Next Gen Trucking Talk with Lindsey Trent

What Does It Take to Become a National SkillsUSA Medalist?

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, preparation, and determination required to succeed at the highest level while still in high school. Scott and Treavon also discuss Nelson County's innovative Heavy Equipment and CDL training programs, which provide students with hands-on experience, industry-recognized certifications, and direct pathways into high-demand careers. From operating heavy equipment and earning a CDL to participating in work-based learning opportunities, students are gaining the skills employers need today. This episode highlights the impact of career and technical education, the importance of industry partnerships, and the incredible opportunities available to young people pursuing careers in transportation, construction, and the skilled trades. https://upcenter.nelson.kyschools.us/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.performancefoodservice.com/ https://www.descartes.com/home https://www.act1trucking.org/ https://www.xpo.com/ https://driverwages.com/ https://atssimulation.com/ https://www.mjai.com/ https://www.averitt.com/ https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home.html?locale=true https://fusionnow.io/ https://gfs.com/en-us/ https://forklift-simulator.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.org Contact us at:  info@nextgentruckers.org Follow us on socials here: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextgentruckers] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextgentruckers/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EbPLzDIvqFfEkPayWGLCw]LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgentruckers/?viewAsMember=true] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgentruckers]

Can Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Build Successful CDL Careers? | Jason Wang Reair

Jason Wang, Founder and CEO of Free World, shares his remarkable journey from incarceration as a teenager to leading a national nonprofit that trains and places individuals with criminal histories into careers in the trucking industry. After spending years in the juvenile justice system and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by people reentering society, Jason became determined to create opportunities for others seeking a second chance. Through Free World, he has built a program that removes barriers to employment by providing CDL training, financial support, transportation assistance, and long-term career coaching for participants. In this episode, Jason discusses how Free World partners with more than 160 trucking schools and carriers across the country to help individuals secure meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages and long-term stability. He explains why trucking has become a powerful pathway for economic mobility, shares inspiring success stories from program graduates, and addresses common misconceptions employers may have about hiring individuals with criminal records. This conversation highlights the life-changing impact of opportunity, the importance of workforce development, and how the trucking industry can play a vital role in strengthening both communities and the supply chain. https://freeworld.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwaang/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.thekag.com/ https://info.lincolntech-usa.com/ https://www.longhaultrucking.com/ https://www.lytx.com/ https://www.lincolntech.edu/campus/nashville-tn https://www.odfl.com/ https://www.republicservices.com/ https://drive4roehl.com/ https://www.ryder.com/en-us https://truckparkingclub.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.org Contact us at:  info@nextgentruckers.org Follow us on socials here: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextgentruckers] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextgentruckers/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EbPLzDIvqFfEkPayWGLCw]LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgentruckers/?viewAsMember=true] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgentruckers]

Why Advisory Boards Matter in Trucking Education with Dave Dein - REAIR

In this re-release of Next Gen Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Dave Dein, CDL Coordinator and Instructor at Patterson High School, to discuss the importance of building strong advisory boards for trucking and logistics programs. Dave shares how Patterson High School launched one of the nation’s first high school truck driving programs and explains how meaningful partnerships with industry leaders helped shape the program from the very beginning. Throughout the conversation, Lindsey and Dave discuss how schools and employers can work together to create hands-on learning opportunities, career pathways, mock interviews, field trips, and real workforce connections for students. This episode offers practical insight for educators, administrators, and industry professionals looking to strengthen workforce development efforts and better connect students to careers in trucking and the supply chain. Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.tenstreet.com/ https://www.trimble.com/en https://www.ushertransport.com/ https://www.benekeith.com/ https://www.ancora.com/ https://driverslegalplan.com/ https://www.dottransportation.com/ https://cargotransporters.com/ https://acronaviation.com/driver-training-solutions/ https://www.isaacinstruments.com/ https://www.uti.edu/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.org Contact us at:  info@nextgentruckers.org Follow us on socials here: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextgentruckers] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextgentruckers/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EbPLzDIvqFfEkPayWGLCw]LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgentruckers/?viewAsMember=true] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgentruckers]

