Hammer Down

Inside the Next Era of Trucking: Volvo’s Vision for Autonomous Tech, Driver Experience, and Global Logistics

Supply chains are under pressure like never before—fuel prices are volatile, driver shortages persist, and new technologies are rewriting the rules in real time. In fact, at major U.S. truckload carriers, driver turnover has historically exceeded 90% annually—highlighting just how urgent it is to improve both efficiency and the driver experience. Trucking isn’t just about moving goods anymore—it’s about building smarter, safer, and more efficient machines that keep the global economy running. The question isn’t whether the industry will evolve—it’s who will lead that transformation, and what the next generation of trucks will demand from the companies that build them. So what does the future of trucking actually look like—and how are manufacturers balancing fuel efficiency, driver retention, and emerging technologies like autonomy? Welcome to Hammer Down, hosted by Mike Bush. In this special episode, Magnus Koeck, Vice President of Strategy, Marketing & Brand Management at Volvo Trucks, joins the show to discuss Volvo’s latest truck platform and the newly launched VNR series. Broadcasting from Volvo’s headquarters in Radford, Virginia, the episode explores how a multi-billion-dollar investment is reshaping truck design, driver experience, and the broader supply chain landscape. Along the way, Mike gets behind the wheel himself, test-driving Volvo’s new trucks as part of the hands-on experience. Top insights from the talk… * Volvo’s new truck platform prioritizes three pillars: safety, fuel efficiency, and driver experience—with measurable gains like up to 10% improved fuel efficiency in long-haul models. * Driver retention is a critical cost factor, with truck design increasingly focused on comfort, maneuverability, and livability to reduce turnover. * Emerging technologies like AI, connectivity, and autonomous driving are poised to transform the industry, though adoption timelines remain uncertain. Magnus Koeck brings decades of global experience to his role at Volvo Trucks, having started his career in Sweden in 1989 working in powertrain manufacturing. Over the past 35+ years, he has held various leadership roles across international markets, gaining deep insights into regional trucking needs—from high-horsepower demands in South Africa to security-driven design changes in Brazil. His work today focuses on aligning Volvo’s product strategy with the future of mobility, sustainability, and supply chain innovation.

Inside the Spot Freight Shift: How Manifold Is Simplifying a Fragmented Logistics Market

The freight market is in the midst of a notable shift. With national tender rejection rates approaching 14% by the end of Q1, freight conditions have shifted back in carriers’ favor, often coinciding with increased activity in the spot market. At the same time, logistics teams are juggling an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of portals, emails, and manual workflows just to compete for those opportunities. The stakes are high: inefficiency means missed revenue, lost time, and exposure to fraud in an already volatile market. So how can brokers and carriers cut through the noise, capture more spot opportunities, and operate with greater confidence in a chaotic system? On this episode of Hammer Down, host Mike Bush sits down with Oliver Jones, co-founder and CEO of Manifold, and Trey Griggs, Chief Revenue Officer at Manifold. Together, they unpack how their platform is tackling one of logistics’ most persistent challenges—bringing clarity and efficiency to the spot freight market—while exploring broader trends shaping the industry today. Key takeaways from the episode… * Manifold aggregates multiple private freight portals into a single platform, giving users visibility and control over spot opportunities in one place. * The rise in tender rejections is pushing more freight into the spot market, creating new revenue opportunities—especially for carriers optimizing backhauls. * Automation, when paired with human oversight, can streamline bidding processes without sacrificing the nuance required to win freight effectively. Oliver Jones is the co-founder and CEO of Manifold, where he applies his expertise in automated spot bidding and logistics technology to improve freight market efficiency. Previously at Convoy Inc, he led cross-functional engineering, data science, and program teams, scaling automated bidding from 40% to 90%, improving margins, and building high-performing, reliable systems for shipper integrations and shipment decisioning. With a background spanning engineering leadership and software development, including roles at Dell EMC Isilon, he specializes in blending technical and business strategy to drive operational efficiency, product innovation, and team growth in the freight and logistics sector. Trey Griggs is the Chief Revenue Officer at Manifold, where he drives growth through automated spot freight quoting and revenue optimization strategies for trucking companies and brokers. He brings deep expertise in sales, marketing, and brand strategy, having led revenue and go-to-market efforts at firms like Lean Solutions Group and DAT Solutions, while also advising logistics businesses via his consultancy. Known for building high-performing sales processes and messaging frameworks, he specializes in helping logistics organizations increase revenue through structured strategy, coaching, and technology adoption.

