CarriersEdge Podcast

In Episode 117, recorded on May 20, 2025, we recap highlights from the 2025 NPTC Annual Conference and dive into the growing challenge of the English language proficiency requirements in the US and what carriers can do to prepare. Sections include: - 00:00 - NPTC Annual Conference recap - 17:54 - Texas Trucking Show and PMTC - 20:37 - English language proficiency requirements - 41:20 - Coming soon: June Inside webinar

Episode 116, recorded April 28, 2025, discusses AI's lack of personality, the role drivers play in the Best Fleets evaluation process - and what they tell us when they disagree with the results, and tips and best practices for more effective communication between fleets and drivers. Sections include: - 00:00 - AI's lack of personality - 15:00 - Drivers' feedback - 23:29 - The driver role in the Best Fleets evaluation process - 36:50 - Tips for better communication

Episode 115, recorded April 7, 2025, recaps the highlights of the Mid-America Trucking Show. Mark and Jane discuss updates on several CarriersEdge courses and give listeners a preview of the upcoming Inside Driver Qualification webinar with TruckRight. Sections include: - 00:00 - Mid-America Trucking Show - 15:13 - CE course updates - 30:21 - Learning Management Systems - 37:36 - CE Inside Driver Qualification

Episode 114, recorded March 17, 2025, recaps the highlights of the 2025 Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference. Mark and Jane discuss the great disconnection starting to occur between drivers and fleets, and share their thoughts on the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets to Drive For Education & Awards Conference recap - 17:48 - The great disconnection - 30:31 - Best Fleets to Drive For results book - 36:58 - Mid-America Trucking Show

Episode 113, recorded February 24, 2025, discusses the 2025 Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference happening March 3-4. Mark and Jane share a sneak peek on guest speakers, logistics, and driver survey trends. Sections include: 00:00 - Best Fleets to Drive For Education & Awards Conference 12:50 - Telling your company's story 22:12 - 2025 BFCon guest speakers 30:20 - Driver survey trends

Episode 112, recorded February 3, 2025, discusses the Best Fleets 2025 Top 20 announcement and the Education & Awards Conference happening March 3-4. Also, the CarriersEdge monthly webinar is back with two special guests talking about roadside enforcement and safety programs. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets to Drive For announcement - 11:56 - Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference - 25:00 - Short-haul routes and managing expectations - 41:45 - CarriersEdge monthly webinar - Inside Enforcement

Episode 111, recorded January 13, 2025, recaps the Best Fleets 2025 program scoring, questions, and finalists. Also, this year's announcement is coming soon! Sections include: 00:00 - Happy New Year and Best Fleets scoring recap 05:57 - Best Fleets program new questions 22:39 - Online training is now the default 47:10 - Using simulators in driver training

Episode 110, recorded December 2, 2024, discusses the Best Fleets interview process, regulatory changes affecting the Driver Inc. model, and tracking scheduled and unscheduled work. Also, a new Air Brakes course is coming soon! Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets interview process - 8:30 - Driver Inc. model - 24:28 - Maintenance systems - 37:38 - Air Brakes and Difficult Conversations

Episode 109, recorded November 12, 2024, recaps the annual Fleet Safety Council Educational Conference, what makes a successful mentoring program, and interviews begin for the 2025 Best Fleets to Drive For program. Sections include: - 00:00 - Transitions and process changes - 10:48 - Annual Fleet Safety Council Educational Conference recap - 19:09 - 2025 Best Fleets to Drive For program - 36:25 - CE webinar: Inside Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Episode 108, recorded October 21, 2024, recaps the ATA MCE, and discusses technical support, and the annual Fleet Safety Council conference in Ontario, Canada. Sections include: - 00:00 - Technical support - 18:23 - ATA MCE recap - 25:00 - Cutting costs - 39:06 - Fleet Safety Council Educational Conference

Episode 107, recorded September 30, 2024, discusses the air brakes course, ATA MCE 2024, and the Best Fleets to Drive For 2025 program Sections include: - 0:00 - Air brakes course - 19:00 - Documentation and research - 28:00 - MCE and Best Fleets education session - 38:00 - The Best Fleets to Drive For program

Episode 106, recorded September 9, 2024, discusses the new podcast season, Best Fleets to Drive For 2025 program, and the concept of microlearning Sections include: - 0:00 - New season - 6:44 - Best Fleets to Drive For nominations - 14:54 - New courses - 36:52 - Microlearning

The last podcast of the season! Recorded June 24, 2024, looks at listening skills, leadership styles and the opportunities and pitfalls of using AI to generate content.

