Leading the Way at Leonard’s

Fuel Economy & Cost Containment for the Trucking Industry

No matter where you live or what kind of work you do, fuel prices have probably been a source of concern at some point in the past few years. The focus of this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard's is fuel economy and business strategies for managing costs to offset higher prices at the pump.
Host Dwayne Knepper is joined by Leonard's Express CEO Ken Johnson, VP of Operations Kevin Adriaansen, and Cost Containment Manager Mitchell Johnson.

Taxes and Financial Wellness

Tax season can be stressful but when finances are managed properly, it doesn’t have to be a headache. On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard’s, hosts Dwayne Knepper and Ken Johnson have an in-depth conversation with Greg Miller and Sam Irvine from Davie Kaplan, a Rochester, New York-based accounting and financial services firm. Miller and Irvine share advice on how to plan for tax season, how to handle the current turmoil in the financial markets, and what it might mean for people’s savings and investment plans. Also, Ken Johnson shares details about a new webinar series that Leonard’s Express is hosting to help employees understand, manage and create their financial goals.

Truckload Carriers Association

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is the only trade association whose sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal container carriers throughout North America.
On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard’s, Ken Johnson, CEO of Leonard’s Express, hosts three key members of the TCA leadership team: Jim Ward, President; Dave Heller, Senior VP of Safety and Government Affairs; and Jim Schoonover, VP of Education.
The group covers a wide range of topics, including the Best Fleets to Drive For award, the Fleet Safety award, TCA’s educational programs and sustainability initiatives, and the key legislative issues that TCA is tackling this year.
Founded in 1938, the TCA represents operators of over 220,000 trucks, which collectively produce revenue of more than $40 billion in annual truckload revenue.

Women Behind the Wheel - Driver of the Year Finalist Ann McFarland

On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard's, we honor Women’s History Month by recognizing the importance of gender equity in the trucking industry. Our special guest is uniquely qualified to speak on this topic.
Leonard’s Express Driver Ann McFarland is a finalist for the Women in Trucking Association's Driver of the Year award, one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry. 
In a candid conversation with hosts Dwayne Knepper and Ken Johnson, McFarland shares personal stories about her 30-year driving career -- a journey that has spanned more than 3.5 million miles. Topics include overcoming gender bias in an industry that was slow to accept women drivers, mentoring other drivers, and fleet safety.

Driver Advisory Boards - Elevating the Voice of the Driver

Drivers are the lifeblood of the trucking industry, so it’s no surprise that transportation providers depend on drivers to be a regular source of feedback. One way to tap into all their experience and wisdom is by establishing a Driver Advisory Board. On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard’s, hosts Dwayne Knepper and Ken Johnson sit down with two members of the Leonard’s Express Driver Advisory Board –  Lisa Flater and Cal Williard – for an in-depth conversation about how Driver Advisory Boards contribute to higher job satisfaction and better performance for professional drivers and the companies they work for.

Best Fleets to Drive For 2023

On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard’s, hosts Dwayne Knepper and Ken Johnson are joined by Jane Jazrawy and Mark Murrell, creators of the prestigious Best Fleets to Drive For award. Winning Best Fleets to Drive For is a rigorous process. Leonard’s Express knows first-hand – they’ve won it two years in a row.
As part of the process, Jazrawy and Murrell collect thousands of survey responses from trucking companies and drivers. As guests on Leading the Way at Leonard's, they share valuable insights on the most notable trends they observed when reviewing this year's nomination forms.
Jazrawy and Murrell are also co-founders of CarriersEdge, a leading provider of online driver training for the trucking industry.

Cold Chain Insights

Cold chain integrity involves the shipping of temperature-sensitive products along the supply chain. It’s largely about keeping perishable foods fresh by maintaining the correct temperature during shipping and warehousing.
On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard’s, host Dwayne Knepper speaks with Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics Magazine, and Ken Johnson, Leonard’s Express CEO, about the many ways shippers and carriers are managing cold chain integrity to ensure only the highest quality products end up in stores and on people’s dinner tables.
Mayer also shares details about a prestigious award given by Food Logistics Magazine that Johnson recently won – the annual “Rock Stars of the Supply Chain” award. 

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January was National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to be extra vigilant and focused on combating and ending this unthinkable crime. On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard's, hosts Dwayne Knepper and Ken Johnson speak with Liz Williamson, Training Specialist for Truckers Against Trafficking, about how the trucking industry is uniquely positioned to fight human trafficking on a daily basis. As a survivor of human trafficking, Williamson has dedicated her life to this important work. 

Working for a Family-Owned Business

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80-to-90% of American businesses are family owned. One of them is Leonard’s Express. On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard's, owners Ken and Kyle Johnson talk about the dynamics of leading a family business, including the secret to forming a cohesive unit, inside and outside of work. Leonard's Express Financial Analyst Max Herbst (also a family member) joins Ken, Kyle and host Dwayne Knepper for this candid conversation.
 

My Generation - Differences Between Older and Younger Drivers

According to the American Trucking Association, more than 50% of commercial truck drivers are over the age of 45. In the next 10 years, almost a quarter of those drivers will reach retirement age. On this episode of Leading the Way at Leonard's, host Dwayne Knepper speaks with two drivers from different ends of the spectrum: Keith Buchanan has been driving for nearly 30 years. Kolton Sleeth has been driving for five. Keith and Kolton share their perspectives on safety, technology, entertainment, and life on the open road. Leonard's Express VP of People and Development Shannon Struzik joins the conversation to share her insights on recruiting and retaining drivers of all ages.