AUSTIN, Texas — Trucking industry leaders said fleets are facing one of the most rapid periods of operational and regulatory change in recent memory, forcing carriers to adapt quickly on issues ranging from English-language enforcement and non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to artificial intelligence-powered fleet technologies and driver retention strategies.
The discussion took place during a trucking industry panel at Fleetworthy’s Roadshow 2026 conference in Austin on May 19. Panelists included David Heller, Michael Hayes and Ken Resta.
Heller said fleets are struggling to keep up with rapid changes in federal trucking enforcement and compliance policies.
“There’s an English language proficiency rule, there’s a non-domiciled CDL rule that’s popping up with the snap of a finger and it’s changing the way we transport practically overnight,” said Heller, senior vice president of safety and government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association.
Heller said the accelerated pace of new enforcement actions marks a major departure from the traditional multi-year regulatory implementation process that trucking companies have been accustomed to in the past.
“This is something fast, very fast, very aggressive in nature,” Heller said. “It has changed the way carriers do business.”
At the same time, Heller said the industry is moving toward greater responsibility for safety, and safer carriers will likely benefit while less compliant operators struggle to survive increased scrutiny.
“They can be seen laying the foundation for a more responsible and safer trucking industry,” Heller said. “The safe companies are going to benefit. It’s the ones that ignore safety that are likely to fall by the wayside.”
Driver retention remains a major challenge
Resta, senior director of safety at Stevens Transport, said driver retention remains one of the industry’s biggest operational headaches, particularly as fleets recruit newer workers with little long-term interest in trucking careers.
“We’re seeing a real inexperience coming into the industry that doesn’t understand why they’re coming into the industry,” Resta said.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Stevens Transport operates one of the largest refrigerated fleets in North America, with more than 1,600 units, and specializes in dedicated, temperature-controlled, kosher-certified food-grade tanker services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Resta added that fleets are also battling rising cargo theft, rising fuel prices and increasing compliance burdens, all while operating in a difficult freight environment.
“Trucking is a difficult job,” Resta said. “We have to be more creative in how we approach our drivers, technology and all the things we’re going to continue to talk about here if we want to continue to be successful and make a profit.”
Hayes said fleets also need to rethink how they view professional drivers, emphasizing long-term training and development rather than treating drivers as interchangeable labor.
Hayes is the senior national fleet asset manager for PepsiCo, which operates one of the largest private truck fleets in North America with more than 80,000 diesel and delivery trucks in its beverage and Frito-Lay divisions.
“We really need to move away from that and really focus on providing training to our drivers from day one,” Hayes said. “Nowadays we drive computers instead of trucks.”
AI Adoption Accelerates Across Trucking Operations
Panelists said AI is becoming increasingly integrated into maintenance operations, dispatch systems, safety monitoring and routing decisions.
Hayes highlighted PepsiCo’s use of virtual expert technicians who remotely help mechanics with diagnostics and repairs. The company is now exploring AI integrations that could be connected directly to trucks to speed up problem resolution and reduce unnecessary part replacement.
“The time savings will be huge,” Hayes said. “Step away from that process of throwing parts at a vehicle to try to see if they can understand what the problem has been.”
Resta said AI is also being used in areas such as camera systems, machine vision security tools, dynamic weather risk monitoring, pricing models and dispatch optimization.
“AI is here to stay,” Resta said. “How we take advantage of it and how we use it in our daily lives will help us be a little more efficient over time.”
Still, panelists cautioned fleets against becoming too reliant on automation at the expense of relationships with drivers and front-line managers.
“People first is where we really need to continue to drive this industry,” Resta said. “We don’t lose sight of the fact that that driver is an asset.”
Heller echoed those concerns and argued that professional drivers will remain critical to trucking operations even as automation advances.
“We, as an industry, are not going to give up on the professional truck driver,” Heller said. “What we’re doing is helping make your job better, making it easier and safer through many of the artificial intelligence tools that are emerging.”
Efficiency, maintenance and compliance under pressure
Panelists also discussed how operators are trying to improve profitability during a period of tight margins and high operating costs.
Resta said route efficiency, transportation planning and reducing dead miles are increasingly important for fleets looking to preserve profitability.
“You have to start by knowing where your flaws are before you can improve,” Resta said.
Heller said fleets are increasingly relying on technology such as weigh station bypass systems and predictive maintenance tools to maximize truck utilization and minimize downtime.
“As long as those wheels keep moving, money will be made,” Heller said.
The panel also highlighted how poor maintenance practices can quickly erase already slim margins.
Resta referenced data from last week’s International Roadcheck enforcement event, noting that 574 vehicles were out of service in one day due to brake violations.
“How much profit and utilization was lost as a result of that breakdown simply by not keeping up with your equipment?” Resta said.
Hayes said large fleets are increasingly relying on strategic partnerships with third-party vendors and technology providers to handle maintenance, compliance and operational support more efficiently.
“Find companies that are good and efficient at what they do to help us,” Hayes said. “Ultimately, it will save us money in the future.”
Beyond compliance
Looking ahead, panelists said carriers that proactively adopt technology, training and safety culture will likely outperform fleets that simply react to change after problems arise.
“I think to see success in the next three to five years, it’s not just about checking the boxes and delivering,” Resta said. “It is beyond compliance.”
Heller said one of the biggest differentiators between successful and struggling operators will be a willingness to stay informed and engaged with their industry peers.
“The people in this room are being prepared,” Heller said. “People who are not here are being reactionary.”
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