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?

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 products with vehicles adds value

07:03 — What makes Legend unique

10:33 — How the company is handling tariff impacts.

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

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:

• 01:11 – 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

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 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