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.

2 DAYS AGO

Physical AI Is Coming for Fleet Operations

Physical AI is rewriting what's possible for autonomous fleets, and the infrastructure decisions you make today determine your competitive position in 2035. Colin Dhillon, futurist and advisor to NuPort Robotics, joins Chris Brandt on The Fleet to explain why fleet leaders who start building autonomous capability now gain compounding advantages over those who wait for "perfect" solutions. Neural networks have eliminated the need for human-written code in autonomous vehicles, learning from sensor data in real time instead. Lights-out factories are producing a million phones with zero humans. The truck cabin itself could disappear, replaced by humanoids that handle the last remaining manual task like placing safety cones. This conversation breaks down how Physical AI (the convergence of neural networks, autonomous systems, and real-world operations) is reshaping fleet economics faster than most leaders realize, and what separates organizations positioning for the future from those still optimizing yesterday's operations. Chapters: 0:00 Why “Robots Taking Jobs” Was Wrong - Until Now 2:10 Colin’s Journey from Car Design to Physical AI 4:18 What Is Physical AI? 7:24 80s Robots vs Today’s Neural Networks 9:48 Lights-Out Manufacturing for Fleets 12:38 30 Humanoids on Stage - Training Compressed from Weeks to Hours 15:22 How Autonomous Systems Change Fleet Labor Models 16:32 Why Colin Went from Fighting Regulation to Calling for It 18:46 The Infrastructure Problem - Why Autonomy Fails in the Real World 24:52 Why True 5G (and 6G) Matters for Fleet Autonomy 30:07 Why Fleets Will Be the First to Fully Adopt Autonomy 30:42 The Cone Problem - Autonomy’s Last Human Barrier 35:16 94% of Accidents Are Human Error - The Case for Physical AI 36:47 The Truck Cabin Might Disappear Entirely 42:44 How Zero-Marginal-Cost Operations Change Everything 48:47 About Kulbir Colin Singh Dhillon -- The Fleet podcast is brought to you by Element. To learn more about how Element can move your fleet forward, visit elementfleet.com 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.

50 min
10 MAR

Strategic Theft: The $725M Crime Wave Hiding in Your Supply Chain

Cargo theft has fundamentally evolved – and the criminals behind it aren't breaking locks. They're forging documents, building fake carrier identities, and running what amounts to a direct-to-consumer pipeline for stolen goods. In this episode, Danny Ramon, Intelligence and Response Manager at Overhaul, reveals how modern cargo theft works. With 15 years in supply chain security and hands-on experience recovering stolen loads, Danny exposes the invisible fraud happening inside everyday fleet operations. Danny walks us through strategic theft: the use of fraud to steal cargo under the guise of legitimate business. From the "criminal direct-to-consumer pipeline" born during the pandemic to the exact fraud mechanics criminals use to extract 98% of loads while delivering perfect paperwork, you'll learn how organized crime exploits normal receiving procedures. We explore why toilet paper became a premium target in 2020, how AI and modern technology are scaling these operations globally, why the "golden hour" determines recovery success, and the two non-negotiable security priorities every fleet needs: visibility and situational awareness. If your fleet still relies on ink-and-paper BOLs or thinks security is just about physical protection, this conversation will fundamentally shift how you think about cargo protection in 2026 and beyond. Chapters: 00:00 - How Criminals Steal Cargo With Perfect Paperwork 04:36 - Current Targets: GPUs, Crypto, and Viral Products 09:58 - Fraud in Plain Sight: 40 Pallets Become 2 15:19 - The Criminal Direct-to-Consumer Pipeline 20:42 - The ROI of Prevention: One Loss Pays for Years 27:02 - Why Third-Party Security Partners Make Sense 30:12 - The Golden Hour: 98% Recovery in 1-2 Hours 35:00 - How AI Enables Wider Fraud Nets 41:13 - Why Pharma Leads: The Canary in the Coal Mine 43:30 - Building Law Enforcement Relationships Before Crisis 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.