Making Trucking a First Career Choice with Leah Shaver of NTI

In this episode of NextGen Talks, Lindsey Trent sits down with Leah Shaver, President and CEO of the National Transportation Institute (NTI), to discuss the importance of early talent development and why the trucking industry must begin investing in the next generation workforce now. Together, they explore the purpose behind the Career Catalyst Awards and highlight companies that are creating meaningful career pathways for young people through internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and partnerships with schools and communities. Throughout the conversation, Lindsey and Leah discuss the aging workforce within trucking, the challenges of attracting Gen Z talent, and the need to position trucking as a first career choice instead of a last resort. They share real-world examples of companies successfully building “sticky” careers by engaging with local schools, offering mentorship opportunities, supporting workforce development initiatives, and investing in long-term employee growth. The discussion also dives into the importance of communication, workplace culture, volunteerism, family engagement, and creating opportunities for young people to see themselves within the trucking industry. This episode is filled with practical ideas and inspiring examples for employers looking to strengthen their workforce pipeline, improve retention, and build stronger community connections. Whether you are a carrier, private fleet, educator, or industry partner, this conversation offers valuable insight into how trucking companies can invest in people, support future talent, and help create a stronger and more sustainable industry for years to come. https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahbshaver/ https://driverwages.com/ https://driverwages.com/braced-for-impact-2025-sees-a-shift-in-driver-wages-heres-what-changed-what-you-need-to-know-as-the-calendar-flips-and-other-insights-from-2025-your-fleet-can-use-in-2026/ Thank you to our Sponsors!!! Sponsors 1 https://www.performancefoodservice.com/ https://www.descartes.com/home https://www.act1trucking.org/ https://www.xpo.com/ https://driverwages.com/ https://atssimulation.com/ https://www.mjai.com/ https://www.averitt.com/ https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home.html?locale=true https://fusionnow.io/ https://gfs.com/en-us/ https://forklift-simulator.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.org Contact us at:  info@nextgentruckers.org Follow us on socials here: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextgentruckers] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextgentruckers/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EbPLzDIvqFfEkPayWGLCw]LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgentruckers/?viewAsMember=true] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgentruckers]

The Future of Driver Recruiting: Winning Gen Z with Speed & AI

This episode of NGT Talks features Lindsey Trent interviewing Fran from Double Nickel about how technology—especially AI—is transforming driver recruiting in the trucking industry. Fran explains that recruiting is a critical operational challenge tied directly to revenue, with fleets struggling to quickly connect with qualified drivers while balancing compliance and safety requirements. Double Nickel’s platform helps streamline the entire hiring process, from initial interest to onboarding, by automating repetitive tasks like outreach, screening, and paperwork. This allows recruiters to focus more on building relationships with drivers rather than spending hours on manual work. The conversation also highlights the high cost of hiring drivers, often between $4,000 and $10,000, and how inefficiencies and turnover significantly impact a company’s bottom line. The discussion also explores how expectations are shifting with younger generations entering the workforce. Gen Z candidates expect faster, more digital, and more transparent hiring experiences, and are less willing to complete lengthy applications or share sensitive information upfront. Fran emphasizes the need for trucking companies to modernize their processes, improve their online presence, and meet candidates where they are—often through mobile and digital channels. Looking ahead, AI is expected to level the playing field by giving smaller carriers access to tools that enable faster response times and more efficient recruiting. However, Fran stresses that the industry must also focus on retention, especially during the first 90–120 days, as turnover—not just hiring—is the core issue fleets must address. https://www.getdoublenickel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-lopez-roualdes-7aa4b525/?locale=en Thank you to our Sponsors!!! https://www.thekag.com/ https://info.lincolntech-usa.com/ https://www.longhaultrucking.com/ https://www.lytx.com/ https://www.lincolntech.edu/campus/nashville-tn https://www.odfl.com/ https://www.republicservices.com/ https://drive4roehl.com/ https://www.ryder.com/en-us https://truckparkingclub.com/ The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America. Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.org Contact us at:  info@nextgentruckers.org Follow us on socials here: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextgentruckers] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextgentruckers/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EbPLzDIvqFfEkPayWGLCw]LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgentruckers/?viewAsMember=true] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgentruckers]