"We're talking about building vehicles, intelligent vehicles that can learn by themselves and make decisions independently for the business,"
The cavernous hall of the Anaheim Convention Center fell silent as Erik Neandross stepped to the microphone. "We're talking about building vehicles, intelligent vehicles that can learn by themselves and make decisions independently for the business," he announced to the packed room at ACT Expo 2025. The industry veterans in attendance leaned forward, recognizing the gravity of his words. This wasn't just another panel discussion—it was the dawn of transportation's next revolution.
This moment encapsulated the electric atmosphere of North America's largest clean transportation showcase, where record-breaking attendance—over 12,000 industry professionals—confirmed what many already suspected: despite regulatory uncertainty, the transportation sector has passed "the point of no return" in its journey toward smarter, cleaner operations.
As the distinguished panel of executives from International, TRATON, Plus, and Applied Intuition took their places on stage, the collective expertise represented decades of transportation innovation. Together, they painted a compelling picture of where fleet technology stands today and the extraordinary changes coming at breakneck speed.
"The commercial vehicle is evolving from just being cleaner and more efficient and safer to one that is better defined as a self-learning computer that rolls down the road," explained Mathias Carlbaum, President and CEO of International, his words hanging in the air as attendees considered the implications.
What became immediately clear during the session is that the future is arriving faster than anticipated. Just two years ago, autonomous trucking seemed perpetually distant, always "a few years away." Now, fleets are running real-world pilots on Texas highways, and industry leaders are confidently charting paths to commercial deployment.
David Liu, CEO of Plus, offered a sobering perspective on the urgency driving this technology: "Today, we have in the United States about 80,000 drivers short. That's about 5% of the industry." The unspoken question lingered—what happens when this shortage worsens? The answer, according to the panel, lies in intelligent vehicles that can enhance and eventually transform operations.
But the story isn't just about autonomy. Peter Ludwig of Applied Intuition pointed to a transformation already reshaping maintenance operations: "If you have ever dealt with a software recall that involves plugging something into the vehicle, raise your hand," he asked the audience. Dozens of hands went up. "Software-defined vehicles can completely remove that future risk. You can over-the-air update vehicles and eliminate all the costs associated with those recalls."
For fleet operators watching their bottom line, this compelling economic case resonated. Numbers don't lie—predictive maintenance alone could reduce downtime by 10-20%, translating to substantial operational savings that dwarf the upfront investment.
When asked to define software-defined vehicles for skeptical fleet operators, David Liu cut through the jargon: "Fundamentally, software-defined vehicles are all about the ability to update all of the software on the vehicle after the vehicle has been shipped."
This deceptively simple capability opens vast possibilities. Adding intelligence, enhancing logistics functionality, and improving efficiency all become possible without purchasing new equipment. Liu delivered perhaps the starkest assessment of all: "In the next few years, by 2030, vehicles that are not software-defined will start looking a lot like steam locomotives."
This isn't just about technology for technology's sake. Catharina Modahl Nilsson of TRATON Group emphasized that strategic and cultural fit between technology partners is essential for creating real customer value. "This is, of course, for us to be able to create customer value. And for us at TRATON, we have always put the customer first."
The hallmark of this year's ACT Expo was the evolution of artificial intelligence from theoretical concept to practical fleet application. As Peter Ludwig explained, "Intelligence, in a general sense, is only just starting to come to the industry."
What would have seemed like science fiction just years ago is rapidly becoming standard. Vehicles that can anticipate component failures before they happen. Routing systems that automatically adapt to weather, traffic patterns, and driver hours. Safety technology that can detect driver fatigue or distraction in real-time.
Catharina Modahl Nilsson put it plainly: "When we see what's happening in the world with AI, I think that is key to change what we see today." The pace is accelerating exponentially, creating opportunities for fleets willing to embrace these technologies early.
The beauty of this evolution is its inclusivity. As Ludwig noted, the "barrier to entry" for sophisticated data analysis is dropping dramatically. "Historically, you needed a data science team to analyze your fleet data," he explained. "AI is changing that, letting fleets extract business value without requiring a hundred software engineers."
Gradual Evolution, Not Overnight Revolution
For all the excitement about Level 4 autonomous trucks that can drive themselves, Mathias Carlbaum brought a valuable perspective about the journey ahead: "I think no one was talking about this autonomous level four capabilities, but I think that we also must bear in mind that there's a lot also from today until then that there are more features coming on level two, level two plus that really are benefits for fleets."
This incremental approach offers immediate safety and efficiency benefits while the industry works toward full autonomy. The formation of an alliance for driver safety and security among prominent American fleets and OEMs demonstrates the industry's commitment to enhancing capabilities that support safety in the short term.
For all the talk of revolutionary technology, the panel repeatedly emphasized the importance of practical implementation. "One thing that's very clear," Mathias Carlbaum stressed, "is everybody's role. We are OEMs, we do the truck, the hardware integration. Our fleets and customers run their operation."
This collaborative approach was refreshing—no one claiming to have all the answers, but instead advocating for partnerships across the ecosystem. The message to fleet operators was clear: you don't need to navigate this alone.
When asked what steps fleets could take today, the answers were remarkably practical. Start with data you already have. Explore partnerships with technology providers who understand your operations. Most importantly, as David Liu suggested, "Learn with us as we go down this journey. Learning by doing."
As the session concluded, Erik Neandross posed the question on everyone's mind: What will we be discussing at ACT Expo 2045? The answers revealed both excitement and humility.
"Zero accidents, zero emissions," Carlbaum predicted. "Different sizes and shapes will be around. Today 65% of all logistics happen on trucks—that share will be much higher because it forms a space for a cost-efficient solution."
Peter Ludwig took a philosophical view: "When computers substantially cross the IQ of the smartest humans, what can you do with that? And how is that going to impact industry?" He remained optimistic despite the uncertainty: "I think AI is going to be the greatest tool to ever get humanity."
What's clear is that the transportation industry isn't waiting to find out. It's moving forward with or without regulatory clarity, driven by economic imperatives, sustainability goals, and technological possibility.
Key Takeaways for Fleet and industry Leaders
The revolution isn't coming—it's already here. The question for today's fleet leaders isn't whether to adapt, but how quickly they can evolve to maintain their competitive edge in this rapidly transforming industry.
Written by Anthony Mainville | CEO AttriX Technologies Inc.