MENU
SEARCHHDT’s editors have chosen five fleet executives who are leading the industry in areas including artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, information technology, driver retention, efficiency, maintenance, trailer spec’ing, safety and more.
HDT's 2024 Truck Fleet Innovators are, from left, Shane Blanchette of QCD, John Paape of Roehl Transport, Nathan Klein of Sun Logistics, Volker Bargenda of Standard Logistics, and Kyle Neumann of Foodliner.
Image: HDT Graphic
Who are Heavy Duty Trucking’s Truck Fleet Innovators for 2024? HDT’s editors have chosen five fleet executives who are leading the industry in areas including artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, information technology, driver retention, efficiency, maintenance, trailer spec’ing, safety and more.
HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators are executives from heavy-duty trucking fleets, chosen for specific innovations and for fostering an overall culture that encourages innovative thinking.
They will be HDT’s guests at the Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange event at a luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sept. 4-6, for the awards ceremony. HDT’s editors will moderate a panel discussion with the Innovators exploring their successes, challenges, and the importance of innovation.
Bargenda came aboard to grow what was a private fleet into a full-fledged freight carrier and brokerage operation. He used technology updates and change management techniques to grow the fleet significantly, even in the recent freight recession environment. The company provides dry van, flatbed, tanker, and pneumatic services, with more than 400 drivers and 20 locations.
A Golden State Foods company, QCD is a national food service logistics supplier doing last-mile delivery to restaurants and coffee shops. Blanchette about three years ago embarked on a project to implement battery-electric trucks in its California operations and has worked to make drivers’ jobs easier through multiple initiatives.
This last-mile less-than-truckload carrier operates in NYC and Miami with 150 drivers, with trailers designed for these close urban areas where some fear to tread. Klein came into the company and changed technology and processes, using data and AI to drive efficiencies, connecting everything from EDIs and routing to billing and weather.
In charge of spec’ing and maintaining more than 1,600 power units and 3,500 tanker and dry bulk trailers, Neumann has been on a quest to create the next-generation trailer, maximizing longevity, safety, and load integrity. He also has extended drain intervals to 90,000 miles.
Paape heads up a 45-person IT team at the 2,200-truck fleet, which offers dry van, flatbed, refrigerated, dedicated, and curtainside transportation. His team writes and maintains custom software integrating all its operations, from dispatching to maintenance to driver safety.
Innovators are chosen based on nominations from the trucking industry, publicly available information, and an interview with each candidate.
Read full profiles of each Innovator on Truckinginfo.com oor in the May/June print issue of Heavy Duty Trucking.
Mullen has trucking experience with government, associations, trucking companies and suppliers.
Read More →
Super Bowl LX drove a spike in trucking freight volumes into San Jose. New data shows which equipment types benefited most.
Read More →
Artificial intelligence is changing how cybercriminals and cargo thieves target trucking fleets—and how fleets defend themselves. As phishing, impersonation, and cargo theft converge, cybersecurity is becoming a core part of fleet safety and operations.
Read More →
Fleetworthy's new Bestpass Toll360 add-on uses route data and AI to predict toll charges, reconcile invoices, and automatically file eligible disputes—helping fleets cut manual work and recover overpayments.
Read More →
Mack Financial Services has introduced the Rolling Asset Program, offering physical damage insurance for all makes and models within a customer's fleet.
Read More →
Beware of a new phishing scheme targeting motor carriers. Scammers are sending emails posing as FMCSA or DOT officials to steal data.
Read More →
A new partnership brings free wireless ELD service plus load optimization and dispatch planning tools to fourth- and fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia customers, with broader model availability planned through 2026.
Read More →
This white paper examines how advanced commercial vehicle diagnostics can significantly reduce fleet downtime as heavy duty vehicles become more complex. It shows how Autel’s CV diagnostic tools enable in-house troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and faster repairs, helping fleets cut emissions-related downtime, reduce dealer dependence, and improve overall vehicle uptime and operating costs.
Read More →
6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI
Read More →
The $283 million acquisition of FirstFleet makes Werner the fifth-largest dedicated carrier and pushes more than half of its revenue into contract freight.
Read More →
