Advertise on podcast: The Fleet

Technology can show you what’s happening across a fleet. But Erin Gilchrist has found that technology questions often lead back to the same place: leadership, behavior, and culture. Erin, founder of Fleet Unfiltered Consulting and former AFLA Fleet Manager of the Year, explains the difference between a safety program and a real safety culture, how to build KPIs that operations leaders actually care about, and how Safelite tied fleet costs to customers served to connect fleet performance directly to the bottom line. She also breaks down where AI can help fleet managers, why judgment still matters, and what separates a vendor from a true strategic partner.   Connect Erin Gilchrist on LinkedIn The Fleet Podcast   Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset.   Chapters • 0:00 Fleet Safety Programs vs Safety Culture • 1:35 From transactional to strategic fleets • 6:44 Why tech alone won't move driver behavior • 15:47 The most dangerous tool any company issues a human being • 17:25 Fleet as revenue generator, not cost center • 23:07 What Real Safety Culture Looks Like • 25:40 Why safety and sustainability can't survive alone • 27:06 The driver-behavior lever • 31:29 Real vs fake safety signals • 34:28 The KPIs that actually matter • 38:04 The Safelite fleet cost per mobile customer served • 43:23 Getting fleet a seat at the table • 47:07 How fleet managers should be using AI right now • 49:56 The four levels of vendor relationships   Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jamie McKay walked into a role that had never existed at Aptive Pest Control, in the middle of COVID, knowing almost nothing about fleet. Six years later, she manages a fleet that has grown from 400 vehicles to more than 2,400 across 76 locations. Her approach has been simple: get into the room, ask questions, and keep information moving. In this conversation with host Chris Brandt, Jamie explains why she wanted to be “a sponge” in her first year, why fleet needs visibility into the company’s goals, how strong FMC and vendor relationships depend on transparency, and why the best upfit decisions come from listening to the people actually using the vehicles in the field.   Connect Jamie McKay on LinkedIn Aptive Environmental   Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset.   Chapters • 0:00 Introduction: 400 to 2,400 vehicles across 76 locations • 1:38 How Jamie fell into fleet — the COVID RIF and the phone call • 4:35 'I wanted to be a sponge' — surviving a role that never existed • 7:31 What actually helped scale from 400 to 2,400 vehicles • 8:50 How to say no without saying the word 'no' • 11:50 Managing supply chain chaos and market change • 13:38 'Fleet's really expensive' — what the C-suite needs to hear • 16:18 Why fleet is an octopus — and touches every department • 20:50 What a real FMC partnership looks like (vs a vendor) • 23:55 Selling fleet spend to a skeptical CFO • 25:23 The most expensive thing a fleet manager can do • 30:23 Why you can't design a fleet vehicle from a desk • 33:24 The backpack problem — and the Decked cargo-glide fix • 39:03 Order Bank Open Day: fleet's Rex Manning Day • 43:41 EVs, safety tech, and the non-negotiables on every new vehicle • 46:38 What keeps a fleet leader up at night   Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Autonomous trucks mean so much more than driverless. Nick Elder, VP of Commercialization at Torc Robotics, joins The Fleet to explain what has to be true before autonomy becomes something fleets can actually use. He breaks down why Level 4 requires a fundamentally different safety architecture, what happens when sensors and autonomous systems need repair or recalibration, and why removing the driver does not remove all the work a driver was doing The conversation also explores how autonomy could fit into existing freight networks, where it may not make economic or operational sense, and what new opportunities could emerge once fleets begin operating autonomous assets at scale.  What you'll learnWhy “first to market” isn’t the real win in autonomous Class 8, and what fleets will actually care about insteadWhy Level 4 autonomy is a complete redesign, not just an upgrade from Level 3What has to happen when there’s no human fallback for braking, steering, service or failureWhy removing the driver doesn’t remove all the work the driver was doingWhat Torc’s fleet advisory council keeps pushing hardest on, from TCO to operational fitWhy the original hub-to-hub model had to evolve to fit existing freight networks betterWhat fleet managers should start auditing now to understand where autonomy could actually workWhy autonomy may improve more than utilization, including cleaner data for maintenance and operational optimizationWhy autonomous trucking still won’t make sense for every route, facility or fleetWhy truck driving can remain a long-term career even as autonomous freight expands  ConnectNick Elder on LinkedIn Torc Robotics The Fleet Podcast   SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset.   