Freightvine

Brett Suma, CEO of Bot Auto, joins Chris Caplice to discuss what it takes to build a trucking business around autonomous trucks. In April, Bot Auto ran a 230-mile commercial load from Houston to Hutchins, Texas, on public roads with no driver in the cab and no remote driving. Brett says the company is now focused on making those operations repeatable and scalable.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why Brett sees Bot Auto as a trucking company that happens to be autonomous
• How he compares truck utilization under the 70-hour rule with the potential for autonomous trucks
• Why he thinks network design and mapping can help unlock more freight
• How capacity nodes and demand signals could shape future network planning
• Brett’s goal for Bot Auto to run 1 billion autonomous miles in 2031

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Interview recorded on September 1, 2026.

Truckload market update covers the week ending October 24, 2026.

Chapters

• 00:00 Brett Suma's Journey to Autonomous Trucking
• 03:01 The Birth of Lodesmith
• 05:55 Transitioning to Bot Auto
• 11:56 Understanding Bot Auto's Unique Approach
• 17:54 The Middle Mile Focus
• 26:25 Maximizing Capacity with Autonomous Vehicles
• 34:06 Navigating Regulatory Landscapes
• 35:15 Understanding Market Dynamics in Trucking
• 37:03 Current Operations and Market Demand
• 46:27 Cost Advantages of Autonomous Freight
• 49:34 Future of Capacity Management in Trucking

Autonomous trucks are already hauling freight. What will it take to make them a practical option for more shippers?

This week, Chris Caplice continues our focus on autonomous freight with Olivia Hu, Head of Autonomous Trucking and Electrification at Uber Freight, to discuss how the company is bringing autonomous capacity into shipper networks through partnerships with Aurora and Waabi.

For shippers, the question goes beyond whether a truck can drive itself. Can it meet their service requirements, fit their operations and improve the economics of moving freight?

In this conversation, they cover:

🚛 How Uber Freight matches autonomous capacity to shipper needs
📍 What it will take to expand beyond today’s Texas corridors
⚡ Why autonomous and electric trucks are finding different roles in freight
⛽ The potential for fuel savings, shorter transit times and higher truck utilization
🔍 Why scaling requires more than solving the driving technology

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Interview recorded on September 11, 2026

Freightvine Market Update recorded on October 12, 2026.

Chapters

• 00:00 Olivia's Journey to Trucking
• 06:04 The Evolution of Autonomous Vehicles
• 07:49 Differences Between Passenger and Trucking Industries
• 11:08 Uber Freight's Autonomous Strategy
• 13:21 Partnerships in Autonomous Trucking
• 16:45 Operational Design Domain Explained
• 18:35 Future of AV and EV in Trucking
• 19:57 Geographical Testing of AV Trucks
• 23:18 Skepticism and Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles
• 24:11 Shippers' Perspectives on Autonomous Capacity
• 25:52 Fuel Efficiency and Operational Benefits
• 27:48 Challenges in Shipper Adoption
• 29:05 The Role of Carriers in Autonomous Trucking
• 30:02 Ownership and Coordination of Autonomous Trucks
• 31:11 Future of Autonomous Fleets
• 32:34 Minimizing Empty Miles with AVs
• 33:22 Length of Haul and Capacity Needs
• 38:06 Current Operations and Capacity Limitations
• 38:53 Goals for Autonomous Miles and Capacity
• 40:06 Spot vs. Contract Loads for AVs
• 43:04 Future Predictions for Autonomous Adoption

In the second episode of Freightvine’s autonomous freight transportation series, Chris Caplice talks with Michael Wiesinger, COO of Kodiak AI, about the company’s approach to autonomous trucking and its work across long-haul, industrial and defense applications.

