As the transportation industry continues to meet ever more stringent emissions rules from the EPA, especially the latest low NOx rule, new heavy-duty engines and heavy-duty engine oils are on the way as well. Set for rollout at the start of 2027, the American Petroleum Institute's (API) recently approved three key actions to vote on to establish the new heavy-duty engine oil specification, Proposed Category 12 (PC-12): Acceptance of PC-12 technical requirements, PC-12 user language, and Jan. 1, 2027, as the first license date for API Service Category CL-4 and API FB-4. According to the organization, this new category is supposed to provide more reliability and durability for engines by enhancing oxidative and thermal resistance, wear performance, and compatibility with aftertreatment systems. But don't only take our word for it: In this episode of The Fleet Lead, John Hitch sat down with Karin Haumann, OEM Technical Manager for Shell Rotella and chair of the API New Category development team, to discuss the new category, how it was developed, and how it will impact the trucking industry. Chapters: 1:00 - Haumann's role 1:42 - What are proposed categories? 3:50 - Oil category differences 5:47 - The process to upgrade oil categories 10:14 - Where are we in the upgrade process? What's next? 12:15 - Upcoming changes 16:54 - Can you use different oils in one truck? 19:00 - Biggest reminders for PC-12

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of January 8: DOT cut more of California's funding USPS is trimming its use of non-domiciled CDLs Autonomous trucking announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show Truck orders reached a three-year high

Lawsuit abuse is the second-highest concern among fleet executives in 2025, second only to the economy. When thermonuclear verdicts against carriers are stretching beyond $100 million, they may be getting out of hand. According to new research form the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), those lawsuits against carriers are hindering the U.S. economy. If states reduced commercial auto tort costs over 10 years, it could increase annual GDP by $52.3 billion and create 5.7 million additional jobs. John Hitch, editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, shines a light on the study with help from Nick Lucas, executive director for research and data analytics at the ILR. Timestamps:  5:11 - Overview of the commercial auto tort cost study 7:00 - How litigation impacts everyday prices 18:45 - Reducing tort costs have economic benefits 24:00 - Third-party litigation funding and transparency 30:15 - The need for systemic safeguards

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of December 30: DOT targeting Colorado over non-domiciled CDLs Standard Forwarding Freight ceased operations Advocacy group sues California's CDL cancellation Spot rates up, fuel prices down Have a happy new year!

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of the holiday week of December 23: California paused its plans to reissue 17,000 CDLs Major rail merger wants to take market share from trucks Spot rates made big holiday gains

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of December 18: California is suing DOT over terminated transportation funding DOT is also threatening New York's funding over non-domiciled CDL practices Oregon is ending the Trusted Carrier Partner program Prime Inc. faces part of a $44M nuclear verdict Legislators launch trucking caucus Trailer orders fell sharply Diesel dropped 6 cents

ATA's latest chairman and Groendyke Transport's CEO, Greg Hodgen, thinks of himself as an optimist, while others call him a realist. But both perspectives are on display in this episode of The Fleet Lead, where Hodgen and Bulk Transporter Editor Jason McDaniel sat down for a frank conversation about the transportation industry, with a special focus on tank trailers. From discussing the shortage of drivers versus qualified drivers to tort reform and beyond, McDaniel and Hodgen cover the spectrum of realism to optimism in trucking while looking ahead for 2026. Catch this episode of The Fleet Lead podcast here or search for The Fleet Lead on your favorite podcast app. Chapter index: 1:04 - Hodgen's road to the industry and ATA leadership 5:00 - Drivers vs qualified drivers 11:53 - The importance of innovation in tank trucking 14:01 - Government and regulations 23:58 - Tort reform and cybersecurity 31:19 - Looking ahead for 2026 37:31 - Appreciating the trucking industry

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of December 11: For-hire fleets getting acquired or downsizing Aurora expands autonomous truck operations Wreaths Across America Day is here Diesel prices dropped by 9 cents

Analyst Dean Croke talks about his plans for this year’s Wreaths Across America, his bustling social media, and the trucking community's dedication to honoring service members. Dean Croke will be attending the Escort to Arlington with RadioNemo. Croke is a senior analyst for DAT Freight & Analytics, but he’s also a longtime truck driver with an industry social media presence. Croke shares his plans for this year’s Wreaths Across America, his own connection to honoring service members, and some of the reasons why many truck drivers are so passionate about the event. Timestamps: 0:29 - Origins and the convoy 9:52 - Connection, supporting truckers' lonely work 12:42 - Dean's social media and "rollers" 16:02 - How to get involved, where to listen

