January 8, 2026 • 7 mins
Oshkosh Corporation builds what it calls "purpose-built equipment" to help people advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh employs more than 18,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products are found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG, Pierce, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh S-Series, McNeilus, IMT, Jerr-Dan, Frontline Communications, Oshkosh Airport Products, Oshkosh AeroTech, Oshkosh Defense and Pratt Miller.
John Pfeifer has served as the company's president and CEO since 2021. He discuss what Oshkosh Corporation is showcasing at CES 2026 in Las Vegas when it comes to advanced technologies in autonomy, AI, connectivity and electrification. John speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
You're listening to Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser and
Tim Stenoveek on Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
John Pfeiffer is the CEO Boshkosh Corporation. It's a nine
billion dollar market cap company. It's already up about fourteen
percent so far this year, the stockaining thirty two percent.
Last year it hit a fifty two week high. Actually today, John,
good to have you on the program. We've got a
lot to talk to you about. So we want to
just jump right right in. The President just in the
last half hour so weighing in on social media, on dividends,
(00:36):
buyback ceo salaries at defense companies, also saying institutional investors
can't buy homes in the US. In your view, the
president getting involved in day to day matters for companies.
Is the president overstepping here?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, I'm not going to make a comment on that.
You know, we I just heard this news, just like
you just heard this news. So it's been you know,
having fully processed processed it yet. But I'll just let
you know that a minority of the revenue for Oshkosh
Corporation comes through the defense business.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
That we have. In fact, it's about ten percent of
our revenue.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So I really don't know that this even applies to us,
But we'll have to digest it and process it and
see what it means. But we're mostly you know, ninety
percent of our business is serving commercial markets.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You talked about it in your intro.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Our equipment is all over communities where we all live
and work. It's critical equipment. That community is where we
all live and work. Can't operate without what we do.
And that's really the nature of our company is all
these commercial segments that are so important to us all
and how we serve those segments.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Hey, I just want to ask you one more question
then we'll move on. But in terms of the president,
you know, having a president who is not bashful John
about talking about different industries and doing certain things, does
it make it maybe tricky for a CEO.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, I mean, you know, I think in today's world,
we have to be very agile and very nimble, and
that's what we're focused on.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So as we went through twenty twenty five, we saw
an environment where we had a lot of geopolitical changes.
And what I mean is we saw a lot of
tariff environments happen not only by the United States but
around the world, and so we're a global company of course.
I mean, most of what we sell in the US
is made in the US. We're a quintessential American manufacturer
(02:31):
with plants all over the US, but we're still a
global company with global supply chains.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And so we went about being nimble and got a
lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Engineers and a lot of our supply chain professionals on
tariff engineering work to make sure that we were trying
to stay keep pace with the current environment of where
we are geopolitically and with tariffs. We've had a lot
of success doing that. We still have a little bit
more work to do as we go into twenty twenty six,
(03:00):
but I think it's just an environment where you have
to be very nimble and pay attention to what's going
on around you and be able to adapt to it.
And that's what we do our best trying to make happen.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
What work do you still have to do to mitigate
the effects of tariffs.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, when you look at our product, it's very sophisticated product.
There's a lot of technology on our product and it's
very highly engineered product. So when we look at the
tariff environment and we have to say move supply from
one country to another, or even some things when we
can reshot it, we can reshot it. But these are
sophisticated components and materials, so it's not just a simple
(03:39):
matter of moving a purchase order from one supplier to another.
There's a lot of engineering and validation that goes into play,
and it takes a concerted amount of time by our
supply chain people and our engineers to make it happen.
So it's still more of that what I call tariff
engineering work that we're continuing to do and we're having
(03:59):
a lot of success us with it.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Can you talk a little bit about the new US
Postal Service delivery vehicle, because about a year ago, a
little over a year ago, that Reuters reported that the
transition team was actually looking to cancel part of that contract,
the part that has to do with with evs. And
I'm wondering what's the latest between you, your firm, and
the White House with regard to how that contract will
(04:22):
be fulfilled.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Oh yeah, all systems go on this product. It's in production.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
It's seeing almost every state in the United States today
delivering mail. We've got millions and millions of miles delivered
already on these vehicles. The Postal Service absolutely loves it.
The vehicle is the best last mile delivery vehicle ever produced.
