RoadSigns A Transport Topics Podcast

Transport Topics

From the creators of Transport Topics, RoadSigns is a podcast about trucking's future. In each episode, you'll follow a transportation journalist on a singular pursuit for the most solid answer to a critical question and meet interesting people along the way. Listen at roadsigns.ttnews.com. Do you have a question for our hosts to answer? Tell us here: https://www.speakpipe.com/RoadSigns For RoadSigns extended cuts visit: https://pages.ttnews.com/RS-Bonus-Content-Archive.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=extended-cuts-2023

  1. RS186: Are Autonomous Trucks Outgrowing the Hub-to-Hub Model?

    5D AGO

    RS186: Are Autonomous Trucks Outgrowing the Hub-to-Hub Model?

    After years of actively testing and operating self-driving trucks on public highways, autonomous technology developers are swiftly moving towards full commercialization. Along the way, the once popular hub-to-hub deployment model, which limits autonomous operations to highways and relies on drivers for local delivery, has been giving way to direct-to-customer autonomous freight movement as technological progress meets functional needs. How will this shift impact operations, maintenance and drivers? In this episode of RoadSigns, co-host Seth Clevenger is joined by Lior Ron, chief operating officer at Waabi, whose background includes co-founding Otto and nearly a decade leading Uber Freight. Together, they'll discuss the accelerating evolution of autonomous trucking and how new AI capabilities are reshaping deployment models. Tune in to discover how self-driving trucks are expected to integrate into real-world freight operations. For more information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/are-autonomous-trucks-outgrowing-the-hub-to-hub-model/ Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ For RoadSigns extended cuts visit: https://pages.ttnews.com/RS-Bonus-Content-Archive.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  2. RS185: Year-in-Preview: Tariffs, Technology, Safety and an Unclear Freight Outlook

    JAN 29

    RS185: Year-in-Preview: Tariffs, Technology, Safety and an Unclear Freight Outlook

    As trucking moves deeper into 2026, the industry faces a landscape defined by uncertainty and transformation. In this episode of RoadSigns, co-host Seth Clevenger is joined by TT's Eugene Mulero and Kieron Greenhalgh to examine the critical trends that will define freight transportation in the year ahead. From an unclear freight market outlook to the ripple effects of evolving trade policies and tariffs, transportation leaders must stay informed and agile to remain competitive. At the same time, ramped up enforcement actions are elevating the focus on compliance and highway safety. With fleets continuing to face a prolonged freight rate recession and with artificial intelligence poised to revolutionize back-office operations, this year promises to be one where survival hinges on cost controls and efficiency gains. Tune in to discover how you can more effectively navigate the turbulent conditions ahead.   For more information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/year-in-preview-tariffs-technology-safety-and-an-unclear-freight-outlook/   Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast   Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/  For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/   For RoadSigns extended cuts visit: https://pages.ttnews.com/RS-Bonus-Content-Archive.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    40 min
  3. RS184: How is AI Raising the Bar for Fleet Safety?

    12/11/2025

    RS184: How is AI Raising the Bar for Fleet Safety?

    As artificial intelligence usage grows to transform various industries, the trucking sector is harnessing this technology to tackle one of its most critical challenges: fleet safety. Recorded live from ATA's 2025 Management Conference & Exhibition, co-host Seth Clevenger sits down with Johan Land, senior vice president of product and engineering at Samsara, to explore how fleets are adopting AI to revolutionize their safety programs. Land shares insights on Samsara's latest AI-powered innovations - from weather intelligence to automated driver coaching - and details how these applications are helping fleets shift from reactive to proactive safety strategies. Whether you're a fleet manager looking to enhance your safety program or curious about the practical applications of AI in trucking, tune in to this conversation for a vital outlook on the tools and strategies making highways safer today and shaping the trucking industry of tomorrow. For more information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/how-is-ai-raising-the-bar-for-fleet-safety/ This episode is sponsored by Chevron Delo® (https://www.chevronlubricants.com/) How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ For RoadSigns extended cuts, visit: https://ttn.ws/extendedcuts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    27 min
  4. RS183: Will More Motor Carriers Choose to Adopt Renewable Natural Gas?

    11/26/2025

    RS183: Will More Motor Carriers Choose to Adopt Renewable Natural Gas?

    Renewable natural gas (RNG) is gaining serious traction in trucking, and Cummins' new 15-liter X15 N engine just changed the game. Recorded live at ATA's MCE, co-host Seth Clevenger sits down with Chad Lindholm, senior vice president at Clean Energy, to explore how regulatory shifts and improved technology are opening doors for RNG adoption among major fleets. If you are evaluating alternative fuel strategies, this conversation delivers practical answers to the most pressing questions: Does RNG make financial sense? What is the real ROI timeline? And how does it fit into sustainability goals in a regulatory environment now favoring multiple fuel options? Five years after their last conversation on this topic, Clevenger and Lindholm reflect on how dramatically the natural gas discussion has evolved - from early fuel-price-driven interest to today's market, where reliability and financial returns are driving decisions. For more information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/will-more-motor-carriers-choose-to-adopt-renewable-natural-gas/ This episode is sponsored by Fullbay. Visit www.fullbay.com. How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 min
  5. RS182: How Can Public and Private Investments Ease the Truck Parking Crunch?

