Volvo Penta Interview And Tons Of Union Speak

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Final week was Thanksgiving, and I had the nice fortune to have the ability to spend time with two of my gear business associates — Darren Tasker from Volvo Penta and Mike Switzer from Stevens Engineering … and we thought “Black Friday” can be nearly as good a day as any to place collectively an episode of The Heavy Tools Podcast.

What Is The Heavy Tools Podcast?

The Heavy Tools Podcast is an after-hours undertaking I launched final summer season with my good buddy, Mike Switzer. In fact, we discuss a whole lot of sustainability stuff — but it surely’s normally a extra lighthearted, goofy tackle issues than you’ll get from CleanTech Speak.

On final week’s episode HEP-isode, I interviewed Darren Tasker, Vice President of Industrial Gross sales for Volvo Penta, to speak in regards to the model’s push past marine engine and generator units and into hydrogen gasoline cells and battery power storage methods (BESS) — and the function Volvo Penta’s electrical efforts are taking part in within the decarbonization efforts of its OEM companions.

We additionally talk about a collaboration between Volvo Penta and CMB.TECH to develop a diesel, hydrogen, and ammonia multi-fuel engine as a low-carbon interim resolution earlier than appropriate zero-emissions alternate options change into viable on the form of large, kilowatt scales generally wanted on industrial job websites.

Mike and I then talk about a bipartisan invoice launched in Congress that guarantees additional time pay for heavy truck drivers. That’s one thing that, you could be shocked to study, drivers haven’t been eligible for to date — and it’s one of many many elements that’s been driving the present driver scarcity.

“There’s a retention drawback,” Michael Belzer, Wayne State College professor, informed FreightWaves final yr. “It’s merely since you don’t pay these folks. After you’re paid for working 40 hours while you actually labored 65, you get to be sad. And that’s why they give up.”

From there, the entire thing devolves into making enjoyable of Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, who hilariously challenged fourth-generation Teamster Sean O’Brien to a fist combat on the Senate ground. O’Brien had beforehand Tweeted (X’ed?) an image of Markwayne standing on some phonebooks or one thing so he may see over the rostrum.

Grasping CEO who pretends like he’s self made. In actuality, only a clown & fraud. All the time has been, all the time might be. Give up the powerful man act in these senate hearings. You already know the place to seek out me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy. #LittleManSyndrome pic.twitter.com/JNvT7IsA6m

— Sean M. O’Brien (@TeamsterSOB) June 21, 2023

Actually, I can’t make enjoyable of this Markwayne man sufficient.

If you wish to hear extra about Volvo Penta’s decarbonization efforts and our tackle additional time pay, the Teamsters, the UAW strikes, and perhaps an Ovaltine industrial, give it a pay attention — then tell us what you assume within the feedback.

Whether or not we’re exploring the most recent in trucking know-how, speaking in regards to the traits that propel the business ahead, or uncovering tales in regards to the devoted people who hold the wheels of America turning — that is the place the roar of the engines and the heart beat of progress come collectively — it’s elegant, it’s surreal, it’s the Heavy Tools Podcast … with Mike and Jo!