Read Deborah Lockridge's blog mentioned in the podcast, Predicting Trucking in 2020 – 10 Years Ago
HDT Editors Talk Trucking Trends for 2021
What will the tumultuous events of the first week of January mean for the trucking industry? How will the top stories of 2020, from COVID to electric and autonomous trucks, play out in 2021?

HDT editors share their reflections and predictions in a special HDT Talks Trucking podcast.
Photo: Jim Park
What will the tumultuous events of the first week of January mean for the trucking industry? How will the top stories of 2020, from COVID to electric and autonomous trucks, play out in 2021?
The HDT editorial team gathered for a roundtable on Jan. 7 to offer reflections on the top stories of 2020 and expectations for the year ahead through a trucking lens. The result is a special HDT Talks Trucking podcast.
HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge, Equipment Editor and podcast host Jim Park, and contributing editors David Cullen and Jack Roberts offer their thoughts on these questions and more:
How did the trucking industry weather the COVID-19 pandemic and when will things be back to “normal”?
Are new hours of service all they’re cracked up to be – and will they stand under a new administration that may roll back some of the deregulation of the past four years?
With Democrats taking a narrow majority in Washington, how will politics play out post-Trump?
Will 2021 finally give us an infrastructure bill?
What will a Democratic emphasis on “green” mean for trucking?
Is 2021 the year electric trucks will go mainstream – and will electric trucks from Tesla and Nikola live up to the hype?
How soon will we see self-driving trucks?
Look for the HDT Talks Trucking episode titled, "HDT Editorial Roundtable – Looking back at 2020 and ahead at 2021" on your favorite podcast platform or listen below:
More Fleet Management

Geotab Links Fleet Card to Vehicle Data
The new card combines fuel discounts with telematics-based purchase controls. Geotab’s analysis also points to potential savings from choosing lower-priced fuel stops.
Read More →
How MFA Helps Protect Trucking Fleets
Multi-factor authentication adds protection when passwords are stolen. Here’s how it works and where fleets should start.
Read More →
How Better Freight Data Helps Trucking Teams Get Ahead of Disruption
Trucking and logistics teams have plenty of data. The problem is getting the right information in front of the right people soon enough to act. Better-connected data can help teams spot trouble earlier and make smarter decisions before small problems become big ones.
Read More →
Trimble: Taking Artificial Intelligence in Trucking Beyond Faster Tasks
At Insight 2026, Trimble executives argued that fleets may need to redesign workflows to get more from AI as it introduced new products and enhancements. AI’s value will depend on how fleets combine automation with their people's knowledge.
Read More →
Build a bulletproof fleet: Uniting ELDs and dash cams for total compliance
An ELD can prove compliance, but it cannot always prove what happened on the road. Discover how uniting accurate ELD data with AI-powered dash cam video can help your fleet strengthen compliance, defend against liability, protect drivers and reduce operational costs.
Read More →
Nominations Open for HDT Emerging Leaders
Heavy Duty Trucking is looking for accomplished trucking fleet professionals under 40 who are making an impact and helping lead the industry forward.
Read More →
Why Private Fleets Are Taking More Freight
Private fleets are putting their own trucks on demanding customers and high-cost lanes as companies seek greater control over service, costs, and capacity.
Read More →
Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform
For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.
Read More →
FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition
Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.
Read More →
2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft
Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.
Read More →

