Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, June 11, 2025:
Toyota, Daimler to merge Hino and Fuso brands
Toyota Motor Corp. and Daimler Truck agreed Tuesday to merge the truck manufacturing subsidiaries of Toyota-owned Hino Motors and Daimler-owned Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus, under a new holding company by early next year.
Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino will integrate commercial vehicle development, procurement and production, and the companies expect to list the new holding company on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange by April 2026.
Daimler Truck and Toyota will each own 25% of the listed holding company. The holding company plans to own 100% of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino.
“We are bringing together two strong partners to form an even stronger company and to successfully shape the decarbonization of transportation,” said Karin Rådström, CEO, Daimler Truck. “Together, Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors have great potential to leverage scale – and scale is key to win in the technological transformation of our industry.”
Mitsubishi Fuso CEO Karl Deppen has been designated CEO of new holding company.
“We are shaping the industry by bundling our strengths,” he said. “With a strong new company, we combine our two trusted brands, our resources, competencies and expertise to even better support our customers in their transportation needs in the future. I feel honored and excited to be the designated leader of the new company and am grateful for the trust and encouragement from Toyota and Daimler Truck to make it happen.”
Nussbaum exec named TCA’s Safety Professional of the Year
Jeremy Stickling, Chief Administrative Officer at Nussbaum Transportation (CCJ Top 250, No. 146) has been named the 2025 Safety Professional of the Year by the Truckload Carriers Association.
The announcement was made during TCA’s 44th annual Safety & Security Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
This award is bestowed upon a trucking industry professional whose actions and achievements have made a profound contribution to enhancing safety on North America’s highways.
Stickling began his career at Nussbaum in 2007, initially working in accounting before transitioning into HR and Safety as the company prepared for a leadership change. By 2013, he was promoted to HR & Safety Manager and now serves as Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing HR, Safety, and Accounting.
With nearly 15 years of experience in trucking safety, he has led multiple programs that have improved driver performance, reduced CSA scores, and contributed to Nussbaum earning the 2024 TCA Grand Prize for Fleet Safety, TCA said.
His leadership builds a culture of accountability and growth, empowering employees through innovative systems and comprehensive training programs, the organization added, noting that his broad expertise across safety, HR, and accounting made him uniquely qualified to lead and enhance all aspects of Nussbaum’s operations.
"What distinguishes Jeremy as a top safety professional is that he cares about people and is passionate about what he does,” Brent Nussbaum, CEO of Nussbaum Transportation. “He’s an inventor who has a unique ability to view problems, quickly see solutions and follow them through implementation. Jeremy has built many of the safety programs in existence at Nussbaum today and advocated for the technology and ongoing training that assists in the success of our programs. He’s worked tirelessly to build a culture of safety that protects and builds on the heritage of an 80-year-old employee-owned business. We're very proud of Jeremy. He is very worthy of this award."
Interstate Health expands network in Tennessee
Interstate Health announced Monday that it has acquired a new urgent care and family medicine practice in Tennessee to add to its growing network of on-highway healthcare clinics.
Interstate Health and Satellite Med signed an agreement for Interstate Health to acquire the Cookeville-based urgent care and family medicine practice, effective June 9. The addition of Satellite Med, located off exit 287 on I-40, expands Interstate Health’s growing presence in Tennessee, which includes Occupational Health Center in Cookeville and Interstate Health Knoxville.
The acquisition was partially funded by a grant awarded to Occupational Health Center -- Interstate Health by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and will enable the clinic to expand services, including by accepting Medicare, Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans, the company said.
“The Cookeville community and I-40 corridor are hubs for commercial drivers and dynamic places for businesses and families to call home,” said Interstate Health Chief Executive Officer Jeff Seraphine. “The opportunity to grow our network with a practice like Satellite Med that has been serving patients for 20 years unlocks the potential to create more access to quality care for Tennesseans in Cookeville and beyond.”
Satellite Med was founded in 2006 by James Cates, M.D., and his wife Connie Cates and is a fully-licensed medical clinic that provides non-urgent and semi-urgent care on a walk-in basis or by appointment. As part of Interstate Health, Dr. Cates and the entire Satellite Med provider and staff team will continue the clinic’s commitment to great service, convenience, quality and affordability.
In addition, Interstate Health will expand service offerings at the clinic, including:
- Accepting Medicare, Medicaid and more commercial insurance plans, as of June 9
- Welcoming a new provider, Chris Archer, ANP-C, who is an experienced provider of primary care, urgent care, and orthopedic services in the Cookeville community
- Creating truck-accessible parking for the many commercial drivers who live and drive through Cookeville daily
- Adding orthopedic services and expanding primary care and occupational health capabilities
- Purchasing new equipment that will expand service capabilities
Interstate Health’s mission is to ensure access to quality healthcare for people who live near and frequent America’s highways. Along with Satellite Med, the company partners with Occupational Health Center -- Interstate Health in Cookeville, Tennessee, and has clinic locations in Knoxville, Tennessee; Port Wentworth, Georgia; and Racine, Wisconsin.
[Related: Interstate Health breaks ground on first driver-focused clinic]