Chapters0:00 Why Driverless Trucks Change More Than Driving1:27 Meet Nick Elder and Torc Robotics2:41 Why Torc Isn’t Racing to Be First4:05 From DARPA to Autonomous Class 8 Trucks7:50 What Level 4 Autonomy Means23:03 Why Level 4 Requires a Different System25:42 The Safety Promise of Autonomous Trucks27:55 Why Class 8 Long-Haul Comes First29:06 The Business Case for Autonomous Trucking31:17 Will Autonomous Trucks Replace Drivers?34:29 What Fleets Actually Want From Autonomy36:59 Why the Hub-to-Hub Model Changed40:28 Where Autonomous Trucking Actually Fits45:31 What Truck Drivers Do Besides Driving49:34 How Fleets Should Prepare for Autonomy51:47 New Fleet Models Autonomy Could Enable54:44 What’s Next for Torc Robotics Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your service vehicle may be built around assumptions that stopped being true years ago. At Siemens, Adam Orth and his team went into the field to see how technicians were actually using their vehicles—and found vans carrying more empty space than equipment, underused shelving, and jobs that no longer required the same setups they once did. In this episode, Adam explains how Siemens rethought parts of its service fleet around the work itself, from moving some roles into SUVs to redesigning upfits around what technicians actually need. He also shares why fleet leaders should question one-for-one replacement, get closer to the field, and be willing to change the vehicle when the job has already changed. Connect Adam Orth on LinkedInSiemens U.S.The Fleet on LinkedIn Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 What Kind of Service Vehicle?2:12 Why Siemens is one of GM's largest EV commercial customers5:39 What Germany's EV sales numbers reveal about US infrastructure7:59 The question that should come before 'which EV'10:45 Throwing out the fleet playbook — and why it wasn't just about EV14:12 'The scroll of excuses' Adam hears every day16:28 The revelation: from vans to Equinox21:31 One ladder nearly killed the whole plan23:09 The upfit rebuild — killing cookie-cutter shelving26:56 'Hauling air' — what the field study actually found29:00 How Siemens thought about the SUV strategy across states32:05 What field feedback surfaced about charging speed37:34 Wind, hills, cold, towing — the range argument fact-checked51:19 The four things that quietly stacked in EV's favor53:19 Advice for fleets early in the EV transition Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fleet costs money. Trying to minimize those expenses can cost far more. Jennifer Pemberton, Senior Manager of Fleet and Routing at Alsco Uniforms, explains why the cheapest decision in the short term is not always the least expensive one in the long term. From maintaining aging fleets to making the case for better tools and resources, Jennifer shares what it takes to keep costs under control without creating bigger problems down the road. ConnectJennifer Pemberton on LinkedIn Alsco Uniforms The Fleet Podcast SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters0:00 Two people running 2,500 trucks — meet Jen Pemberton 1:21 Inside Alsco: dirty laundry, step vans, and a global operation 3:19 Why every branch runs a slightly different truck 5:17 The cost center trap: how fleet gets labeled 'the department that just spends money' 6:02 Selling maintenance up the chain in dollars and cents 9:37 The 6 branches with on-site fleet shops — and why they cost the least 11:43 Two people, 3,500 vehicles, zero FMC: what running lean actually looks like 16:15 The 2028 vehicle cost wave nobody's ready for 17:58 Fuel up 30% since March: the real cost pressure fleet leaders are facing 19:07 The business case for adding a maintenance management role 22:53 The dash cam rollout that changed everything 25:51 40% idling — the reveal that proved the value of fleet data 29:17 Why minor accidents went UP after dash cams (and why that's good news) 32:40 The one dash cam feature every fleet leader should look for 34:45 Where EVs actually make sense in a fleet 40:29 What's next for Alsco's fleet Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robert Braswell has spent 33 years at the