Freight Efficiency with NACFE‘s Mike Roeth & Friends: Recent Episodes
NACFE
Freight Efficiency With NACFE’s Mike Roeth & Friends is a regular podcast series that focuses on current technologies and practices that help fleets achieve the best possible freight efficiency for their given application. It also will provide insight into emerging technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles and their potential impact on freight efficiency.
NACFE’s Executive Director, Mike Roeth, will interview executives from the trucking industry and other parties that are interested in improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of goods movement in North America this includes currently available technologies as well as emerging technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles.
If you would like to suggest a topic for this podcast, please contact Denise Rondini, NACFE’s communications director at denise.rondini@nacfe.org
Ep. 140: John Verdon, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Nevoya, talks about the importance of persistence during transformational times, his tale of two careers and why doing hard things is interesting to him. He also talks about what it takes to build a trucking company from the ground up and about running freight in corridors where it makes sense.
Josh Fisher, editor in chief of Fleet Owner, talks about how the publishing world has changed, the impact of AI on publishing, and the evolution of trucking technology. He also offers his thoughts on how trucking is doing with these new technologies, the collaboration in the trucking industry and the benefit of having smart people stay in the trucking industry. And he gives his opinion on what he thinks is making the trucking industry stronger.
Vinny Riscica, e-mobility section manager at Con Edison, talks his passion for improving the livability of urban spaces, and why electrification is a key way to help reduce carbon. He also talks about what Con Edison is currently doing, the impact of truck electrification on the grid and the benefits of commercial electrification of the grid. He also explains the value of data in making informed decisions and New York’s Public Planning Commission’s proactive planning process.
Emily Long, events & partnerships manager at NACFE, talks about her career, her fame in a small mountain town for one week out of the year, and the importance of storytelling and trying to bring the right people together. She also talks about how by understanding and meeting people’s need you can make magic happen, her focus on issues that matter, and her love for unique convenings like NACFE’s data potluck and about her superpower.
Ep. 136: Matt Srnec, principal engineer at Thermo King, talks about why he got involved with TMC, what drives him to take on the work of electrifying refrigeration and about Thermo King’s early investment in electrifying refrigeration. He also talks about Themo King’s product portfolio including the company’s heating product and some of the challenges we’re going to see with refrigeration going forward. He also explains why he thinks we need to help fleets learn what they can to operate the equipment they already have more efficiently.
Ep. 135: Steve Mignardi, prior executive at Daimler Truck and NACFE board chairman, talks about his career including work as a truck technician, his time in Mexico and his love of trucks. He also talks about the importance of being resilient and shares his thoughts on what success will look like for NACFE and what people can do to help trucking be more efficient.
Dakota Semler, chief amazement officer at Xos Trucks, talks about his 10 years at the company, why the company pivoted to medium-duty trucks, and the company’s focus on markets that were going to grow and see tremendous conversion to zero emissions vehicles in the near term. He also talks about how he got into trucking, how he pivoted into electric vehicles and the beauty of the simplicity of BEVs. He shares information on the Xos-Windrose collaboration, and talks about the importance of constantly learning.
Tom Lincoln, national sales and service manager at Dana, talks about Dana’s claim to fame, Dana‘s place in the marketplace today and the company’s Fleet Council. He also talks about what he is learning from fleets, the downspeeding trend, how he looks at the future while dealing with the here and now, what’s going on with maintenance and uptime and how to handle the complexity of the market.
Derek Turbide, senior vice president of sales at Greenlane, talks about how he can bring what he learned from his time with natural gas to the battery electric side. He also shares how charging sites are selected, Greenlane’s Colton, California site, and the importance of making the charging experience better than the status quo. He also shares Greenlane’s near-term plans for charging hubs, the impact of federal, state and local policies and why now is the best time to be planning for the future.
Chris Hammond, executive vice president, industry affairs and strategic accounts at Great Dane, talks about the 126 year history of the company, the various roles he has held during his long tenure with the company and his new role. He also talks about where trailers are headed in the future, what the industry needs to know about trailers and shares advice he would give to his younger self and people who are new to trucking.
Chris Guerrero, vice president of marketing at ENGIE Resources, talks about his work with Starship, the three main positions in the energy space and green hushing. He also talks about his love of storytelling, why it is important to share good stories and what is keeping him confident during the energy transition.
Susan Fall, owner of LaunchIt PR, talks about her work during the pioneering days of telematics in trucking, the importance of messaging when introducing a product and she shares some of her success stories with clients. She also talks about why it’s wrong to cut marketing and PR when times are slow and she offers advice to both tech companies and fleets to help the industry stay strong.
