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Final week was Thanksgiving, and I had the nice fortune to have the ability to spend time with two of my tools business pals — Darren Tasker from Volvo Penta and Mike Switzer from Stevens Engineering … and we thought “Black Friday” can be nearly as good a day as any to place collectively an episode of The Heavy Gear Podcast.

What Is The Heavy Gear Podcast?

The Heavy Gear Podcast is an after-hours mission I launched final summer season with my good pal, Mike Switzer. In fact, we speak about a whole lot of sustainability stuff — however it’s often a extra lighthearted, goofy tackle issues than you’ll get from CleanTech Speak.

On final week’s episode HEP-isode, I interviewed Darren Tasker, Vice President of Industrial Gross sales for Volvo Penta, to speak concerning the model’s push past marine engine and generator units and into hydrogen gasoline cells and battery vitality storage methods (BESS) — and the position Volvo Penta’s electrical efforts are enjoying within the decarbonization efforts of its OEM companions.

We additionally focus on a collaboration between Volvo Penta and CMB.TECH to develop a diesel, hydrogen, and ammonia multi-fuel engine as a low-carbon interim answer earlier than appropriate zero-emissions alternate options turn into viable on the type of big, kilowatt scales generally wanted on business job websites.

Mike and I then focus on a bipartisan invoice launched in Congress that guarantees time beyond regulation pay for heavy truck drivers. That’s one thing that, you is perhaps stunned to study, drivers haven’t been eligible for to this point — and it’s one of many many components that’s been driving the present driver scarcity.

“There’s a retention downside,” Michael Belzer, Wayne State College professor, informed FreightWaves final yr. “It’s merely since you don’t pay these individuals. After you’re paid for working 40 hours if you actually labored 65, you get to be sad. And that’s why they give up.”

From there, the entire thing devolves into making enjoyable of Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, who hilariously challenged fourth-generation Teamster Sean O’Brien to a fist combat on the Senate flooring. O’Brien had beforehand Tweeted (X’ed?) an image of Markwayne standing on some phonebooks or one thing so he may see over the rostrum.

Grasping CEO who pretends like he’s self made. In actuality, only a clown & fraud. At all times has been, all the time shall be. Give up the robust man act in these senate hearings. You understand the place to seek out me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy. #LittleManSyndrome pic.twitter.com/JNvT7IsA6m

— Sean M. O’Brien (@TeamsterSOB) June 21, 2023

Actually, I can’t make enjoyable of this Markwayne man sufficient.

If you wish to hear extra about Volvo Penta’s decarbonization efforts and our tackle time beyond regulation pay, the Teamsters, the UAW strikes, and perhaps an Ovaltine business, give it a hear — then tell us what you suppose within the feedback.

Whether or not we’re exploring the most recent in trucking know-how, speaking concerning the developments that propel the business ahead, or uncovering tales concerning the devoted people who maintain the wheels of America turning — that is the place the roar of the engines and the heart beat of progress come collectively — it’s chic, it’s surreal, it’s the Heavy Gear Podcast … with Mike and Jo!