neutral technical seat of the trucking industry as Executive Director of the Technology and Maintenance Council. He sees what's actually working across fleets — and what's being abandoned. In this conversation, he breaks down what fleets are betting on for 2027. How leaders can balance immediate savings with smarter investments in drivers, technicians, maintenance data and emerging technology. This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management.If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. ConnectRobert Braswell on LinkedIn Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) American Trucking Associations Chapters0:00 The Decisions Fleets Are Making in 2026 1:29 How TMC Sets Technical Standards for Fleets 2:22 What’s Keeping Fleet Managers Up at Night in 2026 5:05 The 35% Fuel-Economy Gap Between Drivers 5:44 Why Fleets Chase 1-2% Fuel-Economy Gains 9:31 Aftertreatment and the Uncertainty Around 2027 Trucks 11:00 Why Fleets Are Pre-Buying the Vehicles They Know 14:12 Where Electric Trucks Fit Today 15:54 Why Better Fleet Decisions Depend on Better Data 20:24 The Headlights Were Never the Problem 27:17 The Technician Shortage Isn’t About Applicants 33:32 Are You Managing for Uptime or the Quarterly Bonus? 34:04 The KPIs That Actually Matter for Fleet Uptime 37:47 What the National Technician Skills Competition Reveals 46:15 What AI Is for Fleets 52:44 How Autonomous Trucks Could Reshape Fleet Maintenance Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special look back at The Fleet, industry leaders explore how mobility, infrastructure, technology, economics, data, and driver experience are becoming part of one connected system. Featuring Sampo Hietanen, Mobility as a Service pioneer; Sven Beiker of Silicon Valley Mobility; Philipp Kampshoff of McKinsey & Company; Dor Shay of Element Mobility and AutoFleet; Will Graylin of Indigo Technologies; Professor Shauna Brail of the University of Toronto; Dr. Sheldon Williamson of Ontario Tech University; Jen VrMeer of BD; Brian Kinniry of Element Fleet Management; and Alejandra Torres of AstraZeneca. This episode is brought to you by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 Fleet Is Becoming More Than the Vehicle 1:26 What Is Transportation Really Delivering? 5:28 Building the System Around the Vehicle 8:20 Designing the Right Vehicle for the Job 10:23 Where Fleet Technology Creates Value 12:38 Inside the Real Fleet Operation 15:04 Bringing Drivers Through Change 18:45 Targeting the Real Safety Risk 21:21 Pilot, Measure, Scale 24:54 Everything Connected Around the Vehicle Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sometimes the smartest freight route is A to C to B. Lacy Greening, Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering at Arizona State University and a semifinalist in the DOT's ARPA-I Innovation Challenge, studies the hidden math of middle-mile freight — the hubs, lanes, and consolidation decisions that determine how goods actually move across a network. In this episode, she explains why freight networks often make moves that look wrong until you understand the math, how locally smart decisions create network-wide problems, and why the future of AI in logistics isn't replacing optimization — it's helping fleets replan faster without breaking the rules of the real world. ConnectLacy Greening on LinkedIn ASU School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence DOT ARPA-I Innovation Challenge The Fleet podcast SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters0:00 Why “free shipping” depends on the middle mile 3:10 The technology is there. The coordination isn’t. 4:27 Why packages “carpool” through the network 8:36 Speed, cost, and the promise behind delivery times 10:41 The 50% savings hiding in consolidation 14:03 Why every company needs a different logistics network 16:39 Why your shipment goes the wrong direction on purpose 19:23 What smaller fleets can learn from Amazon 21:04 Zone skipping and the power of using someone else’s network 23:09 The hidden constraints behind every delivery promise 29:31 Customers don’t just want fast. They want accurate. 35:26 What if logistics worked like the internet? 