Blair Hefty, senior media manager at Coyne PR, talks about his career in public relations, how things have changed in in that industry in the past 20 years and his love of the motor sports industry. He also talks about the importance of the personal touch in business, the need for in-person events, what he likes about the trucking industry, what frustrates him about it and how we should deal with change. He also shares his thoughts on what makes a good event, including the mixing business with some social and fun time.
Mark Willis, host of Road Dog Trucking News on Sirius XM, talks about his show and how he finds guests, his background in hard news, and the biggest stories of 2025. He also talks about his passion for safety, what drivers are saying about technology and the elements of a good story.
Zhe Wang, principal of RMI’s China program, talks about China’s focus on decarbonizing trucking, the fast growth of what he calls new energy trucks, and what is driving this growth. He also talks about the recent Rush to Zero program, which was modeled on NACFE’s Run on Less, and the program’s role in increasing the confidence in the viability of new energy trucks in the Chinese market.
Adam Klauber, chief sustainability officer at World Energy, talks about the rebirth of World Energy, the importance of education about fuel types and the need for voluntary choice when it comes to fuel solutions. He also talks about the benefits of drop-in fuel solutions, why renewable diesel is a good solution for trucking and about why a diverse approach to decarbonization makes sense.
Matt Schrap, chief commercial officer of Forum Mobility, talks about his career and his special area of expertise in regulatory policy He also talks about why trucking means so much to him, shares his thoughts on the drayage portion of trucking going electric and explains the goal of Forum Mobility. He also talks about HVIP vouchers in California, Tesla and how BEV technology will continue to evolve.
Don Baldwin, retired from Michelin, talks about the origins of NACFE, why he put his personal stamp on starting NACFE and the fuel agnostic Challenge Bibendum. He also talks about the importance of passion in your work, the value of bringing unbiased information to decision makers and the need to establish some guiding principles for your life. He comments on his role as a recruiter/interviewer for the Naval Academy and where he thinks the trucking industry is today.
Graham Richard, advisor to CEOs and founders leading innovation clean economy companies, talks about his affinity for the clean economy, his time in the Indiana State Senate, and his time as mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also talks about work he has done on energy and its impact on the environment and about implementing an idle reduction solution for his city’s fleet of trucks. And finally, he shares the theme of his life and talks about one of the proudest moments of his life.
Mike McHorse, NACFE’s director of industry engagement, explains why he has diesel in his blood and his family’s long history in trucking. He also talks about his involvement with the launch of the Freightliner Cascadia, Team Run Smart and some of the initial work with autonomous technology. He explains what makes a good value story, what brought him to NACFE, and his love for emerging technologies.
Dan Gage, president of The Transport Project, talks about the process of rebranding an organization, explains what a sustainability solutionist is, and why he thinks now is the perfect opportunity for natural gas. He also explains the different types of feedstocks for RNG, the economics of the fuel and clears up some of the misconceptions.
Rachael Nealer, energy and transportation leader, former executive director of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, talks about why it is important to break down silos, new models for momentum, and the importance of making research actionable. She also talks about what she thinks can be applied from passenger cars to trucks, and why money is not the only thing needed to transition to a new technology. She also shares what she sees as some of the less common benefits and challenges of EVs and gives some advice on approaching the future.
Dan Priestley, Director, Semi at Tesla, talks about the early days of the Tesla Semi, why they are focusing on the on-highway segment of the market, the truck’s development and what were some of the lessons they learned in the early days. He also provides an update on where Tesla is today, why he loves working with fleets, why sometimes it can be challenging for fleets to make a big commitment on a new technology and why he thinks in the future fleets will appreciate the longevity and potential of EVs.
John Walters, vice president and general manager, heavy-duty, Americas for Valvoline, talks about his love for technology, how fate brought him to trucking, and why we all have a stake in making the trucking industry more efficient. He also talks about the work Valvoline is doing to prove to the heavy-duty market that it belongs. And he shares his thoughts on the Messy Middle, why he welcomes it and wants to be a part of it and explains how the trucking industry is like an elephant.
Leia Guccione, managing director of Carbon-Free Transportation at RMI, talks about her career in the Navy and the Naval Reserve and how the skills she learned there transferred to her job in the civilian world. She also talks about the value teams bring to problem solving, her passion for working on a problem from a variety of angles, what excites her about working in transportation, the transportation transformation that is taking place and how BEVs have the potential to make it easier to make the grid green.
Cliff Campbell, managing director and industry liaison officer for the Center For Freight and Logistics Efficiency With Electrified and Automated Trucking, explains what the organization does to bridge the valley of death in innovation and how the center leverages the research dollars of its members. He also talks about the three projects that are currently underway at the center which include an EV case study, development of a new type of motor and 3D printing of EV parts. He also shares his views on autonomous trucks including why he thinks there will always need to be a human in the cab.
