Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

In this inspiring episode of Next Gen Talks, Lindsey Trent interviews Chris Jones, a commercial driving instructor at Gateway Technical College. Chris shares his powerful journey from facing homelessness to building a successful trucking business and now training the next generation of drivers. He discusses Gateway’s nine-week CDL program, the importance of patience and empathy in teaching, and wh...

In this episode, Lindsey Trent sits down with Melanie Simard, Vice President of Safety Compliance at ISAAC Instruments, to explore her inspiring and unconventional journey through the trucking industry. From starting in logistics to driving heavy loads across tough routes, Melanie broke barriers in a male-dominated field and steadily transitioned into leadership roles focused on safety and technol...

In the latest episode featuring Christy Choice from Tenstreet, Christy shared her journey from healthcare software to the trucking industry, highlighting her passion for the field's regulation and continuous learning opportunities. She discussed Tenstreet's comprehensive fleet management solutions that support the entire driver lifecycle, along with exciting new features introduced at th...

In this episode of NGT Talks, host Lindsey Trent engages with Brad Klepper and Marilyn Surber  from Driver's Legal Plan, who share insights into their 35-year history as a national law firm dedicated to defending CDL drivers and motor carriers. The discussion covers the company's affordable legal services, wherein drivers pay a flat fee of $100 per case for traffic violations, with a 95%...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Natalia Corchado from the International Road Transport Union (IRU), focusing on the critical issues facing the road transport sector. Natalia highlighted IRU’s role in advocating for trucking, bus, coach, and taxi industries, and discussed the organization’s efforts to tackle decarbonization, driver shortages, and digitalization amidst a challenging economic lan...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nisrine Masri with Movers Dispatch.  Nisrine, a seasoned professional in the moving and storage industry, shares insights from her two-decade career, highlighting her journey from sales to owning her own moving company for 22 years. The discussion focused on the industry's high-stress nature for clients and the specific skill sets required for drivers, alon...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Hailey, a Gen Z representative from Roehl Logistics,  about her insights and experiences within the trucking industry, emphasizing her unique background and daily responsibilities including customer relations and logistics management. Throughout the conversation, she expressed gratitude to sponsors and highlighted the intricate nature of supply chain logistics,...

In this episode, Lindsey interviews Kelsea, a legal expert specializing in downtime claims for trucking companies. Kelsea shares her journey into trucking industry law and highlights the importance of downtime claims, which help recover lost income when trucks are out of service, particularly for smaller fleets or those with specialized equipment. The discussion covers essential tips for filing in...

In this episode, Lindsey introduces Kailey Brownfield, a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University and HR Generalist at Sofo Foods.  Kaylee shares her journey from academia to the trucking industry, highlighting her internships at Honda and ES Wagner, which she secured through job fairs and platforms like Handshake and LinkedIn. In her current role at Sofo Foods, Kailey collaborates with a...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Elise, an Environmental Specialist at Alaska West Express.  They discusses her unique journey into the trucking industry, starting from her background in aviation and ecology. The conversation highlights the critical role of environmental compliance and safety in transportation, detailing Elise's responsibilities in managing hazardous materials and ensuring...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Dave Harrison, the Executive Director of Fastport. Dave shares his diverse background—from military service to teaching and trucking—before detailing how he helped develop a military engagement program at JB Hunt Transport that incorporates apprenticeships. He outlines the advantages of these programs as effective tools for recruiting and retaining employees, em...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Joe Anderson and Caleb Gee, both experienced figures in the trucking industry, discuss their new book, "Take Control of Your Driving Career: A How-to Guide." They introduce their backgrounds, highlighting Caleb's transition from construction to trucking at Nussbaum Transportation and Joe's long-term commitment to the company since 2012. The c...

In this episode, Lindsey chats with Kevin Fox from Stanislaus County Office of Education.  Kevin shares insights into the curriculum developed in collaboration with Knorr-Bremse Global Cares Trucking foundation.  The program emphasizes character education and community building while addressing challenges such as the shortage of qualified Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors. The curri...

In this episode, Mark Tinney from JOBehaviors and Dave from Next Gen Trucking and Patterson High School, explore the role of JOBehaviors in enhancing job success through pre-employment behavioral assessments. The discussion focuses on tailored assessments for various transportation roles, highlighting the key behavioral traits crucial for truck drivers. They also examine how JOBehaviors contribute...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with David Murphy and Dylan West from Key Oil, alongside Brent Lauber from the Kelly Anderson Group. They discuss their diverse backgrounds and the impactful safety transformation at Key Oil since 2013. They highlighted the company’s commitment to hiring the best candidates and enhancing driver training, which includes a partnership with a local community college and...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with David Murphy and Dylan West from Key Oil, alongside Brent Lauber from the Kelly Anderson Group. They discuss their diverse backgrounds and the impactful safety transformation at Key Oil since 2013. They highlighted the company’s commitment to hiring the best candidates and enhancing driver training, which includes a partnership with a local community college and...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Dave Powell and Beau Mosley, from Usher Transport. The talk focused on the transition of professionals into the trucking industry, highlighting Beau's shift from law enforcement to serving as Chief Risk Officer at Usher Transport, and Dave Powell's extensive career in trucking since 2001. Key challenges were discussed, including the need for driver tra...

In this episode, Lindsey talks to Chuck Snow, Lane WIlliams, and Josh Mecca about the American School Counselors Association.   The Recap and Strategy Discussion meeting reviewed insights from the recent American School Counselors Association annual conference, highlighting the growing interest among school counselors in promoting trucking careers. Key participants, including industry veterans, un...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Thom Albrecht from Reliance Partners. The Industry Analysis and Economic Outlook Discussion provided a comprehensive overview of the transportation and logistics sector amid ongoing economic challenges. Prepare to thrive: Companies should plan for recovery 6-9 months in advance.  The meeting opened with an introduction to Reliance Partners as the largest indepen...

In this episode,  Lindsey talks with Evan from the Truck Parking Club. The innovative platform, launched in 2022, was introduced as a solution for the truck parking shortage, functioning like "Airbnb for truck parking." The service connects truckers with over 500 locations and 14,000 available spaces across the U.S., enabling users to reserve parking easily through a website or mobile ap...

In this episode,  Lindsey talks with E.T. Mitchell, the Director of Workforce Partnerships at Olive Harvey College. E.T. focuses on creating partnerships in the TDL industry to provide opportunities such as employment, internships, and apprenticeships. The meeting emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between industry and education, engaging companies through various activities, and showca...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Luke Subler from Classic Carriers. They discuss the company's operations, partnerships with high schools and FFA programs, training programs for technicians, and community outreach initiatives. Key action items included establishing partnerships with local schools, conducting educational workshops for educators, and expanding community outreach programs. ht...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nikki McDavid and Becky Rehburg of FMCSA.  They provide an overview of the FMCSA's Commercial Driver's License Division, particularly highlighting the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program (SDAPP), its origins, objectives, and the application process for motor carriers. The program, mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to allow 18-20...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Tim Chrulski from Garner Trucking, and Joe Anderson from Nussbaum.    The meeting discussed the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program, focusing on how it addresses the driver shortage issue in the trucking industry by training candidates aged 18 to 21. Tim and Joe highlighted their company's participation reasons, program setup, trainer requirements, and...

In this episode, Roman Garcia shares how he became a business owner,  influenced by family, his early hands-on experience with truck maintenance, and how a high school program at STC shaped his career path. Roman highlighted the importance of practical training for aspiring technicians and challenges faced by young students gaining hands-on experience. He stressed the need for students to become s...