The Fleet

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The #1 podcast for fleet managers and their teams. From electrification and autonomous vehicles to safety, sustainability, and global supply chains, host Chris Brandt brings you the people, trends, and technologies shaping the future of fleet management today.

  1. Oct 20

    How Salem Became the #1 Government Fleet

    The City of Salem, Oregon, was named the #1 Public Fleet in NAFA's 100 Best Fleets competition in 2026, followed by the #1 Overall Leading Fleet in Government Fleet's national rankings.  Achieving that recognition while managing nearly 1,200 assets with a team of just nine technicians required more than operational improvements. It meant changing the culture of the entire department.  In this episode of The Fleet, host Chris Brandt welcomes Jim Schmidt, Acting IT Director for the City of Salem, to discuss how he helped transform the city's fleet operation through employee empowerment, strategic outsourcing, and data-driven decision-making.  Jim shares how his team improved vehicle availability from a reported baseline of 88% to 99%, streamlined maintenance workflows, and built a culture of trust and accountability. He also discusses the value of pursuing national fleet rankings, how recognition can help demonstrate fleet's value to city leadership, and why getting employees invested in continuous improvement has been central to Salem's success.   ConnectJim Schmidt on LinkedIn City of Salem — Fleet Services   SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com.   Chapters0:00 The #1 fleet in government — and how Jim got there1:04 Why running a municipal fleet is a different game1:59 From farming and cranes to fleet manager (by accident)3:38 Nine technicians, 1,148 assets, one of everything4:33 Walking into Salem's shop in 2018 — what he inherited5:13 The morale problem behind the mess6:21 'Moving forward' — the two-word slogan that changed everything8:50 The two-word hiring rule: attitude and aptitude12:28 Outsourcing upfits and standardizing the fleet17:08 88% to 99% availability — what actually fixed it19:34 Reclassing parts jobs into a data analyst and grant writer20:31 The $200 'savings' costing thousands in tow bills23:15 Killing the cost-center mindset in city hall28:37 Why he chased the #1 ranking — rankings as political armor30:20 The 40-year employee who walked in and asked one question33:51 Empowerment on the shop floor: 'find a way to yes'37:25 Building trust when you're not the technical expert42:44 The future of fleet: from mechanics to problem solvers Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Oct 6

    Every Fleet Has a Safety Program. How Many Have Safety Culture?

    Technology can show you what’s happening across a fleet. But Erin Gilchrist has found that technology questions often lead back to the same place: leadership, behavior, and culture. Erin, founder of Fleet Unfiltered Consulting and former AFLA Fleet Manager of the Year, explains the difference between a safety program and a real safety culture, how to build KPIs that operations leaders actually care about, and how Safelite tied fleet costs to customers served to connect fleet performance directly to the bottom line. She also breaks down where AI can help fleet managers, why judgment still matters, and what separates a vendor from a true strategic partner.   Connect Erin Gilchrist on LinkedIn The Fleet Podcast   Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com   Chapters • 0:00 Fleet Safety Programs vs Safety Culture • 1:35 From transactional to strategic fleets • 6:44 Why tech alone won't move driver behavior • 15:47 The most dangerous tool any company issues a human being • 17:25 Fleet as revenue generator, not cost center • 23:07 What Real Safety Culture Looks Like • 25:40 Why safety and sustainability can't survive alone • 27:06 The driver-behavior lever • 31:29 Real vs fake safety signals • 34:28 The KPIs that actually matter • 38:04 The Safelite fleet cost per mobile customer served • 43:23 Getting fleet a seat at the table • 47:07 How fleet managers should be using AI right now • 49:56 The four levels of vendor relationships   Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Every Fleet Has a Safety Program. How Many Have Safety Culture?

  3. Sep 22

    Best Way to Learn Fleet? Become a Sponge.

    Jamie McKay walked into a role that had never existed at Aptive Pest Control, in the middle of COVID, knowing almost nothing about fleet. Six years later, she manages a fleet that has grown from 400 vehicles to more than 2,400 across 76 locations. Her approach has been simple: get into the room, ask questions, and keep information moving. In this conversation with host Chris Brandt, Jamie explains why she wanted to be “a sponge” in her first year, why fleet needs visibility into the company’s goals, how strong FMC and vendor relationships depend on transparency, and why the best upfit decisions come from listening to the people actually using the vehicles in the field.   Connect Jamie McKay on LinkedIn Aptive Environmental   Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com   Chapters • 0:00 Introduction: 400 to 2,400 vehicles across 76 locations • 1:38 How Jamie fell into fleet — the COVID RIF and the phone call • 4:35 'I wanted to be a sponge' — surviving a role that never existed • 7:31 What actually helped scale from 400 to 2,400 vehicles • 8:50 How to say no without saying the word 'no' • 11:50 Managing supply chain chaos and market change • 13:38 'Fleet's really expensive' — what the C-suite needs to hear • 16:18 Why fleet is an octopus — and touches every department • 20:50 What a real FMC partnership looks like (vs a vendor) • 23:55 Selling fleet spend to a skeptical CFO • 25:23 The most expensive thing a fleet manager can do • 30:23 Why you can't design a fleet vehicle from a desk • 33:24 The backpack problem — and the Decked cargo-glide fix • 39:03 Order Bank Open Day: fleet's Rex Manning Day • 43:41 EVs, safety tech, and the non-negotiables on every new vehicle • 46:38 What keeps a fleet leader up at night   Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Best Way to Learn Fleet? Become a Sponge.