Jason Morgan, content director at Fleet Equipment, talks about how the pandemic shaped Fleet Equipment’s direction and his move from magazine editor to digital content producer. He also talks about his desire to tell a great story, what keeps him in trucking and his impressions of ACT Expo. He also shares his thoughts on what it’s going to take to get us through the next several years.
Kim Ehrenhaft, NACFE’s design director and trucking industry marketing consultant, talks about her career in the trucking industry, the work she does for NACFE, the role of graphics and infographics and makes an infographic successful. She also talks about the value Run on Less brings to the trucking industry and peels back the curtain about what happens at visits to the participating fleets.
Deborah Lockridge, editor and associate publisher of Heavy Duty Trucking, why she loves the trucking industry, what makes Heavy Duty Trucking unique and its role in the trucking industry of providing perspective and insights. She also shares her opinion on whether trucking is more challenging now than it was in the past and about how we are doing attracting women to the industry. And she gives tips on what makes a good story.
Giorgio Rizzoni, professor at The Ohio State University and director of the Center For Automotive Research, talks about how he came to Ohio State and explains the role of a research center in educating the next generation of engineers. He also talks about his role in developing engine controls and emissions controls. He also talks about his work at the DOE hybrid-electric refuse trucks, what he is excited about in trucking and the importance of writing.
Mike Rowand, energy and electric transportation consultant, talks about his career with Duke Energy, his work with EPRI and his role as an interface between the utility and the trucking industries. He also talks what utilities need to know about trucking and about grid readiness. He explains the role of communication and collaboration and how fleets can help utilities do a better job of serving them.
Ken North, NACFE’s emerging technologies consultant, talks with Mike about the curve ball from his youth that changed his career plans and led him back to trucking, the value of relationships in the trucking industry, and why he joined NACFE. He also comments on what’s special about the trucking industry, the role of efficiency in logistics and transportation for economic survival and what technologies intrigue him. And he talks about his connection to the pioneers.
Andrew Halonen, president of Mayflower Consulting, talks about his passion for lightweighting, and why he sees himself as a technology matchmaker. He also talks about a new technology for trailers called origami, the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to new materials, sustainability and lightweighting and the role of AI in helping to find cost savings and sustainable solutions.
Elaine Jones, chief financial officer at Stillwater Hospice and NACFE’s accountant, talks about the importance of target costing in product design and why everyone needs to understand what something costs to build and why. She also shares her thoughts about NACFE, the contractor business model and she gives advice on getting through these times of uncertainty and even gives Mike some advice for the future.
Emilia Sibley, general manager of Terawatt, talks about how EV infrastructure seems like a solvable problem, what’s she’s learned about the trucking industry and the importance of listening to fleets. She also comments on how we are in a once in a century transition and the need to lean in to the transition.
Ryan Bankerd, global director of automotive sustainability at UPS and NACFE board member, talks about his status as a NACFE fanboy, decarbonizing the world’s largest private delivery fleet and why he thinks it’s time to change the messy middle to the middle. He also talks about UPS’ rolling laboratory, the technologies UPS is scaling and he offers advice on how fleets should approach the next few years when looking at technology solutions.
Dean Bushey, NACFE’s director of programs, talks about his career in the military and how it led to his involvement with autonomous vehicles. He also commented on the current and future state of AVs, and his work on the Electric Vehicle Working Group. He shared his thoughts on making it through the messy middle and gave advice on preparing for autonomous trucks.
Yann Kulp, director of sales – USA for Driivz, talks about the two ways of looking at transportation, his definition of EV suitability and the benefits of being tactical. He also explains what Driivz is and encourages fleets to begin taking baby steps and look for use cases for BEVs.
Jim Park, award winning trucking journalist and a technologies consultant for NACFE, talks about his career as a truck driver, how he made the switch to trucking journalism and why he always tries to put himself into the mind of his audience. He also shares his thoughts on battery electric vehicles and the dramatic improvements that have been made in diesel engines.
Ben Sharpe, senior researcher at Atlas Public Policy, talks about the importance of people in the environmental community and policy space to have a connection to industry. He also shares why he has dedicated a big part of his career to trucking and shares his thoughts on policy in the transformation of the trucking industry. He also provides insights into how to navigate the changes in trucking.
In this episode we flip the script and have Mike Roeth, the show’s host, answer questions posed by his granddaughter Makenzie Roeth. He talks about driving his first diesel truck at the age of 13 and about his first time behind the wheel of an electric truck. He also talks about his career before NACFE and his job as NACFE’s executive director and why he is so proud of the Run on Less series.
Jim Castelaz, founder and chief technology and revenue officer at Motiv Electric Trucks, talks about why he started Motiv and why it feels like we are at an inflection point with EVs today. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of being clear on vocabulary and terms and about learning from what went well and what didn’t. Finally, he talks about the 3 key metrics of EVs and reminds us to not lose sight of the wins.
