The Fleet Lead

What fuel efficiency techniques are fleets using?

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 carriers.
Timestamps: 
0:22 – Yunsu's expertise
3:21 – Today's high-impact fuel efficiency equipment
5:56 – Fuel-saving operations
9:42 – Popular—and unpopular—efficiency options
12:18 – Liftable axles save fuel?

This week in trucking: Paper medical certs extended, chameleon carriers exposed

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 

Van interior upfits that boost residual value?

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, andBrendand 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 products with vehicles adds value
07:03 — What makes Legend unique
10:33 — How the company is handling tariff impacts.

BeyondTrucks on trucking's bend toward AI

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 BeyondTrucks' differentiator
13:15 — AI applications in for-hire trucking and BeyondTrucks
20:05 — What fleets should look for in AI
24:26 — Guarding against data overload
27:55 — BeyondTrucks' "AI rate agents" feature
38:00 — Carriers' technology adoption during the freight recession

This week in trucking: Idaho speed limits, more Iran chaos

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

What you missed at Q1's fleet trade shows

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:
01:11 – Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week
02:44 – Work Truck Week, vehicle reveals
04:44 – Fleet adoption of AI
11:34 – TMC annual meeting: latest parts and labor data
23:35 – Upcoming 2026 events

This week in trucking: ELD tampering out-of-service extension, Indiana's 1,790 non-dom CDLs

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
 

Volvo Trucks' Peter Voorhoeve on tariffs, market timing, the all-new VNR, and North American manufacturing

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 River Valley plant and a new $700 million facility in Mexico are insulating Volvo's supply chain—and what that means for your next purchasing cycle.
We also discuss how Volvo Trucks' redesigned VNL and VNR models are serving as "smartphones on wheels," leveraging automated over-the-air updates to slash unplanned downtime by 24%. Plus, Voorhoeve explains why the all-new VNR's "Swiss Army knife" versatility and standard safety features are critical tools for regional fleets trying to survive on thin margins.
Catch this episode of The Fleet Lead podcast here or search for The Fleet Lead on your favorite podcast app.
Timestamps:
1:37 – Are customers following Peter’s previous advice to buy trucks now?
4:27 – The new VNR model
8:06 – Connectivity, over-the-air updates
9:47 – A $700 million investment in Monterrey, Mexico
12:17 – How tariffs impact Volvo
14:34 – Peter's advice to fleets on equipment purchasing

Is broker liability about to change? Supreme Court case on Montgomery could decide

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 Armstrong Teasdale who represented C.H. Robinson in the lawsuit.

This week in trucking: New wheel-end sensor, diesel prices

Heavy-duty repair businesses are doing better, survey finds
Hendrickson shows off its new wheel-end sensor
In the spot market, refrigerated and flatbed rates are still up
In fuel this week, diesel is up 30 cents and counting