Podcast: Trucking's year in review: Freight recession, uncertainty, technology
The Fleet Lead’s editors share a retrospective on 2025 and a look ahead to 2026, focusing on the industry’s latest problems: freight demand and regulatory uncertainty.
In 2025, the three-year economic slump continued to drag on. Manufacturers and fleets have struggled to plan for the future as the Trump administration complicates the industry recovery with tariffs and regulatory uncertainties. Electric vehicle hype died down.
How will these challenges take shape in 2026, and who will come out on top?
The discussion features John Hitch from Fleet Maintenance, Josh Fisher from FleetOwner, Kevin Jones from Trailer Body Builders, and Jason McDaniel from Bulk Transporter.
Timestamps:
- 1:07 - The never-ending recession
- 5:41 - Driver quality
- 8:15 - FET repeal: Pipedream?
- 11:37 - EVs on the backburner
- 15:25 - Tariff impacts
- 23:05 - Looking for a positive outlook
Predictions for 2026
- 32:57 - Josh Fisher: Autonomous trucking
- 33:51 - Jason McDaniel: No pre-buy & tech integration
- 36:25 - Kevin Jones: Market share shakeup
- 37:15 - John Hitch: AI tools
About the Author
John Hitch
Editor
John Hitch is the editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, providing maintenance management and technicians with the the latest information on the tools and strategies to keep their fleets' commercial vehicles moving. He is based out of Cleveland, Ohio, and was previously senior editor for FleetOwner. He previously wrote about manufacturing and advanced technology for IndustryWeek and New Equipment Digest.
Josh Fisher
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief Josh Fisher has been with FleetOwner since 2017. He covers everything from modern fleet management to operational efficiency, artificial intelligence, autonomous trucking, alternative fuels and powertrains, regulations, and emerging transportation technology. Based in Maryland, he writes the Lane Shift Ahead column about the changing North American transportation landscape.
Kevin Jones
Editor
Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.
Working from Beaufort, S.C., Kevin has covered trucking and manufacturing for nearly 20 years. His writing and commentary about the trucking industry and, previously, business and government, has been recognized with numerous state, regional, and national journalism awards.
Jason McDaniel
Jason McDaniel, based in the Houston TX area, has nearly 20 years of experience as a journalist. He spent 15 writing and editing for daily newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, and began covering the commercial vehicle industry in 2018. He was named editor of Bulk Transporter and Refrigerated Transporter magazines in July 2020.