The Fleet Lead

The Fleet Lead’s team of transportation experts break down some of the industry’s hottest topics today: re-shoring manufacturing, trucking’s overcapacity problem, English proficiency requirements, and emissions regulations. The roundtable hosted five editors from major trucking brands: Josh Fisher, Editor-in-Chief, FleetOwner Jason McDaniel, Editor, Bulk Transporter Jeremy Wolfe, Editor, FleetOwner Kevin Jones, Editorial Director, Trailer Body Builders John Hitch, Editor-in-Chief, Fleet Maintenance

Another trucking software company has launched a product that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI). PCS Software unveiled several new offerings that use Cortex AI to automate tasks, from assigning drivers to finding loads. Mark Hill, PCS Software’s CEO, sat down with FleetOwner to share how he thinks solutions like these can support small- to midsized carriers. “They’ve done all the right things. These guys, they’ve cut where they need to cut. They’ve extended the life of their assets, and they’re out there talking with customers,” Hill said. “We need to help them by showing them new areas that they can get profit points.”

The electric truck market faces big changes this year. State and federal incentives are dissipating in the wake of the Trump administration's disruptions. In this episode, FleetOwner interviews ACT Research analysts Lydia Vieth and Ann Rundle. Vieth and Rundle explain the current market and regulations, as well as their projections for future electric truck adoption, battery technologies, and beyond.

Tanker trucks are often easy to identify: a tractor hauling a metal cylinder to transport liquid or gas cargo in bulk. But what else separates them from the other tractor-trailers on the road? In this episode, Jason McDaniel, editor of Bulk Transporter, gives a digestible run-down on tank trucks: their designs, safety regulations, cargo, and more. Jason’s explainer is based on the Fleets Explained series on FleetOwner.

Trailer/Body Builders is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its Buyer’s Guide—an annual complete directory of materials, components, supplies, and services for the trailer and body manufacturing industries. The Buyer’s Guide is a massive print product: it contains 800 product categories and nearly 5,500 company listings. A former TBB publisher would judge the success of each new issue by dropping it on the floor to hear the “thump” it made. While many publications have moved away from print, TBB is still a print-first publication. A search bot might save you 10 seconds, but a reliable, physical directory can serve the reader and manufacturer better.

Countless commercial electric vehicle (EV) initiatives in the U.S. have either failed or stalled. Despite this, manufacturers still plan to succeed and grow where others failed. Zero-emission truck manufacturer ZM Trucks opened its first truck assembly plant in Inland Empire, California, in late August. The company constructed the plant in only 88 weeks and plans to sell as many as 1,200 zero-emission trucks next year. Joost de Vries, CEO of ZM Trucks, emphasized the importance of total cost of ownership and return on investment (ROI) for fleet managers, regardless of emissions. “Customers are starting to understand that there is an ROI if you go electric,” he told FleetOwner during the company’s plant opening. “It has nothing to do with the environment.”

Since the pandemic, growth among private fleets and owner-operators weakened for-hire pricing. ACT Research’s senior analyst Tim Denoyer explains the problem and shares his predictions for a “capacity crunch.”

The dedicated contract carriage segment of the national liquid and dry bulk truckload market could U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth through 2029. The forecast is from a market study by Logistics Capital and Strategy. The firm expects tanker growth due to nearshoring trends driving demand for industrial gases, and sluggish electric-vehicle adoption buoying gasoline demand. Jason McDaniel, editor of Bulk Transporter, dives into the details.

The Fleet Lead podcast features journalists from Endeavor Business Media's commercial vehicle brands, including FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, Bulk Transporter, and Trailer Body-Builders. It aims to help fleet owners, trucking professionals, and transportation industry leaders navigate the rapidly changing industry, covering topics like new technologies, efficiency, and regulatory shifts. The podcast features expert analysis and real-world insights from trusted trucking industry editors. New episodes will offer information essential for managing fleets, maximizing uptime and efficiency, and understanding the future of trailer design and autonomous trucks.