FCCC President and CEO Jeff Sather announces retirement
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. President and CEO Jeff Sather has announced his retirement, effective May 3. Sather served as president and CEO of FCCC since 2018 and oversaw the launch of several successful products and service initiatives.
“While walking away from this amazing position and outstanding company is never easy, I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team during my time here,” Sather said. “From day one, I’ve been inspired by FCCC’s dedication to its customers and tireless efforts to provide them with the best experience possible, no matter what. I’m very grateful to everyone here for their contributions and commitment to our success.”
Sather’s retirement caps a successful professional career of 38 years, including the past 23-plus years across a variety of roles at Daimler Truck North America, FCCC’s parent company. Before joining FCCC, he served as DTNA’s general manager of controlling for nearly 10 years as well as accounting director and director of market and revenue controlling for the trucks segment.
“Jeff has shown exceptional leadership and resilience in the face of evolving responsibilities,” said Jeff Allen, SVP of operations and specialty vehicles at DTNA. “Throughout his career, he has tackled new challenges with grit and determination, which has enabled him to successfully lead FCCC to the market leadership position it is in today.”
DTNA is in the process of identifying Sather's successor.
Key promotions at Fleet Advantage in operations, remarketing, and dealer services
Fleet Advantage, a provider of specialty financing, fleet data analytics, fleet management services, and life cycle cost management, recently announced that Wesley Hall, CTP, has been promoted to fleet director of operations and off lease; Ysis Jackson has been promoted to remarketing operations manager; and Shayna Sweet has been promoted to manager of dealer services and operations administration.
With more than 16 years of fleet management experience, Hall is instrumental in supporting top private fleets utilizing analytics resources such as advanced truck life cycle administrative analytics software. In his role as Fleet Advantage's fleet services director since October 2021, he has fostered strong relationships with customer leadership and field support. Transitioning into his new role, Hall will help lead foundational tasks, including sales of off-lease used Class 8 trucks while continuing to support his customer team.
Jackson has been in remarketing sales administration since 2014. As the company’s remarketing activity has increased, Jackson has expanded to provide good service both internally and externally, and her new role as remarketing operations manager allows her to effectively manage external interactions. She is referenced by her colleagues as “the glue” behind Fleet Advantage’s remarketing team, always keeping everyone together and on task.
Sweet has been with Fleet Advantage, initially as an operations administrator, since 2014. Growing in her role, she’s taken on more tasks within the operations department, including collaborating with the syndication and IT teams to enhance ATLAAS processes. Now as the manager of dealer services and operations administration, Sweet will have an increased workload working closely with dealer services, operations and safety, and client services administration.
“We are proud to congratulate Wesley, Ysis, and Shayna on their well-deserved promotions, as all three have consistently demonstrated their dedication and commitment to client service excellence in helping Fleet Advantage continue to be the largest independent lessor for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, said Jim Wharton, CPA, CLFP, VP of finance for Fleet Advantage. “We are tremendously pleased with all that they have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing all that they achieve in the near future with these new roles.”
NoCell Technologies announces its Driver Advisory Board
NoCell Technologies, a supplier of solutions to mitigate the use of cell phones while behind the wheel of commercial vehicles, recently established the NoCell Driver Advisory Board.
The Board consists of professional drivers and leaders who are committed to helping improve safety on roadways by eliminating distracted driving. The NoCell Driver Advisory Board provides feedback to the NoCell Technologies team on current technologies and issues with adoption and helps determine the best way to share technology advancements with professional drivers.
“We are proud of these accomplished professional drivers who have committed to helping NoCell Technologies end distracted driving,” said Sam Inman, NoCell Technologies CEO. “They are setting the example in the commercial trucking industry by not only putting safety first while driving but also helping to spread the word about the importance of staying focused when behind the wheel.”
The NoCell Driver Advisory Board is composed of six professional drivers and trucking industry professionals:
- Tom Ball is the dedicated transportation manager at Ruan Transportation in El Paso, Texas. He has been part of the trucking industry for more than 25 years. He spends his days focused on the safety of his team and ensuring company drivers follow safe working techniques and procedures.
- Daniel Clark is an owner-operator who hauls local reefer for Classic Carriers in Columbus, Ohio. Over the past 16 years, he has driven more than 2.5 million miles as a professional driver. Clark is the proud recipient of the 2023 Truckload Carriers Association Driver of the Year award.
- Anthony Eck is an independent contractor with Prime Inc. He has been a professional driver for 25 years and has 2.5 million accident-free miles under his belt. Eck placed first in the Utah State Truck Driver Championship in 2023.
- Thomas Miller is an independent contractor who hauls regional freight for Prime Inc. He has been a professional driver for 30 years and has nearly 4 million accident-free miles under his belt. Miller serves as an America’s Road Team captain, is on the Prime Driver Advisory Board, and is an ambassador for the Independent Contractor’s Coalition.
- Emily Plummer is an owner-operator who hauls over-the-road reefers for Prime Inc. in Springfield, Missouri. She has been a professional driver for 24 years and has driven more than 3.25 million miles. In 2024, Plummer was named as an American Trucking Association’s Road Team Captain. She is also the recipient of the 2023 Truckload Carriers Association Driver of the Year award.
- Charles Smith is a lease operator who hauls over-the-road reefer for Prime Inc. based out of Springfield, Missouri. Charles has been a professional driver for seven years, trains new drivers, and has driven nearly 1 million miles. Smith serves on the Prime Driver Advisory Board and has been named Prime’s #1 Fleet Driver.
"This is an exceptional group of professional drivers,” said Corey Woinarowicz, NoCell chief revenue officer. “We meet regularly to discuss technology, how to best communicate with drivers, what they’re seeing on the road, and how we can help increase safety. Their input is invaluable as we work to ensure trucking companies are upholding FMCSA cell phone regulations and keeping our roadways safe.”
ZF Friedrichshafen appoints Florian Laudan new head of corporate communications
Effective July 1, Florian Laudan will take over as head of ZF corporate communications. He will report directly to CEO Dr. Holger Klein and will be responsible for press and public relations, internal and change communications, as well as marketing and brand identity for ZF worldwide.
Laudan succeeds Christoph Horn, who will leave the company on June 30 at his own request after nine years of leading the technology group's communications.
"Florian Laudan takes the baton at a time when communication is playing an increasingly important role in achieving our corporate goals," Klein said. "Being able to fill a strategically important position internally shows that ZF is also well positioned in this area. For this and for his great commitment to ZF, I would like to thank his predecessor, Christoph Horn."
Since January 2022, Laudan has successfully led the communications of ZF's commercial vehicles solutions division. Before that, he spent 17 years in various senior communications positions at Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Bank AG, and Daimler Truck AG.
"As a technology company, ZF is not only a mainstay of the global mobility industry but is also driving the transformation of the industry with its system solutions for customers," said Laudan. "As head of communications, shaping this exciting process together with a strong international team and communicating the company's positions to all internal and external stakeholders is a challenge that I am very much looking forward to."
