Freight Efficiency with NACFE's Mike Roeth & Friends

Giorgio Rizzoni, professor at The Ohio State University and director of the Center For Automotive Research, talks about how he came to Ohio State and explains the role of a research center in educating the next generation of engineers. He also talks about his role in developing engine controls and emissions controls. He also talks about his work at the DOE hybrid-electric refuse trucks, what he is excited about in trucking and the importance of writing.

Ep. 110: Mike Rowand, energy and electric transportation consultant, talks about his career with Duke Energy, his work with EPRI and his role as an interface between the utility and the trucking industries. He also talks what utilities need to know about trucking and about grid readiness. He explains the role of communication and collaboration and how fleets can help utilities do a better job of serving them.

Ep. 109: Ken North, NACFE's emerging technologies consultant, talks with Mike about the curve ball from his youth that changed his career plans and led him back to trucking, the value of relationships in the trucking industry, and why he joined NACFE. He also comments on what's special about the trucking industry, the role of efficiency in logistics and transportation for economic survival and what technologies intrigue him. And he talks about his connection to the pioneers.

Ep. 108: Andrew Halonen, president of Mayflower Consulting, talks about his passion for lightweighting, and why he sees himself as a technology matchmaker. He also talks about a new technology for trailers called origami, the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to new materials, sustainability and lightweighting and the role of AI in helping to find cost savings and sustainable solutions.

Ep. 107: Elaine Jones, chief financial officer at Stillwater Hospice and NACFE's accountant, talks about the importance of target costing in product design and why everyone needs to understand what something costs to build and why. She also shares her thoughts about NACFE, the contractor business model and she gives advice on getting through these times of uncertainty and even gives Mike some advice for the future.

Emilia Sibley, general manager of Terawatt, talks about how EV infrastructure seems like a solvable problem, what's she's learned about the trucking industry and the importance of listening to fleets. She also comments  on how we are in a once in a century transition and the need to lean in to the transition.

Ryan Bankerd, global director of automotive sustainability at UPS and NACFE board member, talks about his status as a NACFE fanboy, decarbonizing the world's largest private delivery fleet and why he thinks it's time to change the messy middle to the middle. He also talks about UPS' rolling laboratory, the technologies UPS is scaling and he offers advice on how fleets should approach the next few years when looking at technology solutions.

Dean Bushey, NACFE's director of programs, talks about his career in the military and how it led to his involvement with autonomous vehicles. He also commented on the current and future state of AVs, and his work on the Electric Vehicle Working Group. He shared his thoughts on making it through the messy middle and gave advice on preparing for autonomous trucks.

Yann Kulp, director of sales – USA for Driivz, talks about the two ways of looking at transportation, his definition of EV suitability and the benefits of being tactical. He also explains what Driivz is and encourages fleets to begin taking baby steps and look for use cases for BEVs.

Jim Park, award winning trucking journalist and a technologies consultant for NACFE, talks about his career as a truck driver, how he made the switch to trucking journalism and why he always tries to put himself into the mind of his audience. He also shares his thoughts on battery electric vehicles and the dramatic improvements that have been made in diesel engines.

Ben Sharpe, senior researcher at Atlas Public Policy, talks about the importance of people in the environmental community and policy space to have a connection to industry. He also shares why he has dedicated a big part of his career to trucking and shares his thoughts on policy in the transformation of the trucking industry. He also provides insights into how to navigate the changes in trucking.

In this episode we flip the script and have Mike Roeth, the show's host, answer questions posed by his granddaughter Makenzie Roeth. He talks about driving his first diesel truck at the age of 13 and about his first time behind the wheel of an electric truck. He also talks about his career before NACFE and his job as NACFE's executive director and why he is so proud of the Run on Less series.

Jim Castelaz, founder and chief technology and revenue officer at Motiv Electric Trucks, talks about why he started Motiv and why it feels like we are at an inflection point with EVs today. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of being clear on vocabulary and terms and about learning from what went well and what didn't. Finally, he talks about the 3 key metrics of EVs and reminds us to not lose sight of the wins.