We produce them both internal combustion propulsion systems or battery
(04:48):
electric propulsion.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Systems, depends on what the Postal Service wants.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
How has that mixed, How has that mixed changed during
the Trump administry.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Changed at all? And it's not changed it all. So
this thing, okay, especially what we've seen. The administration has said, hey,
it's up to the Postal Service to decide what they want,
if they want battery electric or if they want internal combustion.
But we have seen no change in mix of orders
from the United States.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
What is that mix? I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It's about seven today, It's about seventy percent battery electric
and about thirty percent internal combustion.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Interesting, all right, So certainly a commitment when it comes
to those vehicles.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Are the issues resolved with the initial production ramp? Like,
are you at a full production rate today?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Hey, we're at or ahead of what the Postal Services
requirements are now.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
We're working with the We work really closely with the
postal service.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
We'll continue to produce more and more vehicles as we
go forward and as their needs continue to develop. But
we're at or ahead of the postal services requirements for deliveries.
But you'll see us continue to get more units out
the door as we go forward. But hey, it's full
steam ahead with that program. And it's a great vehicle.
If you google it NGDV, you'll see a lot of
(06:06):
even postal carriers uh uploading videos of how much improvement
this has given them in terms of how they do
their work.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
It is a pretty cool vehicle, and hopefully we can
put some pictures out there on social or up for
our listeners and viewers. Hey, one thing I want to
ask you, John. You guys are at CEES. This is
the land of you know, innovation, disruption, if you will,
I'm curious in your portfolio which products are furthest along
on the path to full autonomy. Feels like that's what
(06:35):
we are constantly talking about and which are expected to
be commercialized. First we have about a minute or so.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, So, by the way, we already put a lot
of moments of autonomy into many of our in markets,
whether it's construction, equipment with JLG or or it's in
our airport markets, or in the in the environmental services
markets like refuse and recycling. A lot of moments of autonomy.
Now you'll see, you'll continue to see full autonomy probably
(07:03):
start to come into play, maybe in the airport markets. First,
if you come to our booth here at CEES, you
see autonomous vehicles all over the place, and it's applicable
to last mile delivery as it is to environmental services,
as it is to airports.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
But we will take you through if you have the chance.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
To see our booth will show you what the airport
of the future looks like, and there's autonomous vehicles all
over it. Instead of having a wing walker, you've got
an autonomous vehicle doing the wing walking to bring reports
in and out, or an autonomous vehicle pushing jets back
from
Speaker 4 (07:37):
The John John, we got to run, come back soon.
Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
You're listening to Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser and
Tim Stenoveek on Bloomberg Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
John Pfeiffer is the CEO Boshkosh Corporation. It's a nine
billion dollar market cap company. It's already up about fourteen
percent so far this year, the stockaining thirty two percent.
Last year it hit a fifty two week high. Actually today, John,
good to have you on the program. We've got a
lot to talk to you about. So we want to
just jump right right in. The President just in the
last half hour so weighing in on social media, on dividends,
(00:36):
buyback ceo salaries at defense companies, also saying institutional investors
can't buy homes in the US. In your view, the
president getting involved in day to day matters for companies.
Is the president overstepping here?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, I'm not going to make a comment on that.
You know, we I just heard this news, just like
you just heard this news. So it's been you know,
having fully processed processed it yet. But I'll just let
you know that a minority of the revenue for Oshkosh
Corporation comes through the defense business.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
That we have. In fact, it's about ten percent of
our revenue.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So I really don't know that this even applies to us,
But we'll have to digest it and process it and
see what it means. But we're mostly you know, ninety
percent of our business is serving commercial markets.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You talked about it in your intro.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Our equipment is all over communities where we all live
and work. It's critical equipment. That community is where we
all live and work. Can't operate without what we do.
And that's really the nature of our company is all
these commercial segments that are so important to us all
and how we serve those segments.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Hey, I just want to ask you one more question
then we'll move on. But in terms of the president,
you know, having a president who is not bashful John
about talking about different industries and doing certain things, does
it make it maybe tricky for a CEO.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, I mean, you know, I think in today's world,
we have to be very agile and very nimble, and
that's what we're focused on.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So as we went through twenty twenty five, we saw
an environment where we had a lot of geopolitical changes.
And what I mean is we saw a lot of
tariff environments happen not only by the United States but
around the world, and so we're a global company of course.