They discuss:

🚛 Why Kodiak built one AI driver for multiple operating environments
📡 How cameras, radar and lidar help trucks navigate without high-definition maps
🏜️ What Kodiak has learned from running 35 driverless trucks in the Permian Basin
🛡️ How the company determines when its technology is ready to operate without a safety observer
🛣️ Why autonomous trucks may be most valuable on long-haul routes
🤝 How Kodiak’s driver-as-a-service model fits into existing fleet operations
👷 Why autonomous systems are more likely to augment the driver workforce than replace it

See previous episodes 👉 dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Interview recorded on: 9/11/2026

Freightvine Market Update recorded on: 9/28/2026

Chapters

• 00:00 Michael Wiesinger's Journey to Kodiak
• 07:05 Kodiak's Current Operations and Future Plans
• 10:00 Exploring the Defense Sector
• 12:03 Technological Innovations in Autonomous Driving
• 20:01 Industrial Applications and Market Opportunities
• 24:14 Navigating the Autonomous Landscape
• 26:10 Understanding Safety Cases
• 30:31 Innovations in Safety Protocols
• 32:15 Strategic Partnerships for Growth
• 39:32 Integrating Autonomy into Operations
• 43:20 The Future of Autonomous Trucking
• 48:13 Truckload Market Update

Interview recorded on September 2, 2026

Autonomous trucking is moving beyond pilots and into commercialization. To kick off a new Freightvine series focused on autonomous vehicles, Chris Caplice is joined by Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, to explore where autonomous vehicles may fit into the freight network as the technology matures.

Eyal has spent nearly two decades working across vehicle electrification and autonomy, including helping execute Otto’s 100-mile autonomous beer delivery in 2016. Now, Humble Robotics is taking a different approach to autonomous freight with a cabless, electric “skateboard” platform designed for shorter, repetitive moves such as port drayage and warehouse-to-warehouse transportation.

In this conversation, they cover:

🤖 How autonomous trucking is moving from experimentation toward commercial use
🚛 Humble’s cabless platform which combines the tractor and trailer into a single vehicle
⚡ Why electrification and autonomy may be especially well suited for short-haul freight
📦 Where autonomous vehicles could fit into drayage, intermodal and repetitive warehouse moves
👷 How autonomous equipment could work alongside drivers by taking on overnight and repetitive routes
🛣️ What still needs to happen around regulation, customer facilities and infrastructure before autonomous freight scales

If you work in shipping, transportation or logistics technology, this episode offers a look at how autonomous trucking could change the equipment moving freight, not just who is behind the wheel.

Freightvine Market Update recorded on September 14, 2026

See previous episodes 👉 dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Takeaways

• Eyal Cohen's journey from electrification to autonomous trucking.
• The development of cabless autonomous freight movers and their potential commercial applications. Sensor technology is crucial for the safety of autonomous vehicles.
• The adoption of autonomous vehicles will have a significant impact on labor and regulatory frameworks.

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:07 Autonomous Trucking: Early Days
• 04:33 The Birth of Humble Robotics
• 10:18 Commercial Applications and Use Cases
• 22:12 Vision Language Action (VLA) Models
• 22:54 Technology and Autonomous Vehicles
• 28:35 Regulatory Hurdles and Innovation
• 34:03 Geographic Focus and Market Expansion
• 35:43 Sustainability and Environmental Impact
• 37:21 Autonomous Vehicle Adoption and Future Outlook
• 43:19: Truckload Market Update

Interview recorded on August 18, 2026.

Freight rates are moving higher as the truckload market starts to tighten. In this episode, Chris Caplice is joined by Dr. Alex Leslie, Senior Research Associate at the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), to break down the findings from ATRI’s latest Operational Costs of Trucking report.

The report points to a different kind of freight recovery than the industry has seen in recent cycles. Rather than a major surge in demand, capacity has been leaving the market after several difficult years for carriers. At the same time, fleets are facing higher costs for benefits, maintenance, insurance and equipment.

In this conversation, they cover:

💰 Why driver wages and benefits have surpassed $1 per mile for the first time in the report’s history
🚚 How shrinking fleet sizes and idle trucks are contributing to a supply-side freight recovery
⚖️ Why nuclear verdicts and rising insurance costs are putting added pressure on carriers, especially those trying to grow
🔧 How fleets are extending equipment life cycles and spending more on repair and maintenance
📱 What new ATRI data reveals about how much fleets are spending on in-cab technology

If you work in shipping, transportation or carrier operations, this episode offers a useful look at the costs and capacity trends shaping the freight market.

Freightvine Market Update recorded on August 31, 2026.

