The Real Cost of Truck Downtime and Reactive Maintenance with Trent Broberg
June 2, 2026
Maintenance is often an overlooked part of a carrier's bottom line. In this episode of Behind the Freight, Todd Waldron and John Howland talk with Trent Broberg, CEO of Fullbay. Trent explains why the industry is actually facing a utilization shortage rather than a driver shortage. He shares how tools like AI and predictive maintenance are changing heavy duty repair. You will learn how to manage profit for every individual truck and why communication is the secret to better relationships with your shop.
Trent Broberg has spent over two decades leading in the logistics and SaaS space. As the CEO of Fullbay, he is now focused on how technology can keep trucks on the road and improve the lives of both drivers and technicians. In this conversation, Trent challenges the idea of a driver shortage, arguing that we actually have a utilization problem. Drivers are often only utilized for about seven and a half hours of their eleven hour clock. Improving that efficiency is one of the biggest opportunities for any fleet owner.
A major theme of the discussion is the shift from reactive to predictive maintenance. Trent talks about Fullbay’s recent acquisition of Pit Stop and how AI models are helping shops understand when a part is going to fail before the truck breaks down on the side of the road. This transition helps carriers move away from managing profit at the fleet level to managing it for every single asset.
The episode also digs into the human side of the business. Trent explains that while tech is great, communication remains the most important tool. He shares why "bad news is better than no news" and how predictability allows operators to make better decisions for their business. Whether you are a small owner operator or managing a large fleet, these insights into data, maintenance strategy, and connectivity will help you keep your wheels turning and earning.
What You’ll Learn
- The truth about the utilization shortage vs. the driver shortage
- How to manage profitability at the individual asset level
- The role of AI and predictive models in heavy duty repair
- Why connectivity is the key to getting trucks back on the road faster
- Practical steps for building a maintenance strategy
- The importance of communication and predictability in repairs
- How telematics and sensors drive better maintenance decisions
- Lessons on leadership and building confidence in your team
Episode Highlights
[00:06:52] The Utilization Myth
Trent challenges the common idea that the industry is suffering from a driver shortage. He explains that we actually have a utilization problem because drivers are only using about seven and a half hours of their eleven hour clock. Improving this efficiency is one of the biggest ways for any carrier to improve their business.
[00:09:18] Predictive Maintenance
The discussion moves into how technology is changing heavy duty repair from reactive to proactive. Trent talks about using AI models to understand when a part is going to fail before the truck breaks down on the side of the road. This transition allows shops to catch issues early and keep equipment moving.
[00:10:42] The Connectivity Vision
Trent shares his vision for a more connected freight industry where data from sensors and shops works together. He explains how pulling in real-time information can help fleets understand the health of their trucks using a simple green, yellow, or red status. This level of connectivity ensures that technicians have the right parts and tools ready to get drivers back on the road faster.
[00:12:55] Managing Asset Profitability
Many carriers only look at their profit and loss statements at the fleet level, which can hide serious problems. Trent breaks down why it is essential to manage your revenue and costs for every individual truck. Understanding the specific downtime costs for each asset helps you make better decisions about which equipment is actually making money.
[00:15:25] Starting a Strategy
For smaller fleets wondering where to begin with maintenance, the advice is to start simple by tracking data in an Excel spreadsheet. You need to understand your operating expenses for each asset because every truck has a different cost structure. Trent emphasizes using an eighty percent mentality to get started instead of trying to solve every single problem at once.
[00:17:31] The Value of Predictability
Communication is often the most important part of the relationship between a carrier and a repair shop. Trent explains why receiving bad news early is always better than hearing no news at all when a truck is being serviced,,. Having this predictability allows operators to make smart choices about their equipment rather than being left in the dark.
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