  4. Sep 8

    What Will It Take to Scale Autonomous Trucking?

    Autonomous trucks mean so much more than driverless. Nick Elder, VP of Commercialization at Torc Robotics, joins The Fleet to explain what has to be true before autonomy becomes something fleets can actually use. He breaks down why Level 4 requires a fundamentally different safety architecture, what happens when sensors and autonomous systems need repair or recalibration, and why removing the driver does not remove all the work a driver was doing The conversation also explores how autonomy could fit into existing freight networks, where it may not make economic or operational sense, and what new opportunities could emerge once fleets begin operating autonomous assets at scale.  What you'll learnWhy “first to market” isn’t the real win in autonomous Class 8, and what fleets will actually care about insteadWhy Level 4 autonomy is a complete redesign, not just an upgrade from Level 3What has to happen when there’s no human fallback for braking, steering, service or failureWhy removing the driver doesn’t remove all the work the driver was doingWhat Torc’s fleet advisory council keeps pushing hardest on, from TCO to operational fitWhy the original hub-to-hub model had to evolve to fit existing freight networks betterWhat fleet managers should start auditing now to understand where autonomy could actually workWhy autonomy may improve more than utilization, including cleaner data for maintenance and operational optimizationWhy autonomous trucking still won’t make sense for every route, facility or fleetWhy truck driving can remain a long-term career even as autonomous freight expands  ConnectNick Elder on LinkedIn Torc Robotics The Fleet Podcast   SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset.   Chapters0:00 Why Driverless Trucks Change More Than Driving1:27 Meet Nick Elder and Torc Robotics2:41 Why Torc Isn’t Racing to Be First4:05 From DARPA to Autonomous Class 8 Trucks7:50 What Level 4 Autonomy Means23:03 Why Level 4 Requires a Different System25:42 The Safety Promise of Autonomous Trucks27:55 Why Class 8 Long-Haul Comes First29:06 The Business Case for Autonomous Trucking31:17 Will Autonomous Trucks Replace Drivers?34:29 What Fleets Actually Want From Autonomy36:59 Why the Hub-to-Hub Model Changed40:28 Where Autonomous Trucking Actually Fits45:31 What Truck Drivers Do Besides Driving49:34 How Fleets Should Prepare for Autonomy51:47 New Fleet Models Autonomy Could Enable54:44 What’s Next for Torc Robotics Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. Aug 25

    How Siemens Turned Small SUVs Into Service Vehicles

    Your service vehicle may be built around assumptions that stopped being true years ago. At Siemens, Adam Orth and his team went into the field to see how technicians were actually using their vehicles—and found vans carrying more empty space than equipment, underused shelving, and jobs that no longer required the same setups they once did. In this episode, Adam explains how Siemens rethought parts of its service fleet around the work itself, from moving some roles into SUVs to redesigning upfits around what technicians actually need. He also shares why fleet leaders should question one-for-one replacement, get closer to the field, and be willing to change the vehicle when the job has already changed. Connect Adam Orth on LinkedInSiemens U.S.The Fleet on LinkedIn Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 What Kind of Service Vehicle?2:12 Why Siemens is one of GM's largest EV commercial customers5:39 What Germany's EV sales numbers reveal about US infrastructure7:59 The question that should come before 'which EV'10:45 Throwing out the fleet playbook — and why it wasn't just about EV14:12 'The scroll of excuses' Adam hears every day16:28 The revelation: from vans to Equinox21:31 One ladder nearly killed the whole plan23:09 The upfit rebuild — killing cookie-cutter shelving26:56 'Hauling air' — what the field study actually found29:00 How Siemens thought about the SUV strategy across states32:05 What field feedback surfaced about charging speed37:34 Wind, hills, cold, towing — the range argument fact-checked51:19 The four things that quietly stacked in EV's favor53:19 Advice for fleets early in the EV transition Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    How Siemens Turned Small SUVs Into Service Vehicles