Dave Mullaney, chief transformation officer, truCurrent, talks about the lessons that can be learned from the growth of EVs in China and the accelerated transition pathway to EVs that we are on in the US. He also talks about his career in transportation, what a chief transformation officer does and truCurrent's role in electrifying fleets. He also shares why he thinks its importance to be open to new ideas and the importance of self-forgiveness during transformative times.

Michele Calbi, CEO of Team DriveAway, talks about her experience moving a fleet from 5.2 MPG to 7.2 MPG and about the importance of drivers in the fuel-economy equation. She also talks about what got her into trucking and how she has enjoyed her time working at a fleet and at various OEMs. She shares some of the options for moving trucks including decking and she gives some advice for navigating the future.

Jason Mathers, director of the Environmental Defense Fund, talks about the history of the EDF, what it is currently focusing on, and his commitment to problem solving. He also talks about what he loves about working in the trucking industry, the progress we've made on reducing emissions and the distance we still have to go. He also offers advice on how to make sure you understand emissions policies and regulations.

Yunsu Park, NACFE's director of engineering, talks about his career at Navistar and Propel, the importance of doing new things and the data side of Run on Less. He also talks about taking risks, how ready trucking is for what's coming up ahead and the best way to get people to change.

Jordan Spradling, vice president of transportation and logistics at Pilot Flying J, talks about the history of the travel center chain, the challenges of balancing the various needs of travel center customers and keeping the sites updated. He also talks about Pilot's role in shaping the future of energy, the need to look at all the energy solutions during this period of transition, testing of hydrogen fuel cell trucks to haul hydrogen and encourages everyone to be optimistic about the future. 

Bruce Stockton, chief operating officer of Wilson Logistics and NACFE founder, talks about what drew him to trucking and his years at CFI and Conway. He also talks about the value of networking, the importance of data in driving decision making, and making sure technology decisions have a good ROI. Finally, he shares his thoughts on the 2027 emissions regulations and electric trucks.

John Hroncich, director of North American transit sales at BAE Systems, talks about what BAE Systems does, how transit has been ahead of trucking in terms of trying new technologies, and walks us through the various alternative fuel options in the bus market. He also shares why the voice of the customer is so important and encourages people in the trucking industry to be open minded when it comes to powertrain options.

Rob Swim, a trucking industry veteran, talks about his 35-year passion in the truck business, the International CXT, the complexity of vocational vehicles, and what it takes to be a successful truck dealer. He also shares his thoughts on all the powertrain options available, about the Scout and its battery electric reincarnation and about the perfect places for electric trucks.

Amory Lovins, co-founder and chairman emeritus of RMI, talks about why he thinks we have only scratched the surface of how much efficiency is available and worth buying. He also talks about the importance of integrative design and the role of both speed and drivers in improving efficiency. And he shares how he thinks NACFE has helped the trucking industry and how he views various alternatives to diesel.

James Menzies, editor of Today's Trucking, talks about the efficiency of Canada's long combination vehicles, how getting his CDL made him a better trucking journalist, and reporting in the digital age. He shares his thoughts on the difference between the Canadian and U.S. trucking industries and the transformational changes that are happening in trucking.

Henrik Holland, global head of Prologis, talks about how he views the current pace of electric vehicle deployment and the importance of engaging all stakeholders early in the electrification process. He also shares how his previous jobs prepared him for the role he has today, explains how Prologis operates and shares his thoughts on the Electric Vehicle Working Group.

Coralie Cooper, deputy director of NESCAUM, talks about the role of the organization and how medium- and heavy-duty trucks fit into her work. She also talks about what influenced her work including her Noble Prize-winning father's influence. She also shares her impression of NACFE's day at the White House, and what's on NESCAUM's 2024 agenda.

Ep. 86: Amanda Devoe, Fleet Strategy and Transformation Director for PepsiCo, talks about Pepsi being an early adopter of new technology as part of its effort to propel the fleet forward. She also provides insight into the metrics used to assess the fleet's decarbonization efforts, and the importance of diverse opinions in problem solving. And she talks about how the Tesla Semis are performing for PepsiCo.

