Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

In this re-release of Next Gen Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Dave Dein, CDL Coordinator and Instructor at Patterson High School, to discuss the importance of building strong advisory boards for trucking and logistics programs. Dave shares how Patterson High School launched one of the nation’s first high school truck driving programs and explains how meaningful partnerships with industry leaders helped shape the program ...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Leah Shaver, President and CEO of the National Transportation Institute (NTI), to discuss the importance of early talent development and why the trucking industry must begin investing in the next generation workforce now. Together, they explore the purpose behind the Career Catalyst Awards and highlight companies that are creating meaningful career pathways for young pe...

This episode of NGT Talks features Lindsey Trent interviewing Fran from Double Nickel about how technology—especially AI—is transforming driver recruiting in the trucking industry. Fran explains that recruiting is a critical operational challenge tied directly to revenue, with fleets struggling to quickly connect with qualified drivers while balancing compliance and safety requirements. Double Nickel’s platform he...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey Trent talks with Kelsea, an attorney who specializes in a unique niche within the trucking industry: helping companies recover lost income, known as downtime claims, after accidents. Kelsea shares how her appreciation for truck drivers began early in life and evolved into a career focused on supporting small businesses and trucking professionals. Through her work, she helps fleets and owner-ope...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with John Hausladen, President of the Minnesota Trucking Association, to discuss his 30-year journey in the trucking industry and the people who make it so impactful. John shares how the industry’s strong community ties—often built through family-owned companies—create a powerful culture of service, professionalism, and pride. The conversation explores the work...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Kimberly Gilles of Driver Training Solutions to discuss how simulation technology is transforming driver training and workforce development across the trucking industry. Gillis shares her journey from a 26-year career in emergency medical services into trucking safety and training, where she now helps fleets, schools, and training organizations prepare safer and more confid...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with David Murphy and Dylan West from Key Oil to discuss how they transformed their company’s safety culture and built one of the safest tank fleets in Kentucky. David shares how he entered trucking after serving in the Marine Corps, eventually moving into safety leadership within the waste and fuel industries. When he joined Key Oil in 2013, the company had received FMCSA...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey sits down with Liz from Fastenal, a founding member of Next Gen Trucking and a longtime leader passionate about workforce development. Liz shares her personal journey, starting with Fastenal 20 years ago in a part-time distribution center role and growing into her current position supporting HR best practices across distribution centers nationwide and internationally. Her story highlights how w...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, host Lindsey Trent sits down with Natalie Williams, a leader in workforce and post-secondary education and the driving force behind Ancora Training. Natalie shares her journey from campus leadership to launching employer-based training models—and how Ancora now partners with community colleges, employers, and government agencies across the country to deliver turnkey CDL training. Together, th...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey interviews Melissa—known online as The Diesel Queen—whose journey into the diesel technician field is as authentic as it is inspiring. Growing up around diesel engines and heavy equipment, Melissa discovered her passion through hands-on classes in high school before attending WyoTech and launching a successful career with John Deere. As one of the few women in the field, she sha...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey sits down with Scott Shaw, President & CEO of Lincoln Tech, to explore how one of the most established technical schools in the country is preparing the next generation of diesel technicians. Scott shares his unexpected journey from banking and private equity into skilled trades education, and how 25 years at Lincoln Tech has shown him the life-changing impact of hands-on training. He w...

In this episode, Lindsey sits down with Brett Pawlowski of Roundhouse Partnerships to unpack his new white paper, Investing in the Future, and why employers must treat early-talent development as a measurable, strategic investment—not a nice-to-have. Brett explains the “black box” between education and employment and lays out a practical, three-phase model—Awareness → Engagement → Recruitment—that any ...

In this special edition of NextGen Talks, host Lindsey Trent sits down with Jeff from J&M Tank Lines to discuss how his company is tackling the diesel technician shortage by partnering with Wallace State Community College through the innovative Diesel by Distance program. Jeff shares his personal journey from mechanic to director, the steps J&M has taken to invest in young talent, and how their unique apprenticeship-style m...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Dr. Gina Smith, an educator leading a Supply Chain and Logistics program at Groves High School in Savannah, Georgia. Dr. Smith shares her personal journey from a 25-year career in the automobile industry to nearly a decade of teaching logistics.

She describes how she built the program into a pipeline for skilled careers by partnering with local industries, securing certi...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey sits down with Addison Stout, a 26-year-old from Grand Island Express and a proud member of TCA’s Elevate class, to share her unexpected path into trucking. With a background in business management and no prior knowledge of the industry, Addison took a chance on an interview that launched her career. Four years later, she’s thriving as an Optimal Solutions Specialist, working with A...

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.

A...

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 Tech...

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&mdash...

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...