Episode 104, recorded June 4, 2024, discusses the idea of gamification, voluntary programs, and the TDG Fuel course. Sections include: - 0:00 - Gamification - 17:25 - Voluntary and customized programs - 27:30 - Monthly assignments - 40:29 - TDG Fuel course

Episode 103, recorded May 13, 2024, discusses service experiences, an article on learning styles, and the importance of literacy. Sections include: - 0:00 - Bad service experience and manifesting a better service - 11:44 - Learning styles - 30:12 - Literacy and misinformation - 44:01 - Inside the Business of Safety

Episode 102, recorded April 23, 2024, recaps the 2024 Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference and discusses ruthless reflections, and performance mode. Sections include: - 0:00 - Education & Awards Conference recap - 10:35 - Analogy of the garden - 24:20 - Conference behind the scenes and logistic challenges - 44:28 - Truck World's 2024 attendance

Episode 101, recorded April 1, 2024, discusses the Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference, then driver surveys, plus AI replacements, chatbots, and new entrant programs. Sections include: - 0:00 - Education & Awards Conference content - 12:30 - Best Fleets driver surveys - 23:25 - AI replacements and chatbots - 39:08 - New entrant programs and education

Episode 100, recorded March 11, 2024, discusses Podcasts in trucking, then the education session at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), plus workplace experiences and the Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference. Sections include: - 0:00 - Episode 100 and podcasts in trucking - 10:55 - Education session at Mid-America Trucking Show - 24:25 - Pay packages and workplace experience - 36:28 - Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference

Episode 99, recorded February 22, 2024, discusses Best Fleets Announcement Day, then topics for media interviews, plus education on pay packages and web content accessibility. Sections include: - 0:00 - Best Fleets Announcement Day and media interviews - 8:00 - Electric vehicles vs fuel vehicles, and calming chaos - 22:00 - Education on pay packages for drivers - 32:30 - Accessibility and eLearning

Episode 98, recorded January 30, 2024, discusses Best Fleets updates, then advancements in software and user interfaces, plus Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference announcements and planning. Sections include: - 0:00 - Best Fleets Top 20 announcement and planning - 14:39 - Best Fleets website update and advancements in software - 26:38 - User interface issues and creating logos - 36:40 - Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference announcements and planning

Episode 97, recorded January 8, 2024, recaps findings from Best Fleets scoring, discusses environmental impacts and driver committees, then discusses tech in trucking and industry predictions for 2024, plus system and content updates. Sections include: - 0:00 - Best Fleets scoring and environmental impacts - 15:53 - Driver committees and 2024 predictions - 27:13 - Tech in trucking and content updates - 34:16 - System updates and Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference update

Episode 96, recorded December 4, 2023, discusses Best Fleets interviews, scoring and new interviewers, then discusses passive language in corporate settings, plus announcements for the Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference. Sections include: - 0:00 - Best Fleets interviews and competing on price - 15:32 - Best Fleets new interviewers and upcoming scoring - 23:43 - Passive language and corporate settings - 35:53 - Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference announcements

Episode 95, recorded November 14, 2023, recaps a recent webinar on learning styles, then discusses online and practical training, plus difficulties with social media banners and marching in circles. Sections include: - 0:00 - Learning styles, recent webinar recap - 14:05 - Online training, practical activities - 26:19 - Signs that learners are understanding, speaking in a classroom - 30:33 - Social media banners, marching in circles

Episode 94, recorded October 23, 2023, discusses recent event updates and past events, then discusses the Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference, plus course updates and dashcam integrations. Sections include: - 0:00 - ATA MCE event, Best Fleets education session - 12:40 - Past events, FSC event - 23:37 - Best Fleets Education and Awards Conference - 27:55 - New air brakes course, dashcam integrations

Episode 93, recorded October 9, 2023, discusses the new CarriersEdge ad campaign and difficulties with ad sizes, then discusses rabbit holes, advertising and regulation updates, plus upcoming event updates. Sections include: 0:00 - New ad campaign, digital ad size discrepancies 17:30 - Research rabbit holes, the inner workings of advertising 26:29 - Regulation updates, staying up to date with driver training 31:56 - Correct to 100, upcoming event updates

Episode 92, recorded September 11, 2023, discusses Best Fleets 2024 announcements and updates for this year's program, then discusses bias in AI, LLMs and the tech industry, plus upcoming event updates. Sections include: 0:00 - Updates from the West Coast, Best Fleets 2024 announcements 18:00 - Event updates, driver training and safety 22:48 - AI and LLM bias, tech industry bandwagons 40:16 - More event updates, creating a good workplace

Episode 91, recorded June 22, 2023, recaps the Second half of the cross-Canada trip to BC with an almost Autonomous Vehicle, discusses recent truck crashes, a Best Fleets announcement, and how fleets can continuously self-improve. Sections include: - 0:00 - More tales from the Trans-Canada Highway, troubles with time zones - 12:59 - Autonomous vehicles, truck/bus crash in Manitoba - 15:51 - Tanker explosions impacting infrastructure, Best Fleets announcement - 28:50 - How fleets can continuously self-improve, Collision tech conference