40:10 Where AI can actually help fleet networks 47:58 Why the most optimized network can become the most fragile 51:52 Why AI still needs human operators Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Only 1 in 10 fleet cyber attacks ever gets reported — and the smaller the carrier, the more likely the breach ends quietly in bankruptcy. Joe Ohr, COO of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), spent 25 years inside fleet IT and telematics before stepping into the role that's made his nonprofit the trucking industry's cybersecurity backbone. In this conversation he walks fleet leaders through what attacks actually look like in 2025 — from $1,000 AI deepfakes that fool entire workforces to the offboarding gaps that let ex-employees still reroute your trucks — and the cultural shift that turns cyber from an IT line item into operational survival. What you'll learn • Why only 1 in 10 fleet cyber crimes ever gets reported — and the silent extinction event happening to small and mid-sized carriers • How a $1,000 AI deepfake fooled an entire trucking workforce — and why the old phishing-detection playbook is obsolete • What Estes Express did differently when they got hit with one of the biggest ransomware breaches in trucking history • The offboarding gap most fleets miss — and why ex-employees can still log into your telematics and reroute trucks • Why cyber attacker dwell time collapsed from 6 months to under 30 minutes — and what that means for your defense strategy • How the ELD mandate forced safety culture into existence, and what it would take for cyber to make the same jump • Why every RFP should have a cybersecurity section — and what a non-technical fleet leader should actually ask vendors Connect Joe Ohr on LinkedIn NMFTA NMFTA Threat Portal NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference (Long Beach, Oct 28-29) The Fleet Podcast Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 The cyber threats fleets aren't hearing about 2:02 What 'cyber-enabled' actually means for a fleet today 5:24 Why 9 out of 10 fleet cyber attacks never get reported 7:47 The spoofed email that arrived during a board meeting 9:16 The $1,000 AI deepfake that fooled an entire workforce 12:34 What good cyber hygiene actually looks like inside a fleet 13:34 Why cyber has to become the new safety culture 19:16 The only way to beat AI attacks is with AI 21:42 How attacker dwell time collapsed from 6 months to 30 minutes 23:27 What fleet leaders should be looking for from cyber vendors 28:19 What Estes Express did differently when the breach hit 29:17 The offboarding gap that lets ex-employees reroute your trucks 44:32 Why nobody in trucking will talk about getting hacked — and why that has to change 49:43 Every truck is now an office on wheels 51:06 The NMFTA cybersecurity conference and what's next Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fleet moves your mail, your produce, your workforce — and most people have no idea how big the industry actually is. Zā Farley, founder and CEO of Black Fleet Network, joins Chris Brandt on The Fleet to talk about community as infrastructure, why network is a verb, and how the leaders growing inside fleet are the ones expanding bandwidth, building real relationships, and refusing to stay comfortable. From representation and supplier access to mentorship, sponsorship, and the trap of 'dinosauring' yourself out — this conversation is a practical playbook for anyone who wants to be relevant in fleet a year from now. Connect Exavious (Zā) Farley on LinkedIn Black Fleet Network Tread Deep podcast (YouTube) Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 The fleet world most people don't see 1:44 Zā's 'extraordinary ordinary guy' philosophy 3:41 From minister to teacher to fleet: an outsider-insider story 5:53 The representation gap that started Black Fleet Network 9:19 Why fresh eyes see the gaps insiders miss 13:42 Community = common unity 18:26 The cynicism creeping into the industry 21:20 Network is a verb — mentorship vs sponsorship 24:19 Diversification, reframed as bandwidth 31:51 Why 'maintaining' is a farce for fleet leaders 37:17 How fleet pros dinosaur themselves out 43:31 Fleet is the invisible ecosystem of your day 45:53 The case for micro-learning in fleet 49:46 What real support from a company looks like 54:35 Where to find Black Fleet Network Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a business changes, the fleet cannot stop moving. Jennifer VrMeer, Senior Manager of Sales Operations at BD, has helped manage fleet through acquisitions, divestitures, vendor changes, driver expectations, and program redesigns - all inside a 2,500-vehicle healthcare fleet. Her rule for any major transition is simple: business as usual on day one. In this episode of The Fleet, Jen breaks down what it takes to keep drivers moving while the business changes around them. She explains why communication matters even when nothing is changing, why fleet data has to be clean before a divestiture ever appears, how