RoadSigns A Transport Topics Podcast

RoadSigns A Transport Topics Podcast

From the creators of Transport Topics, RoadSigns is a podcast about trucking's future. In each episode, you'll follow a transportation journalist on a singular pursuit for the most solid answer to a critical question and meet interesting people along the way. Listen at roadsigns.ttnews.com. Do you have a question for our hosts to answer? Tell us here: https://www.speakpipe.com/RoadSigns For RoadSigns extended cuts visit: https://pages.ttnews.com/RS-Bonus-Content-Archive.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=extended-cuts-2023

Episodes

August 7, 2025 31 mins
The future of trucking is closer than you think. From Norwegian quarries to Texas highways, autonomous truck operations are steadily moving from the testing and development phase toward commercial deployment. How have truck manufacturers, tech developers and motor carriers partnered to advance self-driving technology? What roadblocks remain in the path to commercial adoption? In this episode, Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonom...
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Assisted by maturing technologies like artificial intelligence, the transportation industry has quietly become one of the most tech-forward spaces. While generating massive amounts of data every second, AI presents unprecedented opportunities for optimization. How can fleets of all sizes translate data into insights?    AI-platforms, like Catalyst AI, are helping fleets evolve past data collection and management to data analysis ...
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About half the largest for-hire carriers in North America experienced revenue declines last year — a stark sign of ongoing weakness in the freight market. In this episode, we go beyond the numbers in TT’s newly released 2025 Top 100 For-Hire Carriers list to reveal what’s really happening in trucking today. Which companies grew despite the downturn? Which fell off the list altogether? And, what does the implementation of steeper ta...
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In an industry where timing can mean everything, how do fleet operators make smart decisions about buying and selling trucks amid regulatory shifts, trade tensions, and economic uncertainty? As new emissions rules take shape and the freight market continues to wobble, choosing when—and how—to replace equipment could make or break your bottom line. What’s the true cost of waiting too long… or jumping in too soon? In this episode, we...
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This year’s rising tariffs and shifting trade policies have put cross-border freight in the spotlight. But what happens when politics meet logistics at the U.S. borders? And how can technology keep freight flowing through the uncertainty? In this episode, Matt Silver, CEO of Cargado, joins us to explore how AI, data, and smarter platforms are reshaping cross-border shipping. As nearshoring surges and United States-Mexico-Canada Agr...
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Got trailer trouble? As fleets push for efficiency and uptime, trailer maintenance is becoming mission-critical — but could small oversights be creating big risks for your operation? In this episode, guest Justin Olsen, Maintenance Director at TCW, breaks down the hidden impact of poor trailer management on operations, compliance, and safety. From greasing solutions and idle trailer inspections to warranty red flags and the tech tr...
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In trucking, routine communication—like check calls, load updates, and document tracking—can consume hours of back-office time. Now, agentic AI is being used to automate these repetitive tasks across voice, text, and email. But how does this technology actually function in real-world freight operations, and what impact could it have on logistics teams? Could it help reduce workload—or introduce new complexities? In this episode, ho...
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Cleaner trucking is not a question of if — but how. And the answer might lie in an engine platform that can adapt to many different fuel options. In this episode, host Mike Freeze talks with Jim Nebergall, Executive Director of Market Strategy at Cummins, about a bold new direction in powertrain design: fuel-agnostic engines. Built to adapt to multiple fuel types — from natural gas to hydrogen — these engines aim to cut emissions w...
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Self-driving truck developer Aurora launched its first driverless commercial freight operations in Texas on April 27, achieving a widely anticipated milestone in autonomous truck deployment. Aurora has since returned human observers to the driver’s seat in its self-driving trucks at the request of its manufacturing partner Paccar Inc., serving as a reminder of the development and integration work that still lies ahead for this tech...
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At ACT Expo 2025, one thing was clear: the trucking industry’s energy transition will be even more dynamic and unpredictable than previously expected. In this episode, Transport Topics’ Seth Clevenger, Michael Freeze and Keiron Greenhalgh break down what we learned on the ground in Anaheim. From the ongoing market rollout of a 15-liter natural gas engine to the introduction of new battery-electric truck models, clean tech is advanc...
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In this episode, host Seth Clevenger and Transport Topics’ Mike Senatore dive into how the logistics industry is balancing modest growth with major challenges—from rapidly shifting trade policies under the Trump administration to the strategic moves reshaping freight. They unpack key mergers, like RXO’s purchase of Coyote Logistics and DSV's planned acquisition of DB Schenker, and examine what these changes mean for the broader 3PL...
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At the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, conversations centered on the future of the heavy-duty technician workforce, especially as tariffs and stricter emissions regulations continue to reshape the industry. The big question: Where can technicians thrive, and what steps are needed to get there? As vehicles become more advanced, technicians must develop new skills to keep up. Fleet Advantage's Br...
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Feeling stuck in analysis paralysis? Imagine a tool that cuts through the noise and turns insight into action. In this episode of RoadSigns, we sit down with Deepti Yenireddy, CEO and founder of Boon.ai, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming workflows in the trucking industry. From automating data entry to improving load sourcing and streamlining compliance, AI is quietly reshaping the way carriers and logistics ...
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March 27, 2025 21 mins
At the intersection of technology innovation, international trade, and industry dynamics, freight transportation is constantly evolving as the future takes shape. In this special episode of RoadShow, Tommy Bazzell, director of strategic sales at Yokohama, details how the shifting landscape of tariffs and trade policies injects uncertainty into the industry. These conditions make it challenging to strategize for the future, as chang...
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Motor carriers and freight brokers have long relied on transportation management systems to efficiently handle functions such as dispatching, load matching and driver management, but the latest advances in technology are unlocking new possibilities for this software. The rise of cloud-based platforms, business process automation, data analytics and artificial intelligence are converging to shape the next generation of TMS technol...
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Right now, more than 60,000 commercial trucking maintenance jobs go unfilled, leaving fleet maintenance managers scrambling to keep operations running smoothly. The challenge isn’t just hiring—it’s finding and retaining skilled technicians in an increasingly competitive landscape. To explore solutions, Mike Freeze sits down with Amanda Schuier, strategic maintenance manager at Jetco Delivery and outgoing general chairman and treasu...
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Did you know? Education is key to hiring skilled technicians. Engaging high school and college students early can help you become an employer of choice. Did you know? By leveraging telematics and advanced diagnostic tools, fleets can monitor vehicle health in real-time, identifying potential issues before they lead to costly downtime. Did you know? Technician shortages and evolving technology are two of the biggest challenges i...
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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Well, not in this episode! Join us as we explore the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of trucking, straight from CES 2025. This year’s event saw exciting advancements in autonomous trucking, driver-assist technology and software-defined vehicles. From driverless trucks to over-the-air updates, host Seth Clevenger and TT's Connor Wolf dive into the emerging technologies that could pu...
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Remember when artificial intelligence was still a futuristic idea? As AI continues to evolve, its implications for the trucking industry are both promising and profound. Trucking and logistics businesses can gain a competitive advantage from the latest advances in AI, which can make operations smoother, smarter and more efficient. But how? And what happens when AI can reduce errors, answer customer phone calls more efficiently and ...
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Truck drivers face a growing challenge on the road: finding a safe parking spot. With parking shortages intensifying in high-demand areas, solutions like reserved parking ease the burden. Could this be the trucking industry's breakthrough? In a recent discussion, Seth Clevenger and Truck Parking Club's Evan Shelley dive into how innovative platforms are turning available space into valuable opportunities, giving drivers more time t...
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