Episode 90, recorded June 4, 2023, recaps the first half of the cross-Canada trip to BC with an Electric Vehicle, discusses content updates, AI in trucking, and the dangers of developing technology. Sections include: - 0:00 - Tales from the Trans-Canada Highway, discovering new road signs - 10:53 - Driving an electric vehicle cross country, Tesla chargers - 16:27 - Content update, new courses in development - 21:49 - AI in the trucking industry, dangers of developing technology

Episode 89, recorded May 12, 2023, discusses PowerPoint presentations: creating them, presenting them, plus tips and best practices, then recaps the NPTC event and the upcoming NTTC Convention. Sections include: - 0:00 - The podcast studio room, PowerPoint tips / best practices - 23:55 - Advanced screen sharing in Zoom, presentations, and training - 29:59 - What goes on a slide, creating presentations - 32:33 - Hypnotizing chickens, being comfortable presenting - 38:30 - NPTC event, upcoming NTTC event

Episode 88, recorded April 21, 2023, discusses unlearning and training trainers, the origins and history of CarriersEdge, technology, and interactive content, plus, adult learning principles. Sections include: - 0:00 - Unlearning habits and training trainers - 20:57 - The origins and history of CarriersEdge - 27:10 - Learning by solving problems and a history of technology - 37:53 - Adult learning principles and a history of interactive content

Episode 87, recorded March 29, 2023, discusses upcoming and past events, updates on course content and new courses, plus website updates and the moving industry. Sections include: - 00:00 - Mid-America Trucking Show and past events - 15:35 - Course content and updating old courses - 24:29 - New courses and emotional intelligence - 36:13 - Website updates and the moving industry

Episode 86, recorded March 10, 2023, recaps the TCA convention and Best Fleets overall winners, discusses "performance head" and on stage stories, plus upcoming event and website updates. Sections include: - 00:00 - TCA convention wrap-up and Best Fleets overall winners - 21:28 - Best Fleets Hall of Fame and the first Québec-based overall winner - 29:50 - "Performance head" and on stage stories - 40:26 - Upcoming events and website updates

Episode 85, recorded February 17, 2023, discusses Best Fleets updates, issues surrounding technology, a newly appointed Director of Content, plus an update on the website rebuild and the TCA convention. Sections include: - 0:00 - Best Fleets Hall of Fame, Top 20 and Fleets to Watch - 15:46 - Technology issues and staff management update - 24:59 - 5 Tips articles and marketing in trucking - 43:17 - TCA convention and Best Fleets booklet

Episode 84, recorded January 27, 2023, discusses Best Fleets updates, trucking logos, a farewell to Tom Boehler, plus upcoming radio segments and managing workplace communication. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets Top 20 and logos in trucking - 23:31 - Best Fleets booklet and 15 year anniversary - 25:36 - Tom Boehler retiring from Erb Transport - 31:11 - Upcoming radio segments and alert fatigue

Episode 83, recorded January 6, 2023, recaps interesting findings from Best Fleets to Drive For, discusses driver feedback and emphasizes the power of language. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets scoring and driver orientation - 17:47 - Importance of self-awareness and fleet weakness through a driver's perspective - 22:05 - Fleet social media efforts and driver feedback - 33:46 - Fleet maturity and the power of language

Episode 82, recorded December 9, 2022, discusses the progress with Best Fleets interviews, the lack of inclusion amongst drivers vs other employees, and lease purchase programs, followed by a course development update. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best fleets interviews and behind the scenes of the questionnaire - 14:52 - Including drivers in training and feedback - 28:49 - Success rates of lease purchase programs - 32:50 - Course updates and specialized vehicle training

Episode 81, recorded November 18, 2022, Jane and Mark discuss measuring the effectiveness of training programs, Best Fleets interviews and interviewers, new developments in the Best Fleets community, plus new and developing courses. Sections include: - 00:00 - ISAAC User Conference and measuring training program effectiveness - 16:15 - BF interviews and training new interviewers - 22:04 - Changes in the BF community and connecting with drivers - 30:15 - New and updated courses

Episode 80, recorded October 28, 2022, recaps the latest developments with Best Fleets to Drive For, summarizes new course progress and outlines recent in-person events. Sections include: 00:00 - Best Fleets to Drive For updates and evolution 14:47 - Newsroom meetings and new courses in development 34:40 - Erring on the side of fun with training 37:47 - Recent event appearances

