The Business Transfomation Podcast
The Future of Trucking: Innovation, Diversity & Recruitment with Kameel Gaines | Business Transformation Podcast [040]
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🚛 “Regardless of how goods arrive—by plane, train, or ship—they reach their final destination on a truck. Trucking is the lifeline of global supply chains, and it’s time the industry got the innovation it deserves.” – Heath Gascoigne #Trucking #SupplyChain #Logistics 🚀 🎙️
🎙️ The Future of Trucking: Innovation, Diversity & Recruitment with Kameel Gaines
🚛 How Trucking is Changing & What’s Next
Trucking is the backbone of supply chain and logistics, yet it remains one of the most overlooked industries when it comes to innovation and diversity. In this episode of the Business Transformation Podcast, Heath Gascoigne sits down with Kameel Gaines, Founder & CEO of Rig on Wheels, to discuss the evolving landscape of trucking, recruitment, and automation.
💡 Here’s what we cover in this episode:
- The profitability shift in trucking – why margins are improving.
- How regulatory changes are addressing driver rights.
- Why trucking is behind logistics in adopting automation & AI.
- The importance of cultural fit in hiring and retention.
- The impact of diversity on business success.
- Lessons from 15 years in recruitment – why early adoption of VAs & SOPs is a game-changer.
- A sneak peek at Kameel’s upcoming talk at Manifest 2025 in Las Vegas.
🚛 “Regardless of how goods arrive—by plane, train, or ship—they reach their final destination on a truck. Trucking is the lifeline of global supply chains, and it’s time the industry got the innovation it deserves.” – Heath Gascoigne
📢 Meet Our Guest: Kameel Gaines, CEO of Rig on Wheels
Kameel Gaines is the Founder & CEO of Rig on Wheels, a leading trucking and logistics recruitment agency. With over 15 years in the industry, she has built a reputation for connecting companies with top-tier drivers while championing diversity, innovation, and automation in the industry.
Her background in trucking recruitment and workforce development has made her a key figure in shaping the future of driver hiring, cultural fit, and operational efficiency. Kameel will also be speaking at Manifest 2025 in Las Vegas, where she will share insights into how trucking must evolve to remain competitive in the modern supply chain.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
🛠️ What’s Working in the Trucking Industry Today?
Kameel highlights some of the positive shifts happening in the trucking sector, including
- Better profit margins – making it a more viable industry for businesses.
- Increased focus on driver rights – as regulators and companies start paying more attention.
- A growing awareness of recruitment best practices – particularly the importance of hiring for cultural fit rather than just skills.
However, there are still major areas that need improvement—especially when it comes to technology, automation, and industry diversity.
⚠️ The Biggest Challenges in Trucking & Logistics Recruitment
One of the biggest mistakes companies make when hiring drivers is ignoring cultural fit. As Kameel puts it:
- "Hiring in trucking is like a marriage—if the cultural fit isn’t right, the relationship won’t last."
She discusses how misalignment between company values and driver expectations leads to high turnover rates, inefficiency, and low morale. Kameel’s 4-step recruitment process helps businesses find not just any driver—but the right driver for their organisation.
📈 Why Automation & Innovation Are Critical for Trucking
While logistics has embraced cutting-edge technology, trucking lags behind—still relying on spreadsheets, manual scheduling, and outdated hiring methods.
💡 Kameel explains why the industry must embrace:
- AI-driven recruitment processes to match drivers with the right roles faster.
- Automated logistics solutions to reduce inefficiencies and increase fleet performance.
- Data-driven decision-making to improve hiring, retention, and route planning.
🌍 The Role of Diversity & Culture in Logistics Hiring
Diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s an economic advantage. Kameel stresses that a diverse team leads to:
- Stronger problem-solving with fresh perspectives.
- Better retention rates due to inclusive workplace cultures.
- Higher innovation in an industry that desperately needs new ideas.
She also points out that trucking companies must rethink how they attract women and underrepresented groups into the profession, from better workplace policies to more accessible truck designs.
💡 Key Lessons from 15 Years in Trucking Recruitment
If Kameel could start over, here’s what she would do differently:
- Hire a Virtual Assistant (VA) earlier – to scale operations faster.
- Implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from day one – to ensure consistency and efficiency.
- Build a strong company culture first – because skills can be trained, but cultural misalignment is harder to fix.
💡 “Recruiting in trucking isn’t just about filling roles. Culture, diversity, and innovation matter more than ever. Get it wrong, and you have high turnover & inefficiency. Get it right, and you build a powerhouse team.” – Heath Gascoigne 🚛
🎤 Kameel’s Upcoming Talk at Manifest 2025
🚀 Where is trucking headed next?
Kameel will be speaking at Manifest 2025 in Las Vegas, where she’ll break down:
📌 The biggest trends in trucking recruitment.
📌 How automation is reshaping hiring and fleet management.
📌 What businesses must do to prepare for the future of supply chain & logistics.
🎤 Want to hear her insights firsthand? Check out the event details:
📍 Manifest 2025 – Las Vegas
📅 Date & Time: 10th & 12h Feb, 2025
🔗 Learn more
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📢 "Recruiting in trucking isn’t just about filling roles. Culture, diversity, and innovation matter more than ever. Get it wrong, and you have high turnover & inefficiency. Get it right, and you build a powerhouse team." – Heath Gascoigne 🚛 #Hiring #Recruitment #BusinessTransformation
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Heath Gascoigne
Hi, I’m Heath, the founder of HOBA TECH and host of The Business Transformation Podcast. I help Business Transformation Consultants, Business Designers and Business Architects transform their and their clients’ business and join the 30% club that succeed. Join me on this journey.
