The cheapest decision today could create higher costs tomorrow.
Robert Braswell has spent 33 years at the neutral technical seat of the trucking industry as Executive Director of the Technology and Maintenance Council. He sees what's actually working across fleets — and what's being abandoned. In this conversation, he breaks down what fleets are betting on for 2027. How leaders can balance immediate savings with smarter investments in drivers, technicians, maintenance data and emerging technology.
This episode is sponsored by Element Fleet Management.
If your organization depends on a fleet of vehicles, it's time to think about your fleet as a strategic asset.
Connect
Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC)
American Trucking Associations
Chapters
0:00 The Decisions Fleets Are Making in 2026
1:29 How TMC Sets Technical Standards for Fleets
2:22 What’s Keeping Fleet Managers Up at Night in 2026
5:05 The 35% Fuel-Economy Gap Between Drivers
5:44 Why Fleets Chase 1-2% Fuel-Economy Gains
9:31 Aftertreatment and the Uncertainty Around 2027 Trucks
11:00 Why Fleets Are Pre-Buying the Vehicles They Know
14:12 Where Electric Trucks Fit Today
15:54 Why Better Fleet Decisions Depend on Better Data
20:24 The Headlights Were Never the Problem
27:17 The Technician Shortage Isn’t About Applicants
33:32 Are You Managing for Uptime or the Quarterly Bonus?
34:04 The KPIs That Actually Matter for Fleet Uptime
37:47 What the National Technician Skills Competition Reveals
46:15 What AI Is for Fleets
52:44 How Autonomous Trucks Could Reshape Fleet Maintenance
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.