Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey Trent welcomes Nelson County Area Technology Center instructor Scott Thompson and student Treavon Laning, who recently earned a bronze medal in the SkillsUSA National Heavy Equipment Operations competition. Treavon shares his journey from growing up around farm and construction equipment to competing against the nation's top students and becoming the only Kentucky student to earn a medal at the national competition. The conversation explores the skills, p...

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey sits down with Scott Shaw, President & CEO of Lincoln Tech, to explore how one of the most established technical schools in the country is preparing the next generation of diesel technicians. Scott shares his unexpected journey from banking and private equity into skilled trades education, and how 25 years at Lincoln Tech has shown him the life-changing impact of hands-on training. He walks through Lincoln’s history—from its post-WWII beginnings t...

In this special edition of NextGen Talks, host Lindsey Trent sits down with Jeff from J&M Tank Lines to discuss how his company is tackling the diesel technician shortage by partnering with Wallace State Community College through the innovative Diesel by Distance program. Jeff shares his personal journey from mechanic to director, the steps J&M has taken to invest in young talent, and how their unique apprenticeship-style model blends on-the-job training with classroom instruction. L...

In this episode of NGT Talks, Lindsey sits down with Addison Stout, a 26-year-old from Grand Island Express and a proud member of TCA’s Elevate class, to share her unexpected path into trucking. With a background in business management and no prior knowledge of the industry, Addison took a chance on an interview that launched her career. Four years later, she’s thriving as an Optimal Solutions Specialist, working with AI to streamline dispatch operations for a family-owned fleet of 170 trucks...

In this episode, Lindsey sit down with Bryan Boyd, Senior National Account Manager at Hendrickson, who shares his 26-year journey from the shop floor to managing relationships with top 100 fleets. Bryan reflects on Hendrickson’s "big company, small feel" culture and how training and development—especially for Gen Z—have been vital to retention and growth. We dive into Hendrickson’s recent presence at the Technology Student Association (TSA) national conference, where they engaged with thousan...

In this episode, Lindsey Trent sits down with Melanie Simard, Vice President of Safety Compliance at ISAAC Instruments, to explore her inspiring and unconventional journey through the trucking industry. From starting in logistics to driving heavy loads across tough routes, Melanie broke barriers in a male-dominated field and steadily transitioned into leadership roles focused on safety and technology. She shares insights into the evolution of the industry, the role of user-friendly tech like ...

In this episode of NGT Talks, host Lindsey Trent engages with Brad Klepper and Marilyn Surber from Driver's Legal Plan, who share insights into their 35-year history as a national law firm dedicated to defending CDL drivers and motor carriers. The discussion covers the company's affordable legal services, wherein drivers pay a flat fee of $100 per case for traffic violations, with a 95% success rate without requiring their presence in court. They highlight the importance of maintaining ...

In this episode, Lindsey talks with Nisrine Masri with Movers Dispatch. Nisrine, a seasoned professional in the moving and storage industry, shares insights from her two-decade career, highlighting her journey from sales to owning her own moving company for 22 years. The discussion focused on the industry's high-stress nature for clients and the specific skill sets required for drivers, along with the challenges of recruiting younger workers due to the physically demanding aspects of th...