At Polaris Transportation Group, sustainability isn’t just about emissions — it’s about people, culture, technology, and giving back. Brenda Brajkovich from Polaris chats with HDT’s Deborah Lockridge about how the company is building a stronger, more inclusive workplace while staying ahead in cross-border trucking and logistics.

AI adoption in the trucking industry is skyrocketing — and leaders, executives, and managers of heavy-duty trucking fleets are taking notice. 

In this HDT Leadership Insights podcast, HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge sits down with Tim Haynes, VP of Digital and Customer Data at Penske Transportation Solutions, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming fleet operations.

This episode of HDT Leadership Insights is produced in partnership with, and sponsored by, Penske. 

Haynes shares highlights from Penske's recent survey on fleet AI adoption, insights into the latest enhancements of its Catalyst AI platform, and what fleets should know about implementing AI responsibly. 

From route optimization to predictive maintenance and Penske’s innovative Fantasy Fleet tool, this episode explores the real-world impact of AI in transportation, and addresses concerns like data quality, AI “hallucinations,” and human oversight.

What You'll Learn:

• Why fleets are exploring AI
• Ensuring data quality and avoiding AI “hallucinations”
• Human + AI: The hybrid model at Penske
• What’s new in Catalyst AI
• AI is already in your life — what it means for fleets now

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From pet policies and panic buttons to sign language and management diversity, trucking fleets are finding new ways to support a changing professional truck driver population. Join host Deborah Lockridge and guest Mark Murrell of the Best Fleets to Drive For program as they unpack what successful fleets are doing right to retain a more diverse driver workforce -- and how you can apply it to your operation.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKSCarriersEdge Announces 2025 Best Fleets to Drive ForHow Can Trucking Fleets Keep the Best Drivers?ATRI's New Strategies to Attract Women Drivers📰 Subscribe to our newsletter & magazine: https://www.truckinginfo.com/page/subscribe

Tammie Dean has an advantage when recruiting and mentoring women drivers at Lily Transportation: She’s experienced life on the road as a female driver. 

On this episode of HDT Talks Trucking, HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks to Tammie about an initiative she started to help recruit and support women drivers, called Lily Ladies.

Learn More About Attracting and Retaining Women Truck Drivers

• Lily Ladies Steer Women Truck Drivers to Success 
• Q&A: NTI's Leah Shaver on What's Keeping Women Out of Trucking (Or watch the video interview with Leah Shaver)
• ATRI's New Strategies to Attract Women Drivers

How is a new Volvo heavy-duty truck like your smartphone? After Volvo Trucks North America launched the all-new Volvo VNR regional truck, HDT's Deborah Lockridge chatted with Johann Agebrand, director of product marketing, about the newest Volvo Connect updates.​What you'll learn in this episode of HDT Talks Trucking:

• How Volvo Trucks' new VNR and VNL models use automatic over-the-air software updates to boost uptime
• How fleets can schedule software updates just like on a smartphone—during breaks or overnight
• Ways the Volvo Connect portal helps fleets customize and manage vehicle parameters remotely
• The most commonly updated parameters

Chicago's Connor Hudziak had never driven a real truck before.

However, the young man loved playing "American Truck Simulator" after school and work. 

Connor never dreamed his passion for the computer game would help him win a trip to Western Star's Star Nation customer appreciation event in Bend, Oregon -- or that the professional truckers there would change his life forever.

What's the best path to decarbonization for your trucking fleet? The North American Council for Freight Efficiency is looking at the "messy middle" of alternative fuels and drivetrains for long haul in this year's Run on Less.

North American Council for Freight Efficiency Executive Director Mike Roeth joins HDT Editor & Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge to talk about NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle and a new definition of "long haul."

* Sponsored by: Shell Multi Service Fuel Card *

Battery-electric trucks, fuel efficiency, biodiesel, renewable diesel, natural gas, renewable natural gas, hydrogen for fuel cells or internal combustion engines.... what's right for YOUR trucking operation?

• Defining Long Haul & the “Messy Middle”
• Challenges with Range-Limited Technologies
• What is Run on Less: Messy Middle?
• NACFE’s New Definition of Long Haul
• Charging Constraints in Real-World Operations
• Battery Electric Trucks & High Mileage Use
• Total Cost of Ownership for Electric Trucks
• Explaining the “Messy Middle” White Paper
• Industry-Wide Challenges & OEM Decisions
• Regulatory Changes & Market Dynamics
• Growth in Renewable Fuels (RNG, RD, BD)
• Battery Tech Advancements & Fast Charging
• Details of the 2025 Run on Less Program

Learn how Atlas World Group creates high-performing teams by teaching employees how to look at different points of view. 

Kelly Cruse, VP of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Atlas, joins HDT's Deborah Lockridge to talk about the trucking and logistics company's award-winning program.

Sponsored by:

Shell Multi Service Fuel Card

In this episode, we explore how Atlas World Group developed and implemented a meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion training program that earned it the ATA Change Leader Award in 2024.

Learn how company-wide training focused on recognizing bias and fostering a sense of belonging across the organization. Discover how this initiative led to policy changes, such as paid parental leave, improved building accessibility, and inclusive workplace design.

Watch the video interview on Truckinginfo.com.

Renewable natural gas is, well, a natural when it comes to replacing diesel as a clean fuel for truck fleets. Hexagon Ability's senior vice president, global sales and marketing Americas, tells HDT Talks Trucking why.

Eric Bippus thinks that a new era of "common sense" in Washington could help fleets adopt one of the cleanest and most diesel-like fuels available for trucks today.

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Jamie Hagen has gone from being a fleet driver to a small fleet owner. He's also become a well-known social media trucking influencer with an insider relationship to Mack Trucks in the process. And he's learned some valuable lessons about trucking along the way.

(Pssst! He's also been given a sneak-peek at the new Mack Class 8 truck coming soon!)

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