Scott Perry, industry executive and former NACFE board chairman, talks about NACFE's adolescent years, the role of NACFE in the trucking industry and his long career in trucking. He also shares insights into the household goods industry and about Run on Less means to the industry.

Rachel Ellenberger, owner of Green Seed Collective, and NACFE's manager of industry engagement, talks about her early work with Clean Fuels Ohio and how she went from politics to trucking. She also shares what it is like to be a young woman in the industry, the benefits of having a diverse set of people working on industry issues and suggests we remind ourselves that even though it can feel like we are solving the hardest puzzle, we also have the smartest people working on.

Marie Brougham, manager of account management and sales, Sacramento Municipal Utility District talks about the inner workings of SMUD, its goals to be carbon free by 2030, and her view of fleet electrification. She also shares lessons learned from the PepsiCo depot in Sacramento, including the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the electrification process.

Ari Kahn, manager, carbon free transportation, RMI, talks with Mike about his views on the opportunities for zero-emission trucks, the differences in electrifying various classes of trucks, and the importance of getting the utility and transportation systems to work together. He also shares what he is most excited about when it comes to the truck electrification and what he sees as the big challenges that need to be overcome.

Ep. 81: Dave Beasley, vice president commercial tires – North America, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, talks about his 40 years at the company including his time in blimp operations. He also talks about trucking as a relationship business, the role of retreading, why cheaper tires are not always the best choice, the importance of sustainability and why you need to continue to learn and adapt.

Ali Javidan, founder and CEO of Range Energy, talks about electrified, powered trailers, how a Venn diagram led him to trucking, the role of empathy in product development and the importance of factoring in drivers when developing a new technology. He also explains how he is applying lessons learned during his career in racing and at Tesla and Google, as well as the need to lead with humility when developing new technology.

Brady Matoian, CEO of OK Produce, talks about being on the cutting edge of reducing emissions, his lifelong concern for the environment and passion around sustainability. He provides insight into OK Produce's move to electric vehicles, the connection between the products they deliver and the best way to deliver them. He also says that while it hasn't been easy or cheap to operate sustainably, it has been worth it.

Ed Chipalowsky, NACFE's vehicle service and support manager, talks about his career as both a technician and an educator of technicians. He shares his thoughts on how the biggest changes in trucking impacted technicians and why older trucks are not better than new ones. He also talks about the most important skills today's technicians need to be successful, the urgency for training for high voltage vehicles and why technicians should be proud of their skills.  

Matt McLelland, vice president of sustainability and innovation at Covenant, talks about why he loves his role at the truckload carrier, brags about the strides the trucking industry has made on reducing carbon, and explains the green premium. He also shares his thoughts on why he is a huge fan of renewable diesel and the fact that there is a lot for the trucking industry to be excited about.

Jason Cannon, editor in chief of CCJ, talks about what brought him to trucking, why he's stayed for a decade, the history of CCJ and what he sees as his role in covering the industry. He also shares his thoughts on the benefits of Run on Less, the industry's ability to handle all the new technology it is facing and offers advice on how the industry can navigate through the current market changes.

Cristina Commendatore, editor in chief at Fleet Owner, shares the unique place Fleet Owner occupies in the trucking industry media, the role of a trucking journalist and about her career path. She also comments on how she thinks NACFE is doing, the opportunities in the trucking industry, why it's a great place for young people to work and the progress the industry has made in the areas of diversity and inclusion.  

Melvyn Roeth, father of NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth, talks about his commitment to farming, making equipment buying decisions, the importance of data to improve operations and the benefits of being involved in industry groups and associations. He also talks about becoming a conservationist and setting aside part of his farm for wildlife.  

Seth Clevenger, managing editor of Transport Topics, talks about the role of the trade press in informing industry leaders, facilitating conversations and sparking discussions. He also talks about his career as a journalist and what's changed for him in reporting on the industry. He comments on the transformational times trucking is in and encourages everyone in trucking to be open to all the new possibilities.