The Fleet Lead’s editors share a retrospective on 2025 and a look ahead to 2026, focusing on the industry’s latest problems: freight demand and regulatory uncertainty. In 2025, the three-year economic slump continued to drag on. Fleets and manufacturers struggled to plan for the future as a new administration muddied the industry’s future. Electric vehicle hype died down. How will these challenges take shape in 2026, and who will come out on top? Featuring John Hitch from Fleet Maintenance, Josh Fisher from FleetOwner, Kevin Jones from Trailer Body Builders, and Jason McDaniel from Bulk Transporter. Timestamps: 1:07 - The never-ending recession 5:41 - Driver quality 8:15 - FET repeal: Pipedream? 11:37 - EVs on the backburner 15:25 - Tariff impacts 23:05 - Looking for a positive outlook Predictions for 2026 32:57 - Josh Fisher: Autonomous trucking 33:51 - Jason McDaniel: No pre-buy & tech integration 36:25 - Kevin Jones: Market share shakeup 37:15 - John Hitch: AI tools

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of December 4: FMCSA improves ELD review Truck orders continue to plummet FCMSA removes 3,000 CDL training providers Minnesota’s non-domiciled CDLs are in FMCSA’s crosshairs 10 Roads Express is shutting down Diesel prices dropped 7 cents

When it comes to adding veterans to your fleet or shop, there are plenty of benefits you stand to gain. After all, many veterans bring both hard and soft skills to the table, from technical training to leadership, dedication, and reliability. For instance, Suzanne Varghese, a gas turbine engine mechanic and maintenance supervisor for the U.S. Navy has parlayed her skills to the civilian world with Ryder as a recruiter. In this episode of The Fleet Lead, listen to Fleet Maintenance's Editor-in-Chief John Hitch, a former submarine sonar technician, discuss vet hiring best practices with Varghese. And along with commercial vehicle maintenance, this is one area Ryder excels at. Ryder has more than 4,000 veterans on staff and is routinely recognized as a top employer for vets. Since 2011, Ryder has hired more than 15,000 veterans. Chapters: 1:29 - Varghese's role with Ryder 4:25 - Life as a Navy technician 11:50 - Where and how to recruit veterans 13:42 - How to interview a veteran 17:44 - Veterans' soft skills

Hendrickson is a manufacturer and supplier of medium- and heavy-duty suspensions, axle and brake systems, tire pressure control systems, and other products to the global commercial transportation industry. In this episode of the Fleet Lead Hendrickson’s VP of marketing, Jeff Sass, talks about the company’s ‘Beyond Suspensions’ strategy, American manufacturing, an aftermarket myth, and beyond. Timestamps: 01:06 - American manufacturing is critical 03:02 - Investing for the rebound 05:09 - What would Magnus think, 100 years on? 06:08 - A trailer is more than a box on wheels 08:09 - Tariffs: Who pays? 12:29 - Down markets are opportunities 13:58 - Myth: Aftermarket grows when new CV sales are down 15:07- Crystal ball: The growing importance of CV equipment

The major headlines from the week of Nov. 24 in trucking, just before Thanksgiving: Bollinger Motors is no more Demand for Class 8 equipment is very weak Industrial production is doing even worse than expected The first all-new Mack Pioneers have been delivered Diesel prices dropped 4 cents

Volvo Trucks North America launched its new VNL and VNR models in the middle of the prolonged freight recession. While OEMs don't choose the market conditions when they develop a new truck, Peter Voorhoeve, president of VTNA, points to the bright side: the models' fuel efficiency can be a critical tool for carriers' bottom line. In this episode of the Fleet Lead, Josh Fisher talks with Volvo's Voorhoeve about fleets' equipment acquisition strategies, the current environment of uncertainty, and electric vehicle adoption. 2:07: New trucks launch in longest freight recession 3:42: Fuel savings and equipment replacement advice 7:47: Electric truck focus is waning 11:30: Global strategy and regional markets

The major headlines from this week in trucking:  The heavy-duty NOx rule will not be delayed Schneider is looking for more opportunities for mergers and acquisitions The Department of Transportation is demanding Pennsylvania revoke non-domiciled CDLs Pilot Company named its 2025 Road Warrior Champion Diesel prices rising

Peterbilt is finishing out 2025 with a strong lineup, but just like every other industry stakeholder, they're also waiting to see how the market shifts on alternative powertrains, like electric vehicles and natural gas engines, as well as looking toward the end of the freight recession. To drill down on how fleets can manage their business needs while still operating in plenty of unknowns, Jake White, director of Product Marketing for Peterbilt, sat down to discuss the company's model 579 and 579 EV and how their customers are responding to the various powertrains available to them. 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. Timestamps: 1:05 - Peterbilt's show trucks and lineup 3:41 - Peterbilt's vocational business 4:58 - Customer sentiment on EVs and natural gas 5:61 - Advice for fleets for when the freight recession ends

People in the trucking industry predicted that autonomous trucks would be running in 2019—then it was 2021, 2024... What's the holdup? Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, details the company's strategy for commercializing autonomous trucking and its development of an autonomous ecosystem: digital integration, infrastructure, first responder training, and more. 

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

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.