I mean, most of what we sell in the US
is made in the US. We're a quintessential American manufacturer
(02:31):
with plants all over the US, but we're still a
global company with global supply chains.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And so we went about being nimble and got a
lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Engineers and a lot of our supply chain professionals on
tariff engineering work to make sure that we were trying
to stay keep pace with the current environment of where
we are geopolitically and with tariffs. We've had a lot
of success doing that. We still have a little bit
more work to do as we go into twenty twenty six,
(03:00):
but I think it's just an environment where you have
to be very nimble and pay attention to what's going
on around you and be able to adapt to it.
And that's what we do our best trying to make happen.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
What work do you still have to do to mitigate
the effects of tariffs.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, when you look at our product, it's very sophisticated product.
There's a lot of technology on our product and it's
very highly engineered product. So when we look at the
tariff environment and we have to say move supply from
one country to another, or even some things when we
can reshot it, we can reshot it. But these are
sophisticated components and materials, so it's not just a simple
(03:39):
matter of moving a purchase order from one supplier to another.
There's a lot of engineering and validation that goes into play,
and it takes a concerted amount of time by our
supply chain people and our engineers to make it happen.
So it's still more of that what I call tariff
engineering work that we're continuing to do and we're having
(03:59):
a lot of success us with it.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Can you talk a little bit about the new US
Postal Service delivery vehicle, because about a year ago, a
little over a year ago, that Reuters reported that the
transition team was actually looking to cancel part of that contract,
the part that has to do with with evs. And
I'm wondering what's the latest between you, your firm, and
the White House with regard to how that contract will
(04:22):
be fulfilled.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Oh yeah, all systems go on this product. It's in production.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
It's seeing almost every state in the United States today
delivering mail. We've got millions and millions of miles delivered
already on these vehicles. The Postal Service absolutely loves it.
The vehicle is the best last mile delivery vehicle ever produced.
We produce them both internal combustion propulsion systems or battery
(04:48):
electric propulsion.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Systems, depends on what the Postal Service wants.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
How has that mixed, How has that mixed changed during
the Trump administry.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Changed at all? And it's not changed it all. So
this thing, okay, especially what we've seen. The administration has said, hey,
it's up to the Postal Service to decide what they want,
if they want battery electric or if they want internal combustion.
But we have seen no change in mix of orders
from the United States.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
What is that mix? I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It's about seven today, It's about seventy percent battery electric
and about thirty percent internal combustion.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Interesting, all right, So certainly a commitment when it comes
to those vehicles.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Are the issues resolved with the initial production ramp? Like,
are you at a full production rate today?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Hey, we're at or ahead of what the Postal Services
requirements are now.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
We're working with the We work really closely with the
postal service.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
We'll continue to produce more and more vehicles as we
go forward and as their needs continue to develop. But
we're at or ahead of the postal services requirements for deliveries.
But you'll see us continue to get more units out
the door as we go forward. But hey, it's full
steam ahead with that program. And it's a great vehicle.
If you google it NGDV, you'll see a lot of
(06:06):
even postal carriers uh uploading videos of how much improvement
this has given them in terms of how they do
their work.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
It is a pretty cool vehicle, and hopefully we can
put some pictures out there on social or up for
our listeners and viewers. Hey, one thing I want to
ask you, John. You guys are at CEES. This is
the land of you know, innovation, disruption, if you will,
I'm curious in your portfolio which products are furthest along
on the path to full autonomy. Feels like that's what
(06:35):
we are constantly talking about and which are expected to
be commercialized. First we have about a minute or so.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, So, by the way, we already put a lot
of moments of autonomy into many of our in markets,
whether it's construction, equipment with JLG or or it's in
our airport markets, or in the in the environmental services
markets like refuse and recycling. A lot of moments of autonomy.
Now you'll see, you'll continue to see full autonomy probably
(07:03):
start to come into play, maybe in the airport markets. First,
if you come to our booth here at CEES, you
see autonomous vehicles all over the place, and it's applicable
to last mile delivery as it is to environmental services,
as it is to airports.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
But we will take you through if you have the chance.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
To see our booth will show you what the airport
of the future looks like, and there's autonomous vehicles all
over it. Instead of having a wing walker, you've got
an autonomous vehicle doing the wing walking to bring reports
in and out, or an autonomous vehicle pushing jets back
from
Speaker 4 (07:37):
The John John, we got to run, come back soon.
Hosts And Creators
Tim Stenovec
Carol Massar
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