Rick Mihelic, contributor

Rick Mihelic

Rick Mihelic is NACFE’s Director of Emerging Technologies. He has authored for NACFE four Guidance Reports on electric and alternative fuel medium- and heavy-duty trucks and several Confidence Reports on Determining Efficiency, Tractor and Trailer Aerodynamics, Two Truck Platooning, and authored special studies on Regional Haul, Defining Production and Intentional Pairing of tractor trailers. 

Trucks
A trend toward purpose-built vehicles
Standing on a truck production line almost always causes a visitor to comment that every truck seems to be completely different than the one before or after.
July 19, 2021
flatbed trailer with building supplies
Business
Powertrain type doesn't matter without aerodynamics
In the end, freight efficiency is about moving more freight with less energy and less cost.
June 27, 2021
Freight efficiency is about moving more freight with less energy and less cost. Improving aerodynamics are relevant to all powertrain choices.
Business
Innovation is all about its place on the S-curve
A simplistic view of technology diffusion works pretty well to explain winners, but not all horses seem to finish the race.
April 10, 2021
Transportation innovation follows a time-tested S-curve pattern.
Business
Failing to plan is planning to fail
Defense in depth starts from assuming systems will fail and then proactively designing for those failures.
March 24, 2021
Plan A through E signs pointing in different directions
Alternative power
H2 or BEV? It's not 'us versus them'
Providing choices will accelerate zero-emission vehicle alternatives much in the same way the co-location of Home Depot and Lowes has generally benefitted overall home improvement sales.
March 10, 2021
Driving to zero emissions trailer on a battery electric vehicle
Alternative power
Green energies present many TCO unknowns
Market impacts for truck TCO estimation used to only be impacted by uncontrollable market variables like interest rates and residual value of used trucks.
January 29, 2021
Blue Tesla Semi
Equipment
Hard to abate emissions? I think not
There are many things that can be classified as hard in this world, but trucking emissions should not be hard to abate. Find out why on CCJ.
January 13, 2021
trucking-exhaust-2021-01-13-06-44
Business
Pick meaningful terms
Long-term marketing success can be tied to meaningful branding terms. Learn about the importance of inclusive terms for trucking brands and technology today.
December 10, 2020
Business Buzzword: “This is where the rubber meets the road” – vector handwritten phrase
Perspectives
Pushing ropes in trucking
Advanced technology promotion groups are pushing ropes to make progress happen in the trucking industry and beyond. Learn more from Rick Mihelic here on CCJ
October 8, 2020
Rick Mihelic is the director of Future Technology Studies for the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)
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Top Stories
Tesla electric Semi
Alternative power
Tesla delays electric Semi for third time
Tesla cites "limited availability of battery cells and global supply chain challenges," in third delay of its Semi truck launch.
truck driver in seat
Technology
Which company is most likely to succeed at self-driving trucks?
fleet of TDC trucks
Mergers & Acquisitions
Paschall Truck Lines parent acquires Missouri carrier
Per diem programs can put more money in drivers' pockets and save fleets money in payroll taxes.
Technology
Fleets see results from automated per diem program
trucks waiting at dock
Economic trends
Truck Tonnage Index falls for second consecutive month, spot rates sliding