to think about vendor consolidation without overcorrecting, and why staying too long with the wrong fleet management company can create a loyalty penalty instead of a loyalty bonus. This is a practical playbook for fleet leaders navigating change without breaking the program, losing driver trust, or creating unnecessary noise across the business. What you'll learn• Why the rule on day one of any fleet integration is "don't break the program" — and how to communicate change to drivers • The three things that actually matter when picking a fleet vendor (and the order they matter in) • The hidden cost of staying too long with the wrong fleet management company — and why loyalty doesn't pay off • The one RFP question most fleet leaders never ask — and the client references that actually tell you the truth • Why divestiture is harder than integration, and what to build now so you're ready when it lands • How to hit 95% driver satisfaction without trying to please everyone • The fleet metrics leaders obsess over that don't matter — and the ones they ignore that do ConnectJennifer VrMeer on LinkedIn BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) The Fleet podcast SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters0:00 Business as Usual on Fleet Day One 1:29 Inheriting Three Fleets at BD 2:58 The Edwards Acquisition and a New Reimbursement Model 6:22 Why Reimbursement Didn’t Work in 2020 - But Works Now 9:02 The Three Things That Matter When Picking a Fleet Vendor 12:45 The Real Cost of Vendor Sprawl 15:32 When Fleet Managers Stay Too Long 18:37 Inside Jen VrMeer’s RFP Playbook 20:56 The RFP Question Almost No One Asks 23:16 The Fleet Job Nobody Talks About: Divestiture 28:30 How to Prepare Before a Divestiture 31:09 Balancing Cost Savings and Driver Satisfaction 34:49 Why Standard Driver Surveys Aren’t Enough 37:26 The Parent Phone Call and the Ghost Driver 41:58 The Fleet Metrics That Actually Matter 47:26 Mobility Trends Fleet Leaders Should Watch 52:22 Jen VrMeer’s Advice for Fleet Leaders Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fleet strategy only works if drivers actually use it. EV rollouts. Safety tech. Policy changes. Vendor consolidation. Every major fleet initiative eventually comes down to the same question: will drivers buy in? Michael Acosta helps manage more than 1,300 vehicles across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil for UCB with a two-person team. And his belief is simple: the biggest lever in fleet is not the tech, the policy, or the vendor. It is whether drivers actually love the program you have built. In this episode, Michael breaks down what really drives adoption - from vehicle choice and personal-use perks to hybrids, feedback loops, and the anonymous message board that revealed what drivers were never going to say in a survey. Chapters:0:00 Inside a Global Pharma Fleet2:44 Why Driver Buy-In Decides Every Fleet Outcome4:28 What Two People Actually Do in a Day7:02 Translating US Driving Realities to a European HQ9:52 What to Look for in a Global Fleet Partner14:08 A Young Voice in a Veteran-Heavy Industry18:00 How Tech Is Changing Fleet Management20:54 Telematics, Privacy, and the Data Tension24:57 Why Fleet Runs on the Honor System26:54 What Actually Keeps Drivers Happy29:42 EVs, Choice, and Translating Global Targets41:08 The Anonymous Message Board That Changed the Rollout48:03 Selling Fleet’s Importance Inside Your Own Company51:57 Where Fleet Is Going Next This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 people. 18,000 vehicles. No blown engines. How does that work? Charles Schott is Fleet Director at Rollins, one of the largest service fleets in North America - 20 pest control brands, 4,000 vehicles refreshed every year, 90% service compliance. He's built fleet operations at global scale before: 30,000+ vehicles across 70 countries at Pfizer, armored fleet at Brinks, now Rollins. In this episode, Chris Brandt and Charles break down what makes it all work: FLOW as the operating principle, A3 problem-solving as the discipline, acquisition integration as the stress test, and the fleet management partnership as the force multiplier. What you'll take away: • Why fleet leaders are asset managers first — and how that reframing changes every decision • The 'truck rodeo' standardization play that got 20 brands aligned without a mandate • How Rollins' 4-person team pulled off 31 secretly-staged trucks for an acquisition • The one vehicle metric (over-temp) that nearly eliminated blown engines across 18,000 units • The three things Charles looks for in a fleet management partner Connect with Charles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-schott/ The Fleet podcast: https://mission.org/the-fleet Chapters: 0:00 18,000 Vehicles. 