Dave Mullaney, chief transformation officer, truCurrent, talks about the lessons that can be learned from the growth of EVs in China and the accelerated transition pathway to EVs that we are on in the US. He also talks about his career in transportation, what a chief transformation officer does and truCurrent’s role in electrifying fleets. He also shares why he thinks its importance to be open to new ideas and the importance of self-forgiveness during transformative times.
Michele Calbi, CEO of Team DriveAway, talks about her experience moving a fleet from 5.2 MPG to 7.2 MPG and about the importance of drivers in the fuel-economy equation. She also talks about what got her into trucking and how she has enjoyed her time working at a fleet and at various OEMs. She shares some of the options for moving trucks including decking and she gives some advice for navigating the future.
Jason Mathers, director of the Environmental Defense Fund, talks about the history of the EDF, what it is currently focusing on, and his commitment to problem solving. He also talks about what he loves about working in the trucking industry, the progress we’ve made on reducing emissions and the distance we still have to go. He also offers advice on how to make sure you understand emissions policies and regulations.
Yunsu Park, NACFE’s director of engineering, talks about his career at Navistar and Propel, the importance of doing new things and the data side of Run on Less. He also talks about taking risks, how ready trucking is for what’s coming up ahead and the best way to get people to change.
Jordan Spradling, vice president of transportation and logistics at Pilot Flying J, talks about the history of the travel center chain, the challenges of balancing the various needs of travel center customers and keeping the sites updated. He also talks about Pilot’s role in shaping the future of energy, the need to look at all the energy solutions during this period of transition, testing of hydrogen fuel cell trucks to haul hydrogen and encourages everyone to be optimistic about the future.
Bruce Stockton, chief operating officer of Wilson Logistics and NACFE founder, talks about what drew him to trucking and his years at CFI and Conway. He also talks about the value of networking, the importance of data in driving decision making, and making sure technology decisions have a good ROI. Finally, he shares his thoughts on the 2027 emissions regulations and electric trucks.
John Hroncich, director of North American transit sales at BAE Systems, talks about what BAE Systems does, how transit has been ahead of trucking in terms of trying new technologies, and walks us through the various alternative fuel options in the bus market. He also shares why the voice of the customer is so important and encourages people in the trucking industry to be open minded when it comes to powertrain options.
Rob Swim, a trucking industry veteran, talks about his 35-year passion in the truck business, the International CXT, the complexity of vocational vehicles, and what it takes to be a successful truck dealer. He also shares his thoughts on all the powertrain options available, about the Scout and its battery electric reincarnation and about the perfect places for electric trucks.
Amory Lovins, co-founder and chairman emeritus of RMI, talks about why he thinks we have only scratched the surface of how much efficiency is available and worth buying. He also talks about the importance of integrative design and the role of both speed and drivers in improving efficiency. And he shares how he thinks NACFE has helped the trucking industry and how he views various alternatives to diesel.
James Menzies, editor of Today’s Trucking, talks about the efficiency of Canada’s long combination vehicles, how getting his CDL made him a better trucking journalist, and reporting in the digital age. He shares his thoughts on the difference between the Canadian and U.S. trucking industries and the transformational changes that are happening in trucking.
Henrik Holland, global head of Prologis, talks about how he views the current pace of electric vehicle deployment and the importance of engaging all stakeholders early in the electrification process. He also shares how his previous jobs prepared him for the role he has today, explains how Prologis operates and shares his thoughts on the Electric Vehicle Working Group.
Coralie Cooper, deputy director of NESCAUM, talks about the role of the organization and how medium- and heavy-duty trucks fit into her work. She also talks about what influenced her work including her Noble Prize-winning father’s influence. She also shares her impression of NACFE’s day at the White House, and what’s on NESCAUM’s 2024 agenda.
Amanda Devoe, Fleet Strategy and Transformation Director for PepsiCo, talks about Pepsi being an early adopter of new technology as part of its effort to propel the fleet forward. She also provides insight into the metrics used to assess the fleet’s decarbonization efforts, and the importance of diverse opinions in problem solving. And she talks about how the Tesla Semis are performing for PepsiCo.
Scott Perry, industry executive and former NACFE board chairman, talks about NACFE’s adolescent years, the role of NACFE in the trucking industry and his long career in trucking. He also shares insights into the household goods industry and about Run on Less means to the industry.
Rachel Ellenberger, owner of Green Seed Collective, and NACFE’s manager of industry engagement, talks about her early work with Clean Fuels Ohio and how she went from politics to trucking. She also shares what it is like to be a young woman in the industry, the benefits of having a diverse set of people working on industry issues and suggests we remind ourselves that even though it can feel like we are solving the hardest puzzle, we also have the smartest people working on.
