On this episode of Nemo Nation, hosts Dave Nemo and Jimmy Mac welcome Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE).

Mike joins the show to dive into NACFE’s latest focus: “The Messy Middle” — the complex, transitional period the trucking industry faces as it moves from diesel dominance toward a future of zero-emission vehicles.

This conversation builds on NACFE’s Run on Less – Messy Middle initiative, which documents and shares real-world insights from fleets experimenting with a variety of clean technologies, including:

Battery-electric trucks

Hydrogen fuel cell options

Renewable diesel and natural gas

Hybrid approaches bridging the gap

Mike explains why this period is “messy” but also necessary—as fleets test what works, what doesn’t, and how infrastructure, costs, and regulations will shape the future.

Key talking points include:

Lessons from fleets in NACFE’s Run on Less program

How trucking can reduce emissions without sacrificing reliability

The challenges of charging/fueling infrastructure

The role of data in guiding fleet decisions

NACFE’s work helps carriers, shippers, and policymakers understand which technologies are practical today—and how they pave the way to a more sustainable freight future.

Learn more:

NACFE Website

Run on Less – Messy Middle

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