As technology reshapes the transportation industry, workforce development has become an increasingly important topic. The GoMentum Innovation Alliance, a group led by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), recently conducted a comprehensive Gaps and Needs Assessment to understand current challenges and identify opportunities in preparing the future workforce.

Tune in for a conversation with CCTA’s Executive Director, Tim Haile, for an inside look at the initial report. We’ll review the report’s key findings on workforce gaps and needs, and discuss strategies for future success.

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we interview Jon Miller, VP of Enterprise Growth at Nexar. Jon discusses his role at Nexar, highlighting the company's mission to transform real-world road data into actionable intelligence through a network of AI-powered dashcams. Jon details Nexar's work with both the public and private sectors, their partnerships with leading AV companies, and the complexities of solving for the long tail.

Show Links:

Learn more about Nexar: https://www.nexar-ai.com/
Follow Nexar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nexar-inc-/

Autonomous trucking leader Gatik recently unveiled a new simulation platform to accelerate the development and deployment of its self-driving technology. Join us for a fireside chat with the company’s Head of Safety Innovation, Adam Campbell, to learn more about Gatik Arena™. The conversation will cover this new announcement, the role of simulation in AV testing, and the challenges and opportunities that remain for autonomous freight.

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we dive into ADASTEC with the company's CEO, Dr. Ali Peker. Tune in to hear how ADASTEC is working to modernize public transit through automation, making it more accessible, reliable, and scalable. Dr. Ali shares the history of ADASTEC, discusses their worldwide deployments, and talks about the unique challenges and opportunities that come with automating buses.

Learn more about ADASTEC at https://www.adastec.com/.

As automated vehicles (AVs) are deployed across the country, researchers have begun exploring how infrastructure can better support their functionality. A new NCHRP research project, “Infrastructure Modifications to Improve the Operational Conditions of Automated Vehicles,” aims to identify opportunities for improvement and offer guidance to infrastructure owner-operators.

Join us for an episode of the PAVEcast to learn more about the study. Panelists will discuss the infrastructure needs of AVs, explore current and next-generation AV capabilities, and share insights on how the industry and public sector can help support the study's recommendations. You’ll hear from Ashley Nylen of USDOT, Britton Johnson of Kimley-Horn, and Samantha Anderson of Kimley-Horn.

In March 2025, the Autonomous Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) published a report on the immediate post-crash behaviors and interactions of AVs. Tune in to this episode of the PAVEcast to learn more about the best practice from AVSC's Executive Director, Darcyne Foldenauer. Darcyne discusses the need for consistent and predictable behavior after a crash, the risks they hope to reduce, the role of external communications and remote operators, and more.  

Learn more about AVSC: https://avsc.sae-itc.com/

Read the Best Practice: https://saemobilus.sae.org/reports/avsc-best-practice-automated-driving-system-dedicated-vehicle-ads-dv-immediate-post-crash-behaviors-interactions-avsc-i-05-2025

In April 2025, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) partnered with PAVE and Stantec to host the first-ever Louisiana CAV Innovation Day, where over 200 industry and public sector professionals explored the latest in connected and automated vehicle innovation. The event, which featured over 15 exhibitors and a full lineup of programming, highlighted the value of public and private partnerships in advancing the CAV industry.

Tune in for a discussion on how public and private sector leaders can work together to help accelerate the understanding and adoption of CAV technologies and improve road safety for everyone. Speakers include Greg Rodriguez of Stantec, Josh Fleig of Louisiana Economic Development, and Tara Andringa of PAVE.

What are the latest workforce trends in the AV industry? We sat down with James Norton of NGV Talent to find out. Tune in to this episode of the PAVEcast to hear the findings of NGV's recently released Autonomous Vehicle Industry Talent Demand Report and more on the future of the AV workforce.

• Learn more about NGV Talent: https://ngvtalent.com/
• Find NGV Talent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ngv-talent
• Download the Talent Demand Report: https://ngvtalent.com/talent-demand-report/

Just one month ahead of our inaugural Louisiana CAV Innovation Day, we sat down to interview Louisiana Economic Development's Chief Innovation Officer, Josh Fleig. Tune in to hear how Louisiana is preparing for AVs, what makes the state a competitive place for innovation, and tips for companies looking to get involved in Louisiana's tech ecosystem.

Learn more about LED: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/

Learn more about the CAV Innovation Day: https://pavecampaign.org/events/la-cav-day/

Thanks to Louisiana Economic Development for sponsoring the CAV Innovation Day!

Autonomous trucking leader Aurora is on the verge of a history-making launch in long-haul trucking: commercialization of its self-driving system, the Aurora Driver. Tune in for a fireside chat with Aurora Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Gerardo Interiano, to hear the behind-the-scenes work that got them to this pivotal moment: How long has it taken them to prepare for a driverless launch? How do you know when the technology is ready? And how do we prepare the public to share the roads with driverless trucks?