Autonomous Trucking Can Shrink Coast-to-Coast Delivery Times and Increase Fleet Productivity

The idea of a self-driving 80,000-pound truck barreling down the interstate once felt like science fiction. Now, it’s operating on real freight lanes in Texas. After years of hype and recalibration, autonomous trucking is entering its proving ground. Persistent driver shortages and rising freight demand have forced the industry to look beyond incremental improvements. The American Trucking Associations continues to project a driver shortfall in the tens of thousands, a gap that could widen significantly by the end of the decade. At the same time, advances in AI, sensor fusion, and redundant safety systems are pushing autonomous platforms out of closed-course testing and into structured commercial deployments. The stakes are clear: safer highways, tighter delivery windows, and a fundamental shift in how long-haul freight networks are designed. With autonomous trucks now operating on real freight lanes, how are companies ensuring they’re safe enough — and reliable enough — for widespread deployment? On this episode of Hammer Down, host Mike Bush welcomes Sasko Cuklev, the Head of On-Road Solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, for a future-focused discussion on the commercialization of autonomous trucking. The episode explores how Volvo is building not just an autonomous vehicle, but a full operational ecosystem—covering safety redundancies, terminal integration, customer collaboration, and live freight movement in Texas hub-to-hub lanes. The conversation delves into… * Why autonomous trucking requires a complete ecosystem—not just advanced sensors on a truck. * What Volvo is learning from commercial freight operations between Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso. * How autonomy could cut coast-to-coast transit times from five days to two while increasing asset utilization. Sasko Cuklev is the Head of On-Road Solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, where he leads the full value chain of autonomous truck commercialization—from developing sales propositions to executing and operating customer deployments globally. With nearly three decades at Volvo across product development, systems engineering, and commercial leadership, he has played a central role in bringing autonomous, electrified, and connected vehicle solutions from concept to market. Known for his strengths in business development, innovation, and cross-functional leadership, Cuklev has built and led global teams focused on scaling autonomous transport solutions across mining, ports, logistics hubs, and highway freight applications.

Transportation Management Systems Don’t Compete With Carriers, Brokers, or Shippers — They Align Them