    11/13/2025

    RS182: How Can Public and Private Investments Ease the Truck Parking Crunch?

    The truck parking issue is not just an inconvenience; it's costing the industry $100 billion annually in lost productivity. In this episode of RoadSigns, co-host Seth Clevenger sits down with Reed Loustalot, chief marketing officer of Truck Parking Club, to explore how a combination of public funding and private innovation can finally ease this persistent pain point for drivers. Recorded live at IANA's 2025 Intermodal Expo, this conversation reveals surprising insights from a groundbreaking study by industry economist Noël Perry. Whether you're a driver struggling to find safe parking, a fleet manager looking for retention tools or simply interested in supply chain efficiency, this episode offers practical solutions to one of trucking's most stubborn challenges. Tune in to discover how better parking access can reduce driver stress, improve freight movement and boost productivity. For more episode information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/how-can-public-and-private-investments-ease-the-truck-parking-crunch/ This episode is sponsored by Chevron Delo® (https://www.chevronlubricants.com/) How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    38 min
  6. RS181: How Can Smarter Maintenance, Data and Technology Transform Fleet Management?

    11/06/2025

    RS181: How Can Smarter Maintenance, Data and Technology Transform Fleet Management?

    When trucks stop, business stops. Every breakdown and delay has a ripple effect across America's supply chain. So, what's holding your fleet back from maximizing uptime? In this episode of RoadSigns, co-host Mike Freeze sits down with Cox Automotive's Matt Trapp (VP of Operations) and Alex Fraser (VP of FleetNet) to unpack the evolving challenges of fleet management and discuss how advanced technologies are shaping the future of maintenance. From the difference between preventive and reactive maintenance to the role of AI and telematics, find out how leading operators are leveraging data and analytics to fill gaps in fleet maintenance and boost uptime. Tune in and learn how to turn your maintenance challenges into competitive advantages. Learn more: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/how-can-smarter-maintenance-data-and-technology-transform-fleet-management/ This episode is sponsored by Cox Automotive. Visit https://www.coxautoinc.com/ for more information. How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    32 min
  7. RS180: How Can Smarter Cruise Control Help Fleets Save Fuel and Time?

    10/30/2025

    RS180: How Can Smarter Cruise Control Help Fleets Save Fuel and Time?

    What if your trucking business could raise the bar for fuel efficiency and make better fleet management decisions through smarter cruise control? With freight rates depressed and carriers surviving on thin margins, every opportunity to enhance fleet efficiency has become even more important. One such opportunity is intelligent cruise control that combines adaptive and predictive capabilities with real-time data to squeeze more efficiency from existing operations. In this episode, Tim Bauer, global aftermarket vice president at Eaton’s Mobility Group, walks us through the evolution of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and their growing impact on commercial trucking. From fuel efficiency and driver variability to sustainability pressures and tight profit margins, tune in to learn how you can make your fleet work smarter. For more information, visit roadsigns.ttnews.com This episode is sponsored by Fullbay (fullbay.com) How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 min
  8. RS179: How Is McLeod Incorporating AI Into Trucking Software?

    10/23/2025

    RS179: How Is McLeod Incorporating AI Into Trucking Software?

    After four decades of providing software to the trucking industry, McLeod is now integrating artificial intelligence into its transportation management systems for carriers and brokers. But, as generative AI tools flood the market and numerous tech startups promise to revolutionize freight operations, transportation companies need more than just buzzwords and promises. In this episode, co-host Seth Clevenger sits down with McLeod Software CEO Tom McLeod at the company's 2025 user conference to answer the question: How is McLeod incorporating AI into trucking software in ways that actually work for carriers and brokers navigating today's challenging freight market? Tune in as we unpack the company's strategy for bringing emerging technologies into the systems that keep the industry moving. For more information: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/episodes/how-is-mcleod-incorporating-ai-into-trucking-software/ This episode is sponsored by DMC Insurance. How'd we do? Give us your listening experience feedback here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2YN79GA4zB5BdD7qJoL11xYEqrVrXpZcwhARZgY03D9ntA/viewform?usp=sf_link Follow the RoadSigns - X/Twitter: ttroadsigns LinkedIn: RoadSignspodcast Instagram: roadsignspodcast Join RoadSigns mailing list: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/join-the-mailing-list/ For sponsorship and guest inquires please visit: https://roadsigns.ttnews.com/roadsigns-contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    31 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

From the creators of Transport Topics, RoadSigns is a podcast about trucking's future. In each episode, you'll follow a transportation journalist on a singular pursuit for the most solid answer to a critical question and meet interesting people along the way. Listen at roadsigns.ttnews.com. Do you have a question for our hosts to answer? Tell us here: https://www.speakpipe.com/RoadSigns For RoadSigns extended cuts visit: https://pages.ttnews.com/RS-Bonus-Content-Archive.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=extended-cuts-2023

You Might Also Like