The Fleet Lead

Veteran's Day Special: Talking veterans with Nick Smith, a U.S. Marine turned International sensation

Whether they're in the bay or on the road, veterans have both the tangible and intangible skills to succeed in the transportation industry. Whatever the branch of service or mission given, service members by and large have been trained to think on the fly and get the job done no matter what, learn to follow and lead, and manage stress. They also know a thing or two about logistics and how to "hurry up and wait," making them well suited to the transportation industry once their military service has ended.
In this special Veterans Day episode of The Fleet Lead, Fleet Maintenance's Editor-in-Chief John Hitch, a former U.S. Navy submariner, sat down with Nick Smith, the media relations manager at International and former Marine who did two combat tours in Iraq, to discuss his transition from the Corps to a top-notch trucking communicator, how vets in general can help reinforce your fleet or shop's ranks, as well as how to set them up for success.
We also get into how difficult life gets when the mission and adrenaline rushes are over and it's time to return to civilian life, and how trucking can be a lifeline to those who gave their best years to the nation and are desperate for purpose.
Chapters:
Introduction - 00:40
Smith's role at International - 02:47
How veteran's experiences prepare them for work - 05:15
Smith's role and mentorship in the marines - 08:09
On leadership - 11:04
Support after service - 15:28
The stigma against veterans - 25:15
How to prepare for discharge - 31:26

Navigating uncertainty with Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis

Fleets have been working in challenging conditions for the past two years, from a long-running freight recession to swiftly shifting regulations. But while fleets can't control today's economic volatility, they can strategically manage their fleets by paying attention to the data they're getting from their vehicles and considering how to spend their capital, whether that's on strategic repairs or carefully planned procurement. In this episode, Fleet Maintenance's Editor-in-Chief, John Hitch, sat down with Fleet Advantage's senior vice president of fleet operations, Brian Antonellis, to discuss how fleets can balance extending their trucks' lifespans with increased maintenance costs, if electric vehicles are still viable, and how fleets can manage today's trucking environment.
 

Jade Transport driver talks his trailer, dashcams, and more

While fleets must often focus on a top-down view of the trucking industry, sometimes it helps to get back in the driver's seat to appreciate the finer details and challenges on today's roads. In this episode, Jason McDaniel, senior editor at Bulk Transporter, caught up with Dennis Duran, a driver with Jade Transport, to talk the care and keeping of his Kenworth truck and stainless-steel chemical tank trailer from Tremcar, as well as how the industry has changed over the years.
Chapters:
00:58 - Duran's truck and trailer
2:46 - Industry developments
3:27 - Dashcams in the truck
3:49 - Looking ahead for the tank truck world

ATRI, A&M Transport talk top fleet concerns

The economy is a chief concern for fleets during an ongoing freight recession, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the American Transportation Associations' annual management conference. In this episode, Josh Fisher of FleetOwner sat down with Rebecca Brewster, president of the American Transportation Research Institute, and Andy Owens, president of A&M Transport, to discuss ATRI's recent report on the top 10 concerns fleets have heading into 2026, from the economy to driver qualifications and AI.
Read more about the top 10 issues at FleetOwner.

Leadership means focusing on the outcome

Success comes from focusing on outcomes, maintaining a positive mindset, and taking personal responsibility for daily progress.
That’s the takeaway from this conversation hosted by Chris Messer, executive vice president of the transportation group at EndeavorB2B—The Fleet Lead’s parent company. He’s joined by Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership Training, and Randy O’Connor, owner/principal of Dealer to Dealer Development Group serving the auto and tire service industry.
Leadership is about enrolling others in a shared vision and personal accountability—not just giving orders.

Calling plays for mobile maintenance

In the age of convenience where everything is delivered, even commercial vehicle maintenance comes on wheels. But why would a shop decide to go mobile? In this episode John Hitch interviews Kevin and Kyle Coltrain, who just launched Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care earlier this year. The brothers are drawing on their family's maintenance and football roots to run their company like a winning team.

Great Dane’s secret to 125 years is focusing “on the right thing”

To reach 125 years, trailer manufacturer Great Dane continually adapted and innovated to remain a leader in the transportation space—and kept focused “on the right thing,” as its leaders would say.
In this episode, President and COO Rick Mullininx and EVP of Sales Chris Hammond highlight the company's history, key milestones, and future vision.
Listen to the interview on this week's episode of The Fleet Lead podcast below or search for The Fleet Lead on your favorite podcast app.
 
00:45 - From blow pipes to trailer manufacturing
01:53 - The pivotal 1997 Crown family acquisition
02:32 - Challenging times in the 1980s
03:11 - During COVID, drawing inspiration from World War II efforts
05:33 - Safety as a core company value
06:44 - The Fourth Industrial Revolution, future innovations

Trucking today: trailer manufacturing, English requirements, emissions regs

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

How smaller fleets can use AI to survive the freight recession

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 future of electric truck adoption is dimmer

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.