Transportation management systems are undergoing a quiet but consequential shift. Once viewed primarily as tools for tracking loads and storing paperwork, modern TMS platforms are increasingly expected to function as the operational backbone of logistics organizations. As freight volumes continue to fluctuate, margins remain tight [https://www.actresearch.net/resources/blog/trucking-industry-forecast-2025], and supply chains rely on a growing mix of carriers, brokers, and shippers, fragmented systems and manual workflows have become harder to justify. Reflecting this demand for consolidation and control, a 2026 industry report [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/26/3225408/0/en/Transportation-Management-Systems-Market-Report-2026-Global-Industry-Size-Share-Trends-Opportunity-and-Forecast-2021-2031.html] projects the global TMS market will grow from $15.24 billion in 2025 to $41.08 billion by 2031, driven by automation, real-time visibility, and integrated financial management. As these platforms expand in scope,  can a single transportation management system truly support carriers, brokers, and shippers together without creating competition or conflicts of interest? Welcome to Hammer Down [https://marketscale.com/shows/hammer-down/]. In the latest episode, host Mike Bush [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbush?miniProfileUrn=urn%253Ali%253Afsd_profile%253AACoAAADFdPYB2S9WTC1aRp1D4KxXU3GswQG19hI&skipRedirect=true&miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAADFdPYB2S9WTC1aRp1D4KxXU3GswQG19hI] speaks with Tia Parks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantia-parks-175193161/], Senior Sales Accounting Executive at PCS Software [https://pcssoft.com/]. Together, they discuss how all-in-one TMS platforms are evolving to serve the full supply chain ecosystem. Their conversation explores why accounting, compliance, and operational alerts are no longer “back-office” features, how COVID-era disruptions reshaped expectations around visibility and speed, and why education and alignment across logistics roles remain critical to long-term efficiency. Key themes from the conversation: * All-in-One TMS Platforms – How transportation management systems are evolving beyond tracking to support dispatch, documentation, accounting, and visibility across carriers, brokers, and shippers. * Accounting and Compliance as Core Functions – Why integrated accounting, driver compliance, safety, and operational alerts are no longer add-ons, but essential capabilities for managing logistics efficiently. * Alignment, Education, and Workforce Understanding – How recent industry shifts have underscored the need for clearer alignment between supply-chain roles and better education across logistics organizations. Shantia Parks is a Senior Sales Accounting Executive at PCS Software with more than eight years of experience across logistics, SaaS, and transportation technology. She has worked across sales, customer support, and operations, including prior experience in ocean freight, giving her a strong, end-to-end understanding of carrier, broker, and shipper workflows. Parks is known for driving revenue growth, improving operational efficiency through TMS solutions, and supporting mentorship and education within the supply chain industry.

Driving Real Change: How ZM Trucks Is Building the Future of Zero-Emission Trucking

As the U.S. accelerates its push toward cleaner freight transport, policy and market forces are reshaping what’s possible in trucking. The EPA’s Phase 3 greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, finalized on March 29, 2024, establish stricter CO₂ limits for model years 2027 through 2032. The rule is technology-neutral and performance-based, allowing manufacturers to meet emissions targets through advanced combustion, hybrid, or electric systems. Meanwhile, California has paused enforcement and moved to repeal key provisions of its Advanced Clean Fleets rule after agreeing not to enforce the 2036 zero-emission sales mandate without a waiver from the U.S. EPA. Together, these developments mark a pivotal moment where the path to cleaner, zero-emission trucking is advancing but still being defined. As regulations evolve and expectations rise, how can manufacturers balance innovation, affordability, and infrastructure readiness in a landscape that’s both accelerating and uncertain? In this episode of Hammer Down, host Mike Bush welcomes Jeroen Joost de Vries, CEO of ZM Trucks, for a discussion on how the company is reimagining commercial trucking with electric, hydrogen, and autonomous solutions. De Vries shares how ZM’s modular, globally tested approach to manufacturing is designed to meet fleet needs efficiently without overpromising what technology can’t yet deliver. Main Points of Conversation * Global Innovation, Local Execution – ZM Trucks builds electric and hydrogen-powered trucks across classes 2–8, leveraging manufacturing and field experience from Japan, Vietnam, and the Middle East to guide its U.S. expansion strategy. * Infrastructure and Cost Realities – De Vries highlights that while hydrogen remains cost-prohibitive in the U.S., behind-the-fence AC charging solutions can make smaller fleet operations economically viable—if approached pragmatically. * Autonomous Drayage on the Horizon – ZM Trucks is preparing to launch autonomous drayage trucks within 24 months, focusing on short-distance port operations where zero-emission adoption has the clearest near-term payoff. Jeroen Joost de Vries is a global automotive executive known for leading innovation, sales, and customer operations across the electric and commercial vehicle sectors. He serves as CEO of ZM Trucks and previously held leadership roles at DeLorean Motor Company, Karma Automotive, and Tesla, where he led worldwide service operations. His career spans more than two decades with major manufacturers such as Mack Trucks and Xi’an Silver Bus Corporation, driving growth, brand transformation, and progress in sustainable mobility.