HDT Talks Trucking

Cargo theft losses surged to nearly $725 million last year, according to CargoNet, and the problem is no longer local or opportunistic.In this HDT Talks Trucking Short Take, Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge speaks with Scott Cornell, VP of Transportation Risk & Strategy at LogistIQ Insurance Solutions and chair of TAPA Americas, about how cargo theft has evolved into a sophisticated, international crime — and why federal tracking and enforcement have lagged behind.Cornell explains how cargo theft provisions were added to the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), what the legislation would do differently, and how federal tracking, task forces, and prosecutors could help motor carriers, brokers, and shippers fight back.#CargoTheft #Trucking #SupplyChainSecurity #Logistics #Freight #TruckingNews #HDTTalksTrucking

Cargo theft in the U.S. has changed dramatically in just a few years. What was once dominated by small regional crews is now increasingly driven by organized international crime rings using deception, cyber tactics, and strategic fraud.In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Deborah Lockridge speaks with Scott Cornell, vice president at LogistIQ Insurance and chair of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), about how cargo theft evolved after 2020 and why “strategic theft” is surging.They discuss:The shift from straight theft to organized strategic schemesHow double brokering scams workFreight “laundering” Phishing, social engineering, and identity theft in the supply chainHow cargo criminals manipulate tracking dataA practical three-layer prevention strategy trucking fleets can implement

Brakes are the final frontier for telematics on Class 8 trucks.But Hendrickson Vehicle Systems is close to a breakthrough that may change the game when it comes to getting real-time brake system information back to fleets.HDT talked to Jeff Moris, director, axle, brake and wheel-end systems at Hendrickson to find out more about how these new telematics technology will work.#HDTTalksTrucking#Class8trucks#truckingsafety#truckbrakesKey takeaways:• Brakes are a harsh environment for electronics, which is why they have been a “last frontier” for heavy-duty telematics.• The bigger brake telematic opportunity for fleets may be with trailers, not tractors.• Disc brakes already have a head start on sensing, including basic wear sensors and more advanced continuous wear monitoring.• The real challenge is bringing meaningful sensing to drum brakes, because drum brakes still dominate U.S. trailers.• Getting the data to the right person fast is as important as sensing it.

FMCSA enforcement is ramping up. After a turbulent 2025 in regulations, what's next for trucking fleets?Transportation attorney and Truck Safe Consulting president Brandon Wiseman joins HDT Talks Trucking to break down the biggest regulatory and enforcement shifts shaping trucking as we head into 2026. We cover why English Language Proficiency violations are once again placing drivers out of service, where the non-domiciled CDL crackdown stands after a court stay, and how FMCSA plans to tighten oversight of ELD providers and driver training programs.Wiseman also explains what carriers should be doing now to reduce compliance risk — and why these issues create real crash and liability exposure, not just regulatory headaches.

AI gets plenty of hype at tech shows like CES—but what does it actually look like in a real trucking maintenance operation?In this HDT Talks Trucking Short Take, HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge talks with Brent Hickman, who oversees maintenance and equipment for Pilot’s fleet, about how artificial intelligence is being used today to support truck maintenance, diagnostics, and operations.Hickman explains how Pilot is moving beyond buzzwords and putting AI to work in practical ways that help maintenance teams go on the offensive instead of reacting to breakdowns.Topics include:How Pilot is using AI in maintenance todayWhere AI is delivering real value (and where it isn’t)Using data and diagnostics to stay ahead of failuresLearn more:Why AI Could Be the Cure for Trucking’s Tech Fatigue:https://www.truckinginfo.com/10248858/why-ai-could-be-the-cure-for-truckings-tech-fatigue

There are currently, dozens of driverless trucks operating on interstate highways (with safety drivers) mixing and mingling with humanized cars and trucks. The technology obviously works. As they log more and more miles, we are hearing about few reported incidents of automation gone wrong. Does that mean they are ready for prime time? Christopher Hart doesn’t think so. He’s a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and he as been studying and observing automation in transportation for years. He’s still uneasy about sharing the road with driverless vehicles. Find out why on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking. About Chris Hart Chris Hart’s blog: Driverless Motor Vehicles: Not Yet Ready for Prime Time Jim Park’s blog on the Las Vegas shuttle bus “crash” Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