Marie Brougham, manager of account management and sales, Sacramento Municipal Utility District talks about the inner workings of SMUD, its goals to be carbon free by 2030, and her view of fleet electrification. She also shares lessons learned from the PepsiCo depot in Sacramento, including the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the electrification process.
Ari Kahn,manager, carbon free transportation, RMI, talks with Mike about his views on the opportunities for zero-emission trucks, the differences in electrifying various classes of trucks, and the importance of getting the utility and transportation systems to work together. He also shares what he is most excited about when it comes to the truck electrification and what he sees as the big challenges that need to be overcome.
Ep. 81: Dave Beasley, vice president commercial tires – North America, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, talks about his 40 years at the company including his time in blimp operations. He also talks about trucking as a relationship business, the role of retreading, why cheaper tires are not always the best choice, the importance of sustainability and why you need to continue to learn and adapt.
Ali Javidan, founder and CEO of Range Energy, talks about electrified, powered trailers, how a Venn diagram led him to trucking, the role of empathy in product development and the importance of factoring in drivers when developing a new technology. He also explains how he is applying lessons learned during his career in racing and at Tesla and Google, as well as the need to lead with humility when developing new technology.
Brady Matoian, CEO of OK Produce, talks about being on the cutting edge of reducing emissions, his lifelong concern for the environment and passion around sustainability. He provides insight into OK Produce’s move to electric vehicles, the connection between the products they deliver and the best way to deliver them. He also says that while it hasn’t been easy or cheap to operate sustainably, it has been worth it.
Ed Chipalowsky, NACFE’s vehicle service and support manager, talks about his career as both a technician and an educator of technicians. He shares his thoughts on how the biggest changes in trucking impacted technicians and why older trucks are not better than new ones. He also talks about the most important skills today’s technicians need to be successful, the urgency for training for high voltage vehicles and why technicians should be proud of their skills.
Matt McLelland, vice president of sustainability and innovation at Covenant, talks about why he loves his role at the truckload carrier, brags about the strides the trucking industry has made on reducing carbon, and explains the green premium. He also shares his thoughts on why he is a huge fan of renewable diesel and the fact that there is a lot for the trucking industry to be excited about.
Jason Cannon, editor in chief of CCJ, talks about what brought him to trucking, why he’s stayed for a decade, the history of CCJ and what he sees as his role in covering the industry. He also shares his thoughts on the benefits of Run on Less, the industry’s ability to handle all the new technology it is facing and offers advice on how the industry can navigate through the current market changes.
Cristina Commendatore, editor in chief at Fleet Owner, shares the unique place Fleet Owner occupies in the trucking industry media, the role of a trucking journalist and about her career path. She also comments on how she thinks NACFE is doing, the opportunities in the trucking industry, why it's a great place for young people to work and the progress the industry has made in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
Melvyn Roeth, father of NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth, talks about his commitment to farming, making equipment buying decisions, the importance of data to improve operations and the benefits of being involved in industry groups and associations. He also talks about becoming a conservationist and setting aside part of his farm for wildlife.
Seth Clevenger, managing editor of Transport Topics, talks about the role of the trade press in informing industry leaders, facilitating conversations and sparking discussions. He also talks about his career as a journalist and what’s changed for him in reporting on the industry. He comments on the transformational times trucking is in and encourages everyone in trucking to be open to all the new possibilities.
Dan Burrows, founder and CEO of TruckLabs, talks about the complexities of managing the tractor-trailer gap, the importance of wind speed and direction and the fuel savings that are possible when that gap is optimized. He also explains what average speed really means, shares lessons learned that can help other entrepreneurs that are bringing products to the real world of trucking and reminds us that a dollar saved is better than a dollar earned.
Eric Starks, chairman and senior consultant at FTR, talks about what the company does, how it works and why forecasting is important to the trucking industry. He also talks about how the pandemic changed tractor-trailer ratios and how that might be a permanent shift. And he shares his insights on what he sees for 2023, 2024 and 2025 for the industry.
Michelle Buffington, vehicle program specialist, California Air Resources Board, talks about the Modesto, CA Frito-Lay CARB project, how her upbringing led to her passion for the work she does today, but also how there is a great opportunity for trucking to impact the environment. She explains how CARB works using a peanut butter and jelly sandwich analogy and shares some things she learned about trucking that surprised her. She closes the interview giving the industry some suggestions on how to move to zero emissions.
Rob Kelly, senior vice president at Forum Mobility, talks about his career including his work with solar and at Tesla, and shares what he finds interesting about freight movement. He also talks about the win-win-win of the move to clean transportation, how EVs are performing in drayage applications, trucking as a service and what needs to happen to move EV deployment along faster.