See previous episodes 👉 dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters:

00:09 Introduction 

03:29 Key Takeaways from the 2026 Report

06:56 Impact of Nuclear Verdicts on Insurance Costs

10:32 Insurance Structures: Small vs. Large Fleets

13:13 Employee Benefits in Trucking

16:47 Fuel Prices and Geopolitical Influences

22:41 Supply-Side Recovery vs. Demand-Side Recovery

26:19 Driver Capacity and Market Dynamics

30:07 Data Center Construction Impact

32:29 Demand Fluctuations and Market Stability

35:45 Profit Margins and Cost Dynamics

39:58 Technology's Role in the Industry

48:25 Truckload Market Overview

The Logistics Manager’s Index has spent the last 10 years offering an early read on where the economy may be headed. In this episode, Chris Caplice is joined by Professors Zac Rogers of Colorado State University and Dale Rogers of Arizona State University to look at what the LMI is signaling now.

The LMI tracks eight components across transportation, warehousing and inventory, using input from senior logistics leaders to measure whether each area is expanding or contracting. Recent readings point to a freight market where transportation capacity is tightening, prices are rising sharply and businesses are taking very different approaches to inventory.

In this conversation, they cover:

🚛 Why transportation prices recently reached some of the highest levels in the LMI’s history

📦 How retailers are keeping inventories lean while manufacturers stockpile critical components

🌎 What tariffs, regulation and geopolitical uncertainty are doing to transportation capacity

🏗️ Why warehousing demand is picking back up, including the impact of data center construction
🔮 What the LMI suggests about freight costs, capacity and economic growth through the rest of 2026

If you work in shipping, transportation or supply chain planning, this episode offers a useful look at the signals shaping the second half of the year.

Interview recorded on August 12, 2026

Freightvine Market Update recorded on August 17, 2026

Catch previous episodes 👉 dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters:

00:09 Introduction to the Logistics Managers Index

01:29 Divergence in Inventory Management Strategies

01:56 Impact of Data Center Construction on Economic Growth

02:07 Introduction to the LMI and Its Founding

04:13 Understanding the Logistics Manager's Index (LMI)

07:23 The Role of Surveys in LMI Data Collection

10:20 Survey Response Rates and Participant Engagement

13:28 Recent Trends in Inventory Management

22:41 Transportation Trends and Their Impact on the Economy

23:18 Understanding Price Increases and Policy Impact

24:34 The Freight Recession and Capacity Challenges

28:36 Labor Market Dynamics and Capacity Decisions

33:01 Warehousing Trends and Data Center Influence

37:02 Economic Predictions and Uncertainty Factors

50:00 Freightvine Market Update

Intermodal is gaining ground, but the story looks very different depending on the type of freight and where it is moving.

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Andrew Sibold, Director of Economics for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), to discuss the forces reshaping the intermodal market.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why domestic intermodal volume is growing as international volume declines
• How higher truck rates, softer imports, and data center construction are influencing demand
• What IANA’s new Intermodal Volume Index reveals about current conditions
• How machine learning and economic indicators support 12-month volume forecasts
• Why tariff-driven shifts toward East Coast and Gulf ports may be here to stay
• How intermodal security, autonomous trucks, and the trucking freight cycle fit into the bigger picture

If you work in shipping, trucking, rail, or freight planning, this episode offers a clear look at the economics behind today’s intermodal market.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:20 Andrew's Career Path to IANA
• 04:32 The Rebound of Intermodal in 2026
• 07:25 Intermodal Volume Index
• 16:05 Intermodal Predictive Model
• 25:52 Forecasting and Data Analysis
• 29:07 Tariff Volatility and Intermodal
• 34:02 Driver Capacity and Drayage
• 36:36 Autonomous Vehicles and Intermodal
• 42:11 Artificial Intelligence in Freight
• 45:37 Intermodal Expo and Market Update

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Andres Mendoza Pena, Partner at Kearney, to discuss the latest CSCMP State of Logistics Report, Forged in Disruption, and what it means for shippers navigating a more connected and unpredictable world.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why traditional cost-first supply chain playbooks are becoming less effective
• How companies are building more flexibility across suppliers, countries, and transportation networks
• Where AI is producing real results in logistics workflows
• Why autonomous trucking may reshape transportation economics and network design
• How reactive decisions can create costly “network drift”
• Why scenario planning and “non-regret moves” can help companies prepare for multiple possible futures