Ryder will soon be managing maintenance services for several fleets of autonomous vehicles. The company will be doing regular maintenance on the trucks as well as servicing the autonomous hardware and performing pre- and post-trip inspections. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Ryder’s director of new product strategy, Mike Plasencia, explains what it takes to keep driverless trucks running. Ryder System Embark, Ryder Partner on Nationwide Autonomous Fleet Network TuSimple to Use Ryder Facilities to Expand Autonomous Trucking Network Waymo Partners with Ryder on Autonomous-Truck Uptime Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

Remember the Y2K scare? At the time, many people worried airplanes would fall from the sky and every bit of digital data ever collected would simply vanish. As it happened, very little changed that winter night January 31, 1999. Come the spring of 2022, however, when some wireless service providers start turning off their 3G networks, some older technology will quit working. Our guest, Michael Bloom, vice president of product and marketing for video and telematics provider, SmartWitness, explains what will happen when they throw the switch, and how fleets can avoid getting left in the digital dark. SmartWitness AT&T Phasing Out 3G Verizon: Get Your Fleet Ready for the 3G to 4G Transition Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

The FA-4 category oils have been available for almost five years now, but market penetration remains light. Despite the fuel saving benefits inherent to these lighter viscosity oils, fleets are being cautions about using it – and for a number of good reasons. In some cases, FA-4 is only recommended for engines from 2017 and newer. Certain restrictions may be keeping fleets from embracing the newest API oil category. On this episode, Tom Gauerke, national fleet account manager at Chevron Global Lubricants-North America, helps sort out the restrictions and explains who can start using FA-4 now and who should hold off. FA-4 at Chevron HDT: Chevron Unveils New Delo 400 CK-4 and FA-4 Engine Oils Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

It has been said that as of today, more than 5 million trucks in North America could be converted from fossil-fuel power to electric. The sweeping simplicity of that statement, however, belies the complexity of actually making it happen. Jim Castalez, the chief technology officer and founder of Motive Power Systems has been electrifying Class 4-6 delivery vehicle fleets for 12 years now. With more than a million miles under his belt, he has a few insights on how fleets can successfully make the switch from ICE to electric. Motiv Power Systems NACFE Electric Trucks Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

How can fleets make informed decisions when buying fuel saving devices and technologies if they are looking at unreliable data? How often do we hear fleets say they automatically reduce vendor’s fuel-saving estimates by half? Our guest says he has the answer to that problem. Daryl Bear is the lead engineer & chief operating officer of Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions. He’s a mechanical engineer with 20 years’ experience in motorsports and automotive research and development. From his background in race-car engineering and testing comes a more efficient and accurate method of quantifying fuel savings for heavy trucks. Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions Daryl Bear on LinkedIn Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

Meet the newest member of HDT’s editorial team, managing editor, Vesna Brajkovic. Managing editors are to magazines what operations managers are to truck fleets. They tend to the day-to-day details of running a magazine and a website and are responsible for keeping everything on the rails. On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, Vesna talks about what she has learned about trucking since she started here in February, and shares a little of her personal side, discussing her love for soccer, golf, aviation and helping young women get a solid start in life.

Truckstops and trucking are very much dependent on one another, yet the relationship isn’t always mutually beneficial. Whether it’s fuel prices, restaurant prices or the debate over paid parking, trucking and truckstops don’t always see eye to eye. In this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, truckstop business consultant, Don Baglien -- aka That Truckstop Guy -- pulls back the curtain and shares what it’s like on his side of the doors that never close. Don and host, Jim Park discuss the challenges of preparing fresh, healthy and reasonably priced menu options, the debate over commercializing rest areas, paid truckstop parking and marketing alternative fuels at commercial truckstops. Don Baglien on LinkedIn Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

With medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification, we’re seeing a unique alignment of traditional truck manufacturers, tier-1 suppliers and start-up companies simultaneously competing and collaborating. We have companies that started building electric trucks in their garages now developing trucks for the parcel delivery market. We have two tier 1 suppliers going from axle, brake and driveline suppliers to providers of full electric powertrains. And we have major truck manufacturers working alongside silicon-valley start-ups. We asked Meritor's vice president for Global Business Development, T.J. Reed, if all these diverse interests play together in the same sandbox. Meritor Blue Horizon HDT: Meritor to Begin Commercial Electric Powertrain Production YouTube: Meritor Blue Horizon Manifesto Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