Ken Marko, fleet sustainability senior manager at US Foods, talks about his sustainability journey, his new position at US Foods and his role in helping the fleet achieve its sustainability vision. He also explains why US Foods is an ideal fit for EVs, offers suggestions to other fleets considering adding EVs, gives his impression of the Tesla Semi and encourages fleets to get involved with TMC’s S11 committee.
Marc-Andre Page, vice president of commercial operations at The Lion Electric, explains the history of the company and its focus on purpose-built electric trucks and buses. He also talks about the company’s new manufacturing facility in the US, the need to bring a positive experience to users of EVs, how successfully scaling electric trucks will take more than just producing quality vehicles and the importance of sharing experiences across the EV ecosystem.
Kenny Vieth, president of ACT Research, talks about Class 8 vehicle production over the last decade, what causes the ups and downs in vehicle sales, and why trucking is not for the faint of heart. He also talks about the impact of housing and industrial production on trucking, what we can expect in terms of vehicle sales through 2027 and the impact upcoming emissions standards will have on the industry.
Graham Doorley, CEO and founder of Solo Advanced Vehicle Technologies, talks about the company’s ground-up new design for a driver agnostic electric truck with a 500+ mile range. He also talks about his time at Tesla and Google, his passion for clean energy and the key things that are needed to help scale the acceleration of electric and autonomous technologies.
Andrew Bremer, managing director of DriveOhio, talks about the goals of the program, Ohio’s importance as a transportation center and the infrastructure needs for EVs and AVs. He also comments on the importance of partnerships and dialogues to make improvements and he shares information about the US 33 Smart Mobility Corridor and the I-70 Truck Automation Corridor.
Erik Neandross, CEO of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates, talks about working with OEMs and fleets to navigate into the future, the importance of TCO in clean transportation, and how taking risks is what will identify winners. He also talks about the three main drivers of the move to more sustainable transportation and gives advice on what the industry needs to be doing now to speed up adoption of alternative fueled vehicles.
Glen Kedzie, senior executive at the American Trucking Associations, talks about why everyone needs to pay attention to what happens in California, the give-and-take in the regulatory development process, the reason this next NOx rule will be the last, and why being a fleet manager will become one of the most difficult jobs. He also offers advice on collaborating with government regulators and urges trucking industry stakeholders to speak up during the rulemaking process.
Jigar Shah, director of the loan program office at the United States Department of Energy, explains what’s happened over the last 10 years with decarbonization, the need to crack the code to deploy technologies faster, getting people past the valley of inertia, the history and goals of the DOE’s loan program and measuring the program’s success. He also encourages the industry to be more vocal about what it needs from the DOE.
Ep. 60: Chet Ciesielski, vice president, on-highway truck business, Navistar, talks about how Navistar works with customers when it comes to fuel economy, his thoughts on the vocational business, how hydrogen fuel cells will play a part in long-haul, and why the industry needs to work together to harness the momentum of electrification.
Anthony Eggert, director of Climate Works Foundation, talks about his first zero-emission vehicle — a go-kart. He also talks about the audacious goals of the Drive Electric Campaign, the importance of working together across businesses to achieve goals to speed the scaling of EVs and how failing fast can lead to success. He shares the success of EV adoption in Norway and Shenzhen, China and reminds us that it will take both the supply side and the demand side to enable the rapid transition to EVs.
Alison Conway, associate professor at The City College of New York, talks about the challenges of goods movement in dense urban environments, the impact of e-commerce on freight delivery, the shift in vehicles engaged in goods movement, using data to better understand what is happening in e-commerce. She also talks about the fact we are going to see new methods of modeling that bring together things that used to be separate and how freight efficiency can be improved by addressing what’s happening off the vehicle.
Jose “Pepe” Gutierrez, who is leading NACFE’s efforts in Mexico, talks about the similarities and differences between the US and Mexican truck markets, last mile delivery, electric vehicle deployments in Mexico and what is preventing more widespread adoption of EV. He also talks about the work NACFE LATAM is doing to help Mexican fleets operate in a more fuel-efficient manner.
Kevin Beaty, principal consultant, YUNEV LLC, talks about his involvement in the early days of NACFE, the messy middle, lessons learned over the last 20 years, and the difference in sourcing batteries for passenger cars and trucks He also comments on the path forward for trucking, how e-mobility is one of the exciting places to work and he offers some advice to everyone involved in EV development.
Venkatesan Murali, founder and chief technology officer at Merlin Solar, talks about informed risk taking, how he got into solar, why commercial transportation is a key space for solar and how he learned to speak the language of trucking. He also explains the importance of articulating the ROI equation and providing hard data to fleets. He shares his thoughts on solar’s applicability to electric vehicles and about being open minded as we navigate to the future.
Sean Larkin, director of sales and business development at Amply Power, talks about charging management, why electricity rates change based on time of use and demand, charging as a service, and how we’ve moved from the chicken or the egg discussion to the chicken and waffles discussion when it comes to EVs. He also talks about the importance of bringing all stakeholders together to help scale vehicle electrification and the need to focus on service and maintenance of chargers.
Jennifer Wheeler, senior program manager at NACFE, talks about her career at Walmart, how to adjust operations to accommodate new technologies, what excites her about her work with NACFE, her passion to be of service to the trucking industry, and NACFE’s report on electric vans and step vans. She also encourages fleets to talk with each other about what they are doing in the area of electrification and how important it is for them to be part of the solution.
Diane Newton, an associate vice president at HNTB, talks about the company’s role in transforming how freight gets move and intelligent transportation systems She also shares takeaways from the Columbus, Ohio Smart City project, talks about the I70 truck automation corridor project and encourages everyone to stay engaged and understand the role of technology in transportation.
Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, talks about why the organization was formed and the purpose it still serves. He also talks about how his childhood influenced his interest in air quality, the apples to oranges comparison of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, why diesel will continue to be the dominant fuel for the next several decades and the things that can be done to make diesel even cleaner than it is today.
Bill Bliem, vice president of fleet services at NFI Industries, joins me on my 50th podcast and talks about NFI operations, the little things you can do to improve fuel economy, how he got excited about electric vehicles, two big challenges he faces, the importance of building a good team and why you need to identify and fix things that take you away from the goals you have achieved.
Ep. 49: Sam Spofforth, Clean Cities Project Lead at NREL, talks about what the Clean Cities Program is and how it facilitates connections so people can learn from each other, and about his passion around sustainability, the environment and energy. He shares his thoughts on EVs and what he calls no-brainer use cases for them as well as what some of the challenges to EV deployments are.
Britta Gross, managing director of the carbon free mobility work at RMI, talks about her interest in energy, electricity and the transportation industry. She also talks about the importance of 2030, the relationship between the automotive and aerospace industries, plug-in hybrids, why we need to remove the barriers that are preventing large scale adoption of EVs, the charging infrastructure and grid readiness.
Henry Albert, president of Albert Transport, talks about his passion for fuel economy, how he uses his experience as a race car driver to excel at fuel mileage in his truck, the importance of aerodynamics, his experience in Run on Less 2017, how he manages speed and his work on Team Run Smart.
Rob Graff, senior advisor to RMI and NACFE, talks about how his passion for the environment started back in first grade. He also talks about how the lessons he learned working on electric buses can translate to commercial vehicles, the importance of working on all parts of electrification not just the vehicle itself, the importance of understanding what the customer wants and designing solutions today that can avoid problems in the future.
Gina Lopez, a vice president at Kalmar, shares the history of Kalmar, how she got into trucking, the various uses for terminal tractors and the efficiency of using them to move trailers. She also talks about the new generation of Kalmar terminal tractors, why the electrification of terminal tractors makes sense, and about the journey to automate terminal tractors.
Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske, talks about the role of collaboration in EV development, Penske’s role in educating the market about current and emerging technologies, all the variables that must go into an EV ROI calculation, the importance of the driver, the uncertainty around residual value of EVs and the need for the industry to gain knowledge about EVs and make plans for their deployment.
Tim Reeser, CEO and co-founder of Lightning eMotors, talks about the company’s history, how and why it pivoted from hybrid vehicles to electric vehicles, drivers’ role in the success of new technology, the efficiency of EVs, the importance of scaling the technology to make the TCO story work and what it will take to scale the technology.
George Miller, director of sales at BYD, talks about BYD’s relationship with Anheuser-Busch, their experience in Run on Less – Electric and what it is about beverage hauling that makes it a good fit for EVs. He also shares his thoughts on bi-directional charging, the need for standardization, the role of utilities in the successful deployment of EVs, the lessons the US and Canada can learn from China and the importance of battery recycling.
Rob Ulsh, vice president of dealer and international sales at Great Dane, talks about why trailers are more than boxes on wheels, dealing with the ups and downs of trailer demand, new trailer designs, and how data and electrification are impacting trailer development. He also shares his thoughts on the role trailers will play in trucking in the future and on what he thinks people need to know about trailers.
Randy Cornell, vice president of maintenance and asset management at CFI, talks about the diversification of CFI, the perennial driver shortage, things that have changed since he started his career, why CFI has short trade cycles, and the best way to bring new technology into a fleet. He also shares his thoughts on alternative fueled vehicles which he said are in the company’s future.
Jim Sharkey, vice president of global sales and marketing at Pressure Systems International, talks about the evolution of automatic tire inflation systems, the importance of company culture, PSI’s involvement in industry organizations, and the company's opinion on the GHG Phase 2 regulations. He also shares his opinion on some of the new technologies like EVs and AVs and says one barrier to their adoption is having enough trained technicians.
Avra Brahma, principal engineer at Locomation, shares his thoughts on human-guided autonomy and explains why it is the most practical approach. He also talks about autonomous convoys, why AVs are a feasible near-term opportunity to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for drivers, the challenges of reliability and robustness of AVs and how AVs merge with a variety of powertrain options.
Selda Gunsel, president, Shell Global Solutions and vice president, Global Lubricants and Fuels, shares her thoughts on the power of technology to change the world and improve the quality of life and the need to work on multiple solutions in transportation to increase the efficiency of today’s products while developing products for the future. She also talks about the need for innovation, collaboration, and partnership to tackle the climate challenge and Shell’s short- and long-term plans for the trucking industry.
Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech, talks about what the company learned from its experience with propane and natural gas, Roush’s role as an integrator, why application and duty cycle matter when selecting the powertrain, the need to focus on the entire ecosystem when it comes to electrification, and the importance of having a trusted partner that separate fact from fiction when it comes to new technology.
Taki Darakos, vice president of maintenance at Pitt Ohio, talks about what the fleet is doing to create new pipelines for drivers and technicians through apprenticeship programs, what causes the company to embrace new technology, the ease of the integration and roll out of safety technology, the harder journey to electrification and he reminds us that with any technology it still is about moving freight.
Scott Sutarik, vice president, commercial vehicle solutions at Geotab, talks about what keeps him in trucking, the insights that can be gotten from data, how data challenges the notions of what we think we know, how to leverage information to turn it into actionable data that allows you to solve problems, the company’s role in NACFE’s Run on Less events – which have provided detailed proof of what is happening in the real world with fleets – and the importance of continuing to push boundaries and being innovative.
Ep. 33: Ade Thomas, founder of green.tv media, shares his thoughts on building the ideas infrastructure, the exciting opportunities for moving the transportation sector into the smart business era where vehicles are problem solvers, the cost savings of battery electric vehicles, how outside sources are helping to change trucking, World EV Day, the importance of creative storytelling and fast charge toward fast charging.
Gary Gaussoin, president and chairman of Silver Eagle Manufacturing, talks about his role in founding NACFE, his family’s involvement as an early innovator in the trucking industry, the importance of knowing what you can and cannot do, the opportunities for improved freight efficiency with doubles and triples, and the importance of doing things that make economic sense. He also talks about Silver Eagle’s last mile delivery vehicle.
Thomas Healy, CEO of Hyliion, shares the story of how the company got started and then pivoted from its original plan to electrify trailers to focus on a truck-based electric solution. He also talks about why passion and loving what you are doing are important when bringing a new idea to market and the value of making incremental steps toward your ultimate goal. And finally, he remarks about the tailwind that is behind the electrification of commercial vehicles.
Chris Nordh, vice president of commercial development at Workhorse Group, Inc., talks about how he applied lessons learned at Ryder to his work at Workhorse, the importance of the voice of the customer in product development, the need for purpose-built vehicles in the last mile delivery segment, why some fleets are early adopters of technology and what we can learn from them. He also has concerns about how the lack of electricians will impact EV infrastructure build out.
Jack Allen, chairman and CEO of Proterra, talks about his career at Navistar, how he ended up at Proterra, the progression of electrification in the transportation sector, how he sees Proterra fitting in to that process and some overlooked factors in the EV TCO calculation. He also offers some thoughts on how to help scale EV adoption.
Matt McLelland, innovation strategist at Covenant Transport Services, explains what an innovation strategist does and why it is important for fleets and others in the supply chain to spend time looking at the future. He also talks about how customers are pushing fleets to decarbonize as well as the growing influence of corporate social responsibility and environmental social governance and why it matters in trucking.
Greg Hintler, managing director of The Mobility House, shares his thoughts on the pace of change in the electric truck space, The Mobility House’s role in bringing charging infrastructure solutions to market, the importance of early and thorough planning for electric vehicles now and for the future, and why interoperability matters. He also explains vehicle-grid integration and why we should care about it.
Muffi Ghadiali, Co-founder and CEO of Electriphi, talks about the difference between the charging needs of automobiles and commercial vehicles, the need for fleets and utilities to work together on charging solutions, fleets’ need for an electric charging playbook, the factors that have to be considered for charging electric vehicles, the role of managed charging and the importance of planning for charging before investing in electric trucks.
Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, RMI, talks about the realities of climate changes, explains the meaning of 1.5 degrees, RMI’s shift in its strategic focus on the next 10 years, and the importance of the balance between policy decisions and the realities of the marketplace. He also encourages the trucking industry to lean in and place early bets on some of the emerging technologies that will lead to a cleaner future.