The Fleet Lead
The Fleet Lead podcast features journalists from EndeavorB2B's commercial vehicle brands, including FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, Bulk Transporter, and Trailer Body-Builders. It aims to help fleet managers, trucking professionals, and transportation industry leaders navigate the rapidly changing industry, covering topics like new technologies, efficiency, and regulatory shifts.
Episodes
The Model Year 2027 prebuy has changed considerably over the last few years. What hasn't changed, though, is that fleets can still expect a several-thousand-dollar premium on the next series of compliant trucks.
Don Davis, executive vice president of national accounts for Fleet Advantage, shares his perspective on the coming prebuy, equipment procurement, and overall truck lifecycle management.
Timestamps:
- 1:30 – Is there stil...
Transportation is a major part of America's identity, and few regions are as steeped in automotive history as North Carolina. The Spirit of Innovation is more than alive in The Tar Heel State, from NASCAR to truck OEMS.
Fleet Maintenance editor Lucas Roberto visited Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame where Winston Kelly, executive director of the facility, explained North Carolina's automotive culture, how the region's talent draws OE...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of May 21:
- California launched an electric truck rebate program
- FMCSA's new registration system is live
- Einride has an autonomous deployment in the Midwest
- FMCSA announced $217 million in grant funding
- Spot rates hit record highs
- Diesel dropped 4 cents
The commercial transportation industry is staring down the EPA 2027 emissions standards. With the chances of prebuy chaos still high, is there a significant risk in waiting too long to secure your build slots?
At ACT Expo, Josh Fisher hosts International's David Hillman to discuss the mid-2026 trucking market ahead of the EPA 2027 emissions regulations, early fleet planning, and International's S13 integrated powertrain.
Timestamps...
Here are the latest headlines from the trucking industry as of May 14:
- The Supreme Court affirmed broker hiring liability
- Cargo theft bill passed the House
- Tariffs bounced in court
- Tesla Semi entered serial production
- California issued autonomous truck rules
- Several carriers are adopting autonomous fleets
- ACT Expo featured engine, e-axle, electric truck announcements
- Diesel remained at $5.64 per gallon
The commercial vehicle market faces vanishing equipment slots as the EPA prebuy emerges. Mixed with rising driver retention struggles and a shift toward private capacity, the North American trucking market is certainly chaotic.
Ken Vieth, president and senior analyst for ACT Research, talks with Josh Fisher about driver retention, equipment availability, and fleets' "planning nightmare."
- 01:16 — The driver shortage returns
- 04:...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 30:
- The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse added more identity verification
- FMCSA’s new registration system is coming soon
- Freightliner is getting new driver assistance safety features
- Bot Auto completed its first fully driverless commercial haul (EMBARGO LIFTS THURSDAY MORNING)
- Descartes acquired an AI driver safety company for $28 million dollars
- Diesel fell again by ...
Over the last couple decades, truck manufacturers have made massive strides in fuel efficiency, helping carriers haul more for less fuel. At Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA), the VNL achieved a 7% efficiency boost in the last model alone!
Volvo's engineers brought those significant fuel savings through a combination of aerodynamic redesigns, engine geometry changes, intelligent drivetrain software, and more. In this episode Duane ...
Military service members often have no easy path into fleet management—even if they've worked as technicians while serving. Thanks to the work of the military's SkillBridge Program and Shzoom Technologies, members of the NAFA Fleet Management Association now have easy—and affordable—access to these determined workers.
Ingrid Cook Moravitz, founder and CEO of Shzoom, tells Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch how the program benefits ever...
With today’s diesel prices, the best way to reduce fuel costs is to run new equipment. The Freightliner Cascadia’s fuel efficiency has improved an impressive 35% since 2007. The constant improvement of the nation's most popular Class 8 vehicle is thanks to Daimler Truck North America’s engineers and their incremental tweaks to the tractor’s aerodynamics and powertrain.
In this episode, DTNA’s Greg Treinen, VP of on-highway market d...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 23:
- FMCSA is improving DataQ reviews
- Ohio publicly called out hundreds of carriers for unpaid tolls
- PlusAI is no longer going public
- A new autonomous trucking company entered the market
- Diesel dropped by 21 cents
Fuel costs are often top-of-mind for many motor carriers—especially with the recent diesel spike. The best way to cut fuel costs is to improve a tractor's miles-per-gallon. This episode of the Fleet Load hosts Yunsu Park, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's (NACFE's) director of engineering, to talk about the fuel efficiency equipment and practices that make the biggest impact—and those that are popular among carrie...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 16:
- Drivers’ paper medical card exemption extended to October
- FMCSA is quietly allowing some states to reissue non-domiciled CDLs
- An episode of ‘60 Minutes’ focuses on chameleon carriers
- Private equity acquired Carrier Logistics
- A proposed bill would increase minimum insurance requirements
- Diesel prices FELL by 4 cents
Legend Fleet Solutions produces van liners and floors that can increase residual value by 10-35%. These products prevent cargo damage, keeping fleet vehicles like "brand new" for resale. The Fleet Lead's Kevin Jones hosts Legend's Jerry Simpson, sales representative, and Brendand Church, chief marketing officer, to hear more.
Timestamps:
01:40 — A fleet ROI case study
02:32 — How do skeptical buyers respond?
04:19 — Leaving the pr...
Jason McDaniel hosts BeyondTrucks' CEO Hans Galland and Head of Product Mariah Alf to discuss the technological evolution of the trucking industry. The company's transportation management system has a host of AI tools, from rating calculations to natural language interfacing—but, they note, AI in trucking should not just be a "hammer looking for a nail."
Timestamps:
- 05:59 — Growth of transportation technology and BeyondTruck...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 9:
- Idaho is allowing semi-trucks to travel 80 mph
- The Iran War is raising aluminum prices
- FMCSA is working on its truck parking survey
- Diesel prices are up 24 cents
- Strait of Hormuz's potential reopening is messy
Did you miss your chance to attend the year's major trade shows? From Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week to ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council, Work Truck Week, and beyond, the Fleet Lead's hosts talk about the major events and announcements that defined each conference—featuring Trailer-Body Builder's Kevin Jones, FleetOwner's Jade Brasher, Bulk Transporter's Jason McDaniel, and Fleet Maintenance's John Hitch.
Timestamps:
- 01:1...
Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of April 2:
- Indiana removed nearly 1,800 non-domiciled CDLs
- International and Ryder are using an autonomous truck for real freight
- Out-of-service orders will now treat ELD tampering differently
- EPA is removing DEF sensor requirements?
- Diesel prices rose three cents
With cross-border tariffs making headlines and the average North American tractor reaching the oldest age in years, fleets are caught between a soft freight market and the impending 2027 emissions cliff.
FleetOwner was at Volvo Group's largest manufacturing plant in the world this week and sat down with Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve in Dublin, Virginia. He breaks down how a $500 million investment in the New...
The Supreme Court took up the opportunity to standardize how states look at negligent hiring claims against freight brokers. The decision could change how brokers view the risk of small carriers.
The case is Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, also known as Montgomery v. C.H. Robinson. The legal battle started with a truck collision in 2017.
Hear more from FleetOwner's Jeremy Wolfe and Matt Reh, a partner and trial attorney with Arm...
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