While the basic principles of Ohm’s Law haven’t changed, the architecture of a truck’s electrical system certainly has. Are fleets doing enough to keep their technicians ahead of the rapidly steepening technology adoption curve? Our guest on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking is Larry Rambeaux, a sales application engineer at Purkeys Fleet Electric in Rogers, Arkansas. He worries truck fleets could face a skills deficit as truck electrical systems grow ever more complex. Larry discusses some of the weaknesses in basic electrical maintenance and provides a few tips to help fleets keep the lights on now and into the future. Multimeter Training at Purkeys’ Support & Training Resources HDT: What 24- or 48-Volt Electrical Systems Could Mean for Trucking Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

Cruising down the highway at 900 rpm takes a bit of getting used to. Some drivers don’t like the way the truck feels, while others can’t get used to the way it sounds. And there are some drivers who  don’t quite understand the relationship between engine torque and engine speed. There are proven fuel economy benefits to downsped engines, but drivers who drive those trucks the old-fashioned way are missing out. Jamie Hagen of Hell Bent Xpress in Aberdeen, South Dakota – an expert on the gear-fast, run-slow concept – explains how downspeeding works and shares his experience learning to love trucking at 900 rpm. For our fleet listeners, this is an episode you may want to pass along to your drivers. Hell Bent Xpress Hell Bent Xpress/Facebook HDT: Downspeeding Backgrounder Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

It’s going to take a lot more than better aerodynamics and low-rolling resistance tires to meet the EPA’s next round of emissions reductions for heavy trucks. Trucks from model-year 2021 are included in the rulemaking. All the OEMs met those requirements handily, and vehicle owners hardly noticed. That probably won’t be the case in 2024 and we will certainly notice the changes needed to meet the 2027 standards. Joining me in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking to explain what these advanced technologies are and how they work is Dr. Mihai Dorobantu, the Eaton Vehicle Group’s director of Technology Planning and Government Affairs. Eaton Commercial vehicles: Planning for new CO2 and NOx emission regulations HDT: How GHG Phase 2 Will Change the Way You Spec Trucks HDT: Eaton Looks to Advanced Engine Technology to Combat Emissions Dr. Mihai Dorobantu on LinkedIn Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

Volvo Trucks has committed to decarbonizing its share of the road transport system by 2050 using hydrogen fuel cells alongside battery-electric vehicles and biofuel- or possibly hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. The Volvo group sees battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric trucks as complementary rather than competitive, depending on the individual customer use case. Volvo believes battery-power will likely dominate the lower cargo weight classes in smaller trucks over shorter distances, while fuel-cell power will do the heavy lifting in long-haul applications. In this episode, Volvo Group's chief technology officer, Lars Stenqvist, explains how Volvo plans to achieve fossil-fuel-freedom by 2050. cellcentric - A Daimler Truck & Volvo Group Company HDT: Daimler, Volvo Form Fuel-Cell Truck Joint Venture HDT: Europe's Zero Emissions Conundrum Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

The market for battery- or fuel-cell-electric trucks is still in its infancy. It could be another 10-15 years before production and deployment numbers achieve a critical mass where scale begins to provide significant cost reductions. In the meantime, subsidies and incentives will keep the industry moving forward while the electrical infrastructure is built out and new efficiencies are realized in battery design and execution. Joining me on this episode to talk about the road to an electric future are Jeremy Frenznick, Dana's senior director of commercial vehicle engineering, and Beyza Sarioglu, Dana's senior director of strategy and business planning for commercial vehicles. Dana e-Mobility  Dana/TM4  NACFE Electric Truck Guidance Report  Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn 

The most recent update to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Hours of Service regulations went live September 29, 2020. They were two years in the making, and the changes came only after years of drivers asking for a bit more flexibility in how they manage their time. Did FMCSA get it right this time? To answer that question, we have Jerad Childress of Childress Law PLLC and Truck Safe Consulting along with Chris Woody, the safety manager at M&W Logistics of Nashville. Jerad explains the legal nuances of the changes while Chris shares his real-world perspective. Trucksafe Consulting  Childress Law PLLC  M&W Logistics  HDT: Safety Advocates, Teamsters Challenge Hours of Service Changes Follow HDT on social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn