from military service to teaching and trucking—before detailing how he helped develop a military engagement program at JB Hunt Transport that incorporates apprenticeships. He outlines the advantages of these programs as effective tools for recruiting and retaining employees, emphasizing their benefits f...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Joe Anderson and Caleb Gee, both experienced figures in the trucking industry, discuss their new book, "Take Control of Your Driving Career: A How-to Guide."

They introduce their backgrounds, highlighting Caleb's transition from construction to trucking at Nussbaum Transportation and Joe's long-term commitment to the company since 2012. The conversation emphasizes th...

In this episode, Lindsey chats with Kevin Fox from Stanislaus County Office of Education. 

Kevin shares insights into the curriculum developed in collaboration with Knorr-Bremse Global Cares Trucking foundation.  The program emphasizes character education and community building while addressing challenges such as the shortage of qualified Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors. The curriculum, designed to be use...

In this episode, Mark Tinney from JOBehaviors and Dave from Next Gen Trucking and Patterson High School, explore the role of JOBehaviors in enhancing job success through pre-employment behavioral assessments. The discussion focuses on tailored assessments for various transportation roles, highlighting the key behavioral traits crucial for truck drivers. They also examine how JOBehaviors contributes to diversity, safety, and vocatio...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with David Murphy and Dylan West from Key Oil, alongside Brent Lauber from the Kelly Anderson Group.

They discuss their diverse backgrounds and the impactful safety transformation at Key Oil since 2013. They highlighted the company’s commitment to hiring the best candidates and enhancing driver training, which includes a partnership with a local community college and the innovative use of Lyt...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with David Murphy and Dylan West from Key Oil, alongside Brent Lauber from the Kelly Anderson Group.

They discuss their diverse backgrounds and the impactful safety transformation at Key Oil since 2013. They highlighted the company’s commitment to hiring the best candidates and enhancing driver training, which includes a partnership with a local community college and the innovative use of Lyt...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Dave Powell and Beau Mosley, from Usher Transport.

The talk focused on the transition of professionals into the trucking industry, highlighting Beau's shift from law enforcement to serving as Chief Risk Officer at Usher Transport, and Dave Powell's extensive career in trucking since 2001. Key challenges were discussed, including the need for driver training, compliance, and add...