45 min
17 FEB

How AI and Autonomy Are Redefining Fleet Operations in 2026

Fleets are undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation and the companies leading this shift aren't traditional automakers. In this episode, Philipp Kampshoff, Co-founder of McKinsey's Center for Future Mobility and the Global Co-lead of its Automotive Practice, and Dor Shay, CTO of Element Mobility and Autofleet, break down what's really changing in fleet operations. You'll discover why $1 trillion in outside investment (94% from tech, not auto) is accelerating innovation faster than anyone predicted, why autonomy:not electrification:will be the true game-changer for fleets, and how simple data integrations are already delivering 70% reductions in downtime. From MS Paint vehicle repositioning to AI-driven orchestration, from 2,500-mile break-even points to 7,500-mile autonomous futures, this conversation challenges conventional wisdom while offering practical guidance on what to pilot now versus what to wait on. Whether you're managing a delivery fleet, rethinking charging infrastructure, or just trying to keep up with the pace of change, this episode delivers the strategic perspective and real-world examples you need to stay competitive in 2026. Chapters: 0:00 - Future of Fleet Management with McKinsey & Element 2:02 - $1 Trillion in Fleet Technology Investment (92% From Outside Automotive) 6:30 - Fleet Manager Strategy for Adopting New Technology 13:38 - Fleet Automation Success Story (From Manual to 70% Less Downtime) 18:26 - Fleet Data Management and Building Your Data Lake 26:52 - Autonomous Vehicles vs Electrification (Which Will Transform Fleets?) 32:39 - Fleet Technology Pilots (What to Test Now vs What to Wait On) 36:49 - Fleet Technology Hype Cycle and What's Overrated in 2026 42:34 - EV Charging Infrastructure and Solving the Fleet Electrification Challenge 49:17 - Fleet Management Advice for 2026 on Innovation and Partnerships 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.

51 min
3 FEB

Stop Treating EV Charging Like a Parking Problem

You’re not stuck because there aren’t enough chargers. Dr. Sheldon Williamson, professor at Ontario Tech, explains why the real constraint is when and how power hits the grid, not where vehicles sit. Chris Brandt hosts this episode of The Fleet covering smart charging, grid stress, incentives, battery tech, and why tomorrow’s fleet leaders will need energy literacy as much as operational know-how. Chapters: 0:00 EV Charging Solutions Require Energy Literacy 1:25 Sheldon Williamson Explains Fleet Electrification 2:30 Why EV Adoption Slowed and What’s Next 4:45 Incentives, Policy, and What’s Actually Blocking Progress 7:20 Charging Density, Battery Cost, and Vehicle Economics 10:10 Charging Is a Scheduling Problem, Not Infrastructure 11:55 Lithium Dependence, China, and Battery Supply Chains 16:30 Post-Lithium Batteries: Sodium, Potassium, and What’s Next 19:25 Hybrid Battery Systems: Power vs Energy Chemistries 23:10 Range Anxiety, Charging Distance, and Human Behavior 29:45 Infrastructure Strategy: Buildings, Utilities, and Government’s Role 36:25 Energy Literacy: Education, Confidence, and Systems Thinking 41:10 Electrifying Aviation, Renewables, and Real Emissions Impact 51:25 Fleets as Grid Assets: Vehicle-to-Grid and Demand Response This episode of The Fleet is brought to you in partnership with Element Fleet Management. If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it’s time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Element delivers end-to-end solutions that reduce costs, improve productivity and support sustainability goals. From vehicle acquisition to electrification and everything in between, Element’s data-driven approach helps organizations optimize performance and keep their drivers safe and supported on the road. To learn more about how Element can move your fleet forward, visit elementfleet.com 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.

58 min
20 JAN

Vehicle Design Is the Bottleneck of EVs

Vehicles were designed for an old era of transportation. The modern fleet demands a redesign. In this episode of The Fleet, Will Graylin, Founder & CEO of IndiGO Technologies, explores how today’s fleet needs have outgrown traditional vehicle assumptions, and why electrification works best when vehicles, charging, and deployment are designed together as a system. From last-mile delivery and charging access to community-level operations, this conversation reframes EV adoption as an opportunity to rethink how fleets are built and deployed for today’s realities. Key Moments: 0:00 Why EV Architecture Has to Change 1:20 Will Graylin is Reinventing the Wheel for Fleets 3:55 The Fleet EV Problem (Last-Mile + Charging) 11:30 Fleet Electrification Needs Systems Thinking 14:10 Smart Wheels Explained 18:00 Modular EV Architecture 22:10 Accessibility and New Fleet Use Cases 24:25 Why OEMs Struggle to Change 28:20 The Model T Lesson for EVs 32:10 What Fleet Managers Should Evaluate 35:30 EV Charging as the Bottleneck 38:00 Safety, Visibility, and Vehicle Size 41:10 EV Fleet Ownership and Business Models 45:00 Electrification-as-a-Service (EASE) 46:05 Go Loop and Community Fleets 49:35 The Future of EV Fleets If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it’s time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset. Element delivers end-to-end solutions that reduce costs, improve productivity and support sustainability goals. From vehicle acquisition to electrification and everything in between, Element’s data-driven approach helps organizations optimize performance and keep their drivers safe and supported on the road. To learn more about how Element can move your fleet forward, visit elementfleet.com 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.

53 min
6 JAN

How the RIGHT Data Changes Driver Behavior (And Saves Lives!)

The world’s next fleet evolution isn’t just electric - it’s contextual. Chris Brandt sits down with Dominique Kwong, Founder and CEO of Damon, to explore how “data with context” can prevent accidents before they happen, how micro-mobility is reshaping last-mile delivery, and why Gen Z may push fleets toward an access-over-ownership model faster than expected. Key Moments: 0:00 Why Contextual Data Matters for Fleets 1:05 Dominique Kwong Explains Safety Through Knowledge 5:08 Building Damon 6:28 Safety Systems in Action 12:08 When Software Becomes a Safety System 13:48 How Data Changes Driver Behavior Before Accidents Happen 18:08 Why Fleets Need Shared, Connected Data 23:48 The Last-Mile Problem and the Rise of Micro-Mobility Fleets 30:48 What Asia Gets Right About Mobility and Infrastructure 35:48 Gen Z, Shared Vehicles, and the End of Ownership 40:13 A Vehicle-Agnostic Safety Intelligence Platform 45:28 The Three Priorities for the Future of Fleet Safety 49:33 What’s Next in Fleet Safety? 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.

51 min
09/12/2025

Electric Aircraft Are Coming. But Is the Supply Chain Ready?

From vertiports to predictive maintenance, Aviation is entering a new era - and the supply chain is under pressure. In this episode of The Fleet, WestJet’s Director of Supply Chain, Shail Oza, explains how electric aviation, flight analytics, and new infrastructure will transform airline operations. Key Moments (audio versions): 0:00 The Airline Industry Is About to Transform 1:33 Shail Oza Explains the Aviation Supply Chain 4:44 Standing Up a New Aircraft Fleet From Scratch 8:44 Real-Time Aircraft Data and Predictive Maintenance 12:25 24/7 Maintenance, Uptime, and Inventory Strategy 14:10 Pandemic Shocks, Tariffs, and Fragile Aviation Supply Chains 23:44 Data, Analytics, and Making Maintenance a Revenue Protector 29:49 Electric Aircraft, eVTOL, and the Next Wave of Fleets 35:50 Drones, Zipline, and Last-Mile Delivery by Air 40:05 Vertiports, Backyard Launchpads, and New Infrastructure 44:25 How Fleet Managers Can Prepare for Aviation's Next Era 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.

47 min
18/11/2025

Are Cities Dying? How Urban Design Shapes Mobility

What creates good city infrastructure? What makes it fail? Professor Shauna Brail from the University of Toronto joins The Fleet to unpack why cities remain the beating heart of innovation, what makes infrastructure succeed or fail, and how human-centric design is quietly redefining mobility. From post-industrial skylines to the rise of third spaces and multimodal fleets, this episode explores what future-ready cities can teach every leader about building resilient systems that move people and ideas forward. Key Moments: 0:00 Shauna Brail Explains How Cities Never Die 1:30 Why Urban Areas Still Matter 3:48 How Modern Cities Are Formed From Industrial Roots 8:24 The Cost of Old Urban Planning 10:55 Path Dependence - You Can’t Just Create a Tech City 16:29 How to Redefine Your City - Urban Comeback Stories 20:25 Remote Work and the Future of Cities 27:30 Third Spaces and Workplaces Beyond the Office 32:24 Human-Centric Streets and Urban Mobility Fleets 39:26 Wins and Mistakes of Long-Term City Planning 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.

55 min

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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.