4 People. Nothing Can Sit 1:40 Charles Schott runs fleets from Pfizer to Brink 6:46 18,000 vehicles, 4 people, and the big F word: FLOW 9:04 Fleet management is air traffic control 12:30 Acquisitions: the seat at the table 14:20 31 trucks staged in secret - how Rollins pulled it off 19:52 How fleet leaders earn credibility (crumb-to-loaf rule) 25:13 A3 problem-solving across the supply chain 32:35 The truck rodeo: standardizing 20 brands without a mandate 35:26 Telematics, over-temp, and eliminating blown engines 41:03 Supply chain constraints and keeping vehicles longer 50:13 What Charles looks for in a fleet management partner 55:59 Going global: build the foundation, not the roof 59:11 Close This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fleet safety isn’t just accidents - it’s what your data says you did about them. In this episode, Brian Kinniry - Director of Safety and Collision Product Management at Element Fleet Management - reveals how the shift from reactive to proactive safety programs is transforming fleet operations. With nuclear verdicts reaching seven and eight figures, traditional "train after the accident" approaches leave companies exposed to catastrophic legal and financial risk. Brian shares real fleet data showing how connected technology and telematics are helping companies identify risk before incidents happen - including why incident rates actually increase when you deploy cameras (and why that's a good thing), and how a single cargo van training module reduced preventable incidents by 35%. This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters: 0:00 Ignoring Driver Behavior Is a Risk 1:22 From Safety Program to Legal Risk 3:58 What Negligence Looks Like in Court 6:58 Why Documentation Is Failing Fleets 9:38 The Shift From Reactive to Proactive Safety 12:08 The WWII Lesson for Fleets 13:42 Why Incident Rates Go UP With Cameras 16:02 How Driver Data Prevents Bigger Accidents 18:18 Why Every Fleet Needs a Different Strategy 21:12 How Safety Data Changes Hiring Decisions 24:28 Are You Increasing Risk Without Knowing It? 28:18 The Training That Reduced Crashes by 35% 31:32 Why Micro-Targeted Training Works 36:32 ADAS, EVs, and the False Sense of Security 43:28 What Fleets Still Get Wrong And What To Do Now 51:10 Brian Kinniry: Advice for Fleet Leaders Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Physical AI is rewriting what's possible for autonomous fleets, and the infrastructure decisions you make today determine your competitive position in 2035. Colin Dhillon, futurist and advisor to NuPort Robotics, joins Chris Brandt on The Fleet to explain why fleet leaders who start building autonomous capability now gain compounding advantages over those who wait for "perfect" solutions. Neural networks have eliminated the need for human-written code in autonomous vehicles, learning from sensor data in real time instead. Lights-out factories are producing a million phones with zero humans. The truck cabin itself could disappear, replaced by humanoids that handle the last remaining manual task like placing safety cones. This conversation breaks down how Physical AI (the convergence of neural networks, autonomous systems, and real-world operations) is reshaping fleet economics faster than most leaders realize, and what separates organizations positioning for the future from those still optimizing yesterday's operations. Chapters: 0:00 Why “Robots Taking Jobs” Was Wrong - Until Now 2:10 Colin’s Journey from Car Design to Physical AI 4:18 What Is Physical AI? 7:24 80s Robots vs Today’s Neural Networks 9:48 Lights-Out Manufacturing for Fleets 12:38 30 Humanoids on Stage - Training Compressed from Weeks to Hours 15:22 How Autonomous Systems Change Fleet Labor Models 16:32 Why Colin Went from Fighting Regulation to Calling for It 18:46 The Infrastructure Problem - Why Autonomy Fails in the Real World 24:52 Why True 5G (and 6G) Matters for Fleet Autonomy 30:07 Why Fleets Will Be the First to Fully Adopt Autonomy 30:42 The Cone Problem - Autonomy’s Last Human Barrier 35:16 94% of Accidents Are Human Error - The Case for Physical AI 36:47 The Truck Cabin Might Disappear Entirely 42:44 How Zero-Marginal-Cost Operations Change Everything 48:47 About Kulbir Colin Singh Dhillon -- The Fleet podcast is brought to you by Element. To learn more about how Element can move your fleet forward, visit elementfleet.com Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.