Episode 79, recorded October 6, 2022, sees Jane and Mark converse about the team-building exercises happening within the staff for creative learning purposes, then new courses and the lack of industry documentation, plus an exciting new course being released for Halloween. Sections include: - 00:00 - Creative problem-solving exercises - 14:06 - New courses and the lack of industry documentation - 19:49 - Product design brainstorming and evolving services - 27:20 - Halloween-themed course and Best Fleets updates

Episode 78, recorded September 16, 2022. The new CarriersEdge podcast season has begun and this one packs a serious info punch! In this episode Mark and Jane discuss the much-anticipated opening of the Best Fleets 2023 program and reflect on insights gained from the 15-year history of the program. Next up is the “quiet quitting” phenomenon in the modern workspace, followed by a discussion of new and refresher CarriersEdge course releases, as well as new innovative training supplement materials available to extend training. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets 2023 opening and reflections on 15 years of the program - 09:20 - Quiet quitting – how to spot and address workplace problems - 28:50 - New and refresher course releases - 32:22 - Put it into Practice – enhancements and activities for administrators and trainers to supplement and extend course training

Episode 77, recorded June 24, 2022, recaps the first CarriersEdge staff meeting since the pandemic, then digs deep into insights and observations from the massive Collision tech conference in Toronto.

Episode 76, recorded June 3, 2022, sees Jane just returned from the Recruiting & Retention Conference in Nashville, with some insights on communicating with drivers, as well as thoughts about where the industry is going in the future. A discussion of an upcoming process improvement activity follows. Sections include: - 00:00 - Nashville R&R and the future - 38:28 - Notes Day and process improvement

Episode 75, recorded May 13, 2022, recaps the excitement of Truck World the benefits of live events. A discussion of creativity, and the intricacies of managing creative people follows. The episode wraps up with a discussion of tanker training and some new radio segments. Sections include: - 00:00 - Truck World recap - 17:24 - Creativity and managing creative people - 37:05 - Tanker training and photo shoots - 43:13 - New Radio Nemo segment

Episode 74, recorded April 20, 2022, looks forward to the much delayed (and now completed)Truck World 2022. A discussion of findings from the Best Fleets driver surveys follows, along with a review of new content currently in development. Sections include: - 00:00 - Truck World is (finally) back! - 14:46 - Observations from the Best Fleets driver surveys - 29:25 - New courses in development

Episode 73, recorded April 1, 2022, starts with a wrap-up of the TCA convention and all the activities around the Best Fleets award presentation. A review of the many new courses about to be released follows, ending with a discussion of how the driver shortage may not be what people think it is. Sections include: - 00:00 - TCA Convention wrap-up - 27:15 - Lotsa new courses being released - 40:04 - Revisiting the idea of "driver shortage"

Episode 72, recorded March 11, 2022, starts off with the recently released dashcam integration before heading into some very technical talk about APIs and containerization. A lengthy discussion about the state of HR and career paths in the industry follows, wrapping up with some notes on the upcoming TCA convention. Sections include: - 00:00 - Dashcam integration, APIs, and container orchestration - 17:28 - HR and career paths in the trucking industry - 38:50 - Prepping for TCA Convention

Episode 71, recorded February 18, 2022 provides some Best Fleets updates, discusses how some projects become all consuming, then digs into the staffing challenges in a growing company. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets to Drive For announcement and updates - 13:24 - Projects that consume all your brain power - 20:50 - Challenges of hiring and staffing in a growing company

Episode 70, recorded January 28, 2022, preps for the big Best Fleets to Drive For announcement, then looks at training and test design through the lens of the new US ELDT mandate. After that, a new approach to Defensive Driving rounds out the discussion. Sections include: - 00:00 - Prepping the Best Fleets announcement - 09:50 - US ELDT and Hazmat training - 20:20 - Testing best practices and training vs auditing - 33:45 - New Defensive Driving suite

Episode 69, recorded January 7, 2022, sees Mark & Jane back from Christmas vacation and deep into scoring this year's Best Fleets to Drive For. A lengthy discussion of the process and early results is followed by the introduction of a new Hall of Fame to recognize repeat winners. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets process and early findings - 40:53 - Introducing the Best Fleets Hall of Fame

Episode 68, recorded December 3, 2021, discusses the current progress with Best Fleets interviews and some early findings from the data, then digs into some new courses that are coming soon. Sections include: - 00:00 - Best Fleets interviews and early observations - 33:50 - New courses: defensive driving, MPI HOS, and pallet jacks - 42:54 - The state of TDG regs and documentation

Episode 67, recorded November 12, 2021, recaps some recent in-person events then gets into a lengthy discussion about racism in the industry and how to protect drivers on the road. A recap of the new Incident Response course rounds out the episode. Sections include: - 00:00 - A return to local in-person events! - 10:26 - Dealing with racism in the industry - 19:22 - Protecting drivers on the road - 36:12 - New course on Incident Response