Don Everhart has spent his years working with both trucking and technology. He grew up in a trucking family and worked through many roles at Swift Transportation before moving into the tech side of the industry. In this episode, Don joins Todd and John at the Fullbay headquarters in Phoenix to discuss how technology is moving from "shiny" hype to solving actual problems. 


The conversation covers the uses of AI for carriers of all sizes. For small fleets, Don suggests focusing on load acquisition and using AI to manage the heavy volume of calls and negotiations. For larger carriers, the focus would ideally be back-office automation and removing manual invoicing. Don also gives a reality check on autonomous trucking. He explains that while the technology is advancing quickly, the path forward depends on regulations and liability and not everything can be automated.


This is a major theme that comes up is the human element in a high-tech world. Don argues for reallocating resources so that people can focus on relationships rather than tedious paperwork. He emphasizes that the goal of software should be to make the industry more personal. At the end of the day, Don shares that no metric is as important as a carrier's health and making sure every driver gets home safely.


What You’ll Learn

• How to tell the difference between useful tech and industry hype
• The best way for small fleets to use AI for load acquisition
• Why the back office is the next big area for automation
• The truth about the timeline for autonomous truck adoption
• How to reallocate your team to focus on relationships
• The importance of data history when choosing a tech partner
• Why regulations are the biggest hurdle for autonomous vehicles
• Tips for maintaining your health as a carrier owner
  
  

Episode Highlights


[00:03:33] Starting from the Green Screens: John and Don look back at their early days at Swift and how they manipulated the old AS 400 systems.


[00:07:16] Living on Both Sides of the Desk: Don explains how having a background in operations helps him build better technology today.


[00:13:25] Where Carriers Should Use AI: An explanation of how different sized fleets can use automation to remove friction from their daily workflows.


[00:17:53] The Regulatory Side of Autonomous Trucks: Why the technology for self-driving trucks is ready but the laws are yet to catch up.


[00:26:43] Reallocation Over Replacement: Don discusses why technology should free up your staff to do more meaningful work instead of just replacing them.


[00:32:52] The Most Important Stop: A reminder that health and family are the most important metrics for anyone in the freight industry.


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