Dan Burrows, founder and CEO of TruckLabs, talks about the complexities of managing the tractor-trailer gap, the importance of wind speed and direction and the fuel savings that are possible when that gap is optimized. He also explains what average speed really means, shares lessons learned that can help other entrepreneurs that are bringing products to the real world of trucking and reminds us that a dollar saved is better than a dollar earned.

Eric Starks, chairman and senior consultant at FTR, talks about what the company does, how it works and why forecasting is important to the trucking industry. He also talks about how the pandemic changed tractor-trailer ratios and how that might be a permanent shift. And he shares his insights on what he sees for 2023, 2024 and 2025 for the industry.

Michelle Buffington, vehicle program specialist, California Air Resources Board, talks about the Modesto, CA Frito-Lay CARB project, how her upbringing led to her passion for the work she does today, but also how there is a great opportunity for trucking to impact the environment. She explains how CARB works using a peanut butter and jelly sandwich analogy and shares some things she learned about trucking that surprised her. She closes the interview giving the industry some suggestions on how to move to zero emissions.

Rob Kelly, senior vice president at Forum Mobility, talks about his career including his work with solar and at Tesla, and shares what he finds interesting about freight movement. He also talks about the win-win-win of the move to clean transportation, how EVs are performing in drayage applications, trucking as a service and what needs to happen to move EV deployment along faster.

Ken Marko, fleet sustainability senior manager at US Foods, talks about his sustainability journey, his new position at US Foods and his role in helping the fleet achieve its sustainability vision. He also explains why US Foods is an ideal fit for EVs, offers suggestions to other fleets considering adding EVs, gives his impression of the Tesla Semi and encourages fleets to get involved with TMC's S11 committee.

Marc-Andre Page, vice president of commercial operations at The Lion Electric, explains the history of the company and its focus on purpose-built electric trucks and buses. He also talks about the company's new manufacturing facility in the US, the need to bring a positive experience to users of EVs, how successfully scaling electric trucks will take more than just producing quality vehicles and the importance of sharing experiences across the EV ecosystem.

Kenny Vieth, president of ACT Research, talks about Class 8 vehicle production over the last decade, what causes the ups and downs in vehicle sales, and why trucking is not for the faint of heart. He also talks about the impact of housing and industrial production on trucking, what we can expect in terms of vehicle sales through 2027 and the impact upcoming emissions standards will have on the industry.

Graham Doorley, CEO and founder of Solo Advanced Vehicle Technologies, talks about the company's ground-up new design for a driver agnostic electric truck with a 500+ mile range. He also talks about his time at Tesla and Google, his passion for clean energy and the key things that are needed to help scale the acceleration of electric and autonomous technologies.

Andrew Bremer, managing director of DriveOhio, talks about the goals of the program, Ohio's importance as a transportation center and the infrastructure needs for EVs and AVs. He also comments on the importance of partnerships and dialogues to make improvements and he shares information about the US 33 Smart Mobility Corridor and the I-70 Truck Automation Corridor.

Erik Neandross, CEO of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates, talks about working with OEMs and fleets to navigate into the future, the importance of TCO in clean transportation, and how taking risks is what will identify winners. He also talks about the three main drivers of the move to more sustainable transportation and gives advice on what the industry needs to be doing now to speed up adoption of alternative fueled vehicles.  

Glen Kedzie, senior executive at the American Trucking Associations, talks about why everyone needs to pay attention to what happens in California, the give-and-take in the regulatory development process, the reason this next NOx rule will be the last, and why being a fleet manager will become one of the most difficult jobs. He also offers advice on collaborating with government regulators and urges trucking industry stakeholders to speak up during the rulemaking process.

Jigar Shah, director of the loan program office at the United States Department of Energy, explains what's happened over the last 10 years with decarbonization, the need to crack the code to deploy technologies faster, getting people past the valley of inertia, the history and goals of the DOE's loan program and measuring the program's success. He also encourages the industry to be more vocal about what it needs from the DOE.