  6. Aug 11

    Fleet Costs Don’t Just Disappear

    Fleet costs money. Trying to minimize those expenses can cost far more. Jennifer Pemberton, Senior Manager of Fleet and Routing at Alsco Uniforms, explains why the cheapest decision in the short term is not always the least expensive one in the long term. From maintaining aging fleets to making the case for better tools and resources, Jennifer shares what it takes to keep costs under control without creating bigger problems down the road. ConnectJennifer Pemberton on LinkedIn Alsco Uniforms The Fleet Podcast SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters0:00 Two people running 2,500 trucks — meet Jen Pemberton 1:21 Inside Alsco: dirty laundry, step vans, and a global operation 3:19 Why every branch runs a slightly different truck 5:17 The cost center trap: how fleet gets labeled 'the department that just spends money' 6:02 Selling maintenance up the chain in dollars and cents 9:37 The 6 branches with on-site fleet shops — and why they cost the least 11:43 Two people, 3,500 vehicles, zero FMC: what running lean actually looks like 16:15 The 2028 vehicle cost wave nobody's ready for 17:58 Fuel up 30% since March: the real cost pressure fleet leaders are facing 19:07 The business case for adding a maintenance management role 22:53 The dash cam rollout that changed everything 25:51 40% idling — the reveal that proved the value of fleet data 29:17 Why minor accidents went UP after dash cams (and why that's good news) 32:40 The one dash cam feature every fleet leader should look for 34:45 Where EVs actually make sense in a fleet 40:29 What's next for Alsco's fleet Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Jul 28

    The Cost of Cutting Costs

    Robert Braswell has spent 33 years at the neutral technical seat of the trucking industry as Executive Director of the Technology and Maintenance Council. He sees what's actually working across fleets — and what's being abandoned. In this conversation, he breaks down what fleets are betting on for 2027. How leaders can balance immediate savings with smarter investments in drivers, technicians, maintenance data and emerging technology. This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management.If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. ConnectRobert Braswell on LinkedIn Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) American Trucking Associations Chapters0:00 The Decisions Fleets Are Making in 2026 1:29 How TMC Sets Technical Standards for Fleets 2:22 What’s Keeping Fleet Managers Up at Night in 2026 5:05 The 35% Fuel-Economy Gap Between Drivers 5:44 Why Fleets Chase 1-2% Fuel-Economy Gains 9:31 Aftertreatment and the Uncertainty Around 2027 Trucks 11:00 Why Fleets Are Pre-Buying the Vehicles They Know 14:12 Where Electric Trucks Fit Today 15:54 Why Better Fleet Decisions Depend on Better Data 20:24 The Headlights Were Never the Problem 27:17 The Technician Shortage Isn’t About Applicants 33:32 Are You Managing for Uptime or the Quarterly Bonus? 34:04 The KPIs That Actually Matter for Fleet Uptime 37:47 What the National Technician Skills Competition Reveals 46:15 What AI Is for Fleets 52:44 How Autonomous Trucks Could Reshape Fleet Maintenance Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Cost of Cutting Costs

  8. Jul 14

    The Trends Reshaping Modern Fleet

    In this special look back at The Fleet, industry leaders explore how mobility, infrastructure, technology, economics, data, and driver experience are becoming part of one connected system. Featuring Sampo Hietanen, Mobility as a Service pioneer; Sven Beiker of Silicon Valley Mobility; Philipp Kampshoff of McKinsey & Company; Dor Shay of Element Mobility and AutoFleet; Will Graylin of Indigo Technologies; Professor Shauna Brail of the University of Toronto; Dr. Sheldon Williamson of Ontario Tech University; Jen VrMeer of BD; Brian Kinniry of Element Fleet Management; and Alejandra Torres of AstraZeneca. This episode is brought to you by Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Learn more at elementfleet.com. Chapters 0:00 Fleet Is Becoming More Than the Vehicle 1:26 What Is Transportation Really Delivering? 5:28 Building the System Around the Vehicle 8:20 Designing the Right Vehicle for the Job 10:23 Where Fleet Technology Creates Value 12:38 Inside the Real Fleet Operation 15:04 Bringing Drivers Through Change 18:45 Targeting the Real Safety Risk 21:21 Pilot, Measure, Scale 24:54 Everything Connected Around the Vehicle Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Trends Reshaping Modern Fleet
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The #1 podcast for fleet managers and their teams. From electrification and autonomous vehicles to safety, sustainability, and global supply chains, host Chris Brandt brings you the people, trends, and technologies shaping the future of fleet management today.

Information

  • Channel
    Mission HQ
  • Creator
    Mission
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Mission.org
  • Show Website
    The Fleet

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