If you’re responsible for supply chain strategy, transportation, or network planning, this episode offers a practical look at how to operate when disruption is no longer the exception.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine 

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 04:41 Understanding Ongoing Volatility in Supply Chains
• 07:08 The Impact of Globalization and Interconnectedness
• 09:46 Shifts in Supply Chain Strategies
• 11:58 E-commerce Trends and Consumer Behavior
• 14:24 The Role of AI in Supply Chain Management
• 17:05 Governance and Implementation of AI Solutions
• 24:08 Exploring Autonomous Driving and Trucking Technology
• 28:56 Understanding Network Drift in Supply Chain Management
• 33:46 Navigating Tariff Policies and Global Supply Chains
• 38:23 Railway Mergers and Market Dynamics
• 42:24 Forecasting Future Trends in Freight Markets
• 44:32 Truckload Market Overview
• 47:23 Spot vs Contract Rates Analysis

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Jim Filter, Schneider’s newly appointed President and CEO, to talk about what it means to step into that role during a period of major change for the freight industry.

Jim reflects on his nearly 30-year career at Schneider, the operational and international experiences that shaped his leadership, and how the company is adapting as customer needs, technology, and market conditions continue to shift.

In this conversation, they cover:

• What it means to lead Schneider as only the fifth CEO in the company’s history
• How dedicated transportation and brokerage have become bigger parts of Schneider’s strategy
• What regulatory enforcement and broker liability could mean for capacity
• How driver roles, tools, and career paths continue to evolve
• The future of electric and autonomous trucks
• How Schneider is using AI and technology across the business

If you work in shipping, brokerage, or carrier operations, this is a timely look at how one of the industry’s largest operators is thinking about the road ahead.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Career Path, Leadership Preparation and Developing Talent

07:29 Technological Advancements in Transportation

14:13 Customer Relations and Problem Solving

14:50 Current Market Dynamics and Capacity Challenges

16:35 Impact of Regulations on the Industry

23:17 Chameleon Carriers and Industry Challenges

28:21 CEO Priorities and Strategic Focus

31:18 Evolution of Dedicated Services

35:59 EVs and Avs

45:38 Legacy and Leadership in the Industry

48:06 Freightvine Truckload Market Update

48:11 Dry Van Market Update

49:04 Temp Control (Reefer) Market Update

49:37 Intermodal Market Update

50:09 Flatbed Market Update

50:56 Key Takeaways

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Dr. Jason Miller, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, for his fifth appearance on Freightvine.

Chris and Jason break down why they believe the current truckload cycle began in December 2025, why it took a few months to confirm the shift, and why this expansion looks different from past freight cycles.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why this cycle appears to be supply-driven, not demand-driven
• What spot and contract rate spreads can tell us about market shifts
• How capacity exits, Class 8 orders, and routing guide failures are shaping the market
• Whether the AI boom can deliver real ROI or if the market is getting ahead of itself
• What Michigan’s logistics and supply chain work can tell us about manufacturing, food production, and trade

If you’re trying to understand where truckload pricing, capacity, and freight demand may be headed next, this is a timely conversation with one of the industry’s sharpest data-driven voices.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:55 Identifying the Current Truckload Cycle
• 04:16 Market Signals and Transition Points
• 05:53 Comparing Cycles: 2017-2018 vs. 2025
• 09:00 Supply vs. Demand Driven Cycles
• 12:15 Routing Guide Compliance and Market Dynamics
• 16:15 Spot vs. Contract Rates: Current Trends
• 20:38 Economic Factors Influencing Freight Rates
• 22:47 AI and Memory Chip Demand: Future Implications
• 26:10 The Future of AI and Profitability
• 27:23 Electricity Infrastructure and AI's Role
• 29:03 The Cost of AI and Model Maintenance
• 31:28 AI's Impact on Labor and Employment
• 34:04 AI in Academia and Content Creation
• 38:04 The Economics of AI and Cost Structures
• 45:33 Logistics and Supply Chain in Michigan
• 51:09 Freightvine Market Update