NextGen Trucking at Mercer - Where the Future Is Already in Motion
On a bright, busy day at Mercer Transportation’s annual Jamboree, a group of students from the Next Generation in Trucking Association stepped onto Mercer’s campus with a sense of direction that was impossible to miss. This wasn’t a tentative introduction to trucking. It was a hands-on step into an industry many of them had already begun to see as part of their future.
And not just behind the wheel.
What they found at Mercer Transportation was something more expansive than they expected: a network of careers, pathways, and people that revealed trucking as an industry far broader than driving alone.
A Bigger Picture of the Industry
Walking among rows of polished, customized trucks, the students quickly realized that trucking isn’t a one-dimensional profession. Yes, there were drivers and owner operators, but there were also opportunities in diesel technology, logistics, safety, operations, and fleet management.
For some, the draw was the independence of the road. For others, it was the hands-on precision of becoming a diesel technician. And for many, it was the realization that this industry supports an entire ecosystem of careers that keep freight—and the country—moving.
That shift in perspective is exactly what organizations like NextGen in Trucking aim to create.
As Lindsey Trent, President and Co-Founder of NextGen in Trucking has emphasized, the goal is to show young people that trucking offers “many options” and clear career paths across the industry, not just one role, but an entire field of opportunity.
More Than Machines
The trucks themselves made an impression: massive in scale, meticulously maintained, and often striking in appearance. But what stood out wasn’t just how big they were.
It was how much pride they represented.
These weren’t just tools of the trade. They were reflections of the people who owned and operated them. That realization reshaped how students saw the industry, not as purely functional, but as something personal, skilled, and even creative.
Lessons You Can’t Google
That human element came into focus during a conversation with Mercer owner operator, Mike Ricouard.
Speaking from experience, he offered a candid look at what it takes to succeed: early challenges, smart decision-making, and the discipline required to build something sustainable. But his message went beyond survival.
Trucking, he explained, can be a platform for independence, for entrepreneurship, for long-term stability.
And just as important as what he said was how he said it. There was a genuine enthusiasm in his willingness to share, a recognition that passing knowledge forward is part of what keeps the industry strong.
A Generation Already Thinking Ahead
What stood out most throughout the visit wasn’t just curiosity. It was intention.
These students weren’t passively exploring options. They were actively mapping out possibilities. They asked thoughtful questions, connected ideas to their own goals, and spoke openly about what they wanted: meaningful work, financial stability, and careers they could take ownership of.
Some saw themselves driving. Others leaned toward maintenance, logistics, or management roles. All of them, however, saw a future in transportation.
That diversity of interests, and of people, signals a broader shift. Young men and women alike were equally engaged, equally invested, and equally capable of finding their place in the industry.
From Mercer’s Campus to Industry Stage
The experience extended beyond Mercer’s campus to the Mid-America Trucking Show, where the students stepped into one of the largest events in trucking.
At Mercer’s booth, they connected with Charles Gracey, host of SiriusXM radio’s Trucking Sense show, during a live broadcast. What unfolded wasn’t just an interview, it was a conversation between generations.
On one side, a seasoned voice of the industry. On the other, a group preparing to enter it.
Moments like that make something clear: the future of trucking isn’t a distant concept. It’s already taking shape in real time.
Building Pathways, Not Just Interest
At its core, NextGen in Trucking is about more than awareness. It’s about access.
Through school programs, industry partnerships, and hands-on experiences, the organization is helping students see trucking as a first-choice career—not a fallback. Their work spans CDL training, diesel technician programs, and broader supply chain education, all designed to connect students directly to real opportunities.
To quote Dave Dein, Vice President and Co-founder of NextGen Trucking, “What I love most about NextGen Trucking’s mission is that we get to be a part of something that is going to literally transform the trucking industry as well as student’s lives in a positive and meaningful way. And we couldn’t do it without the support of companies like Mercer Transportation.”
And the impact is tangible. When students can step onto a campus like Mercer’s, speak directly with drivers and technicians, and experience the industry firsthand, their perspective changes.
Uncertainty becomes direction. Interest becomes intention.
Already in Motion
If this visit revealed anything, it’s that the next generation of trucking professionals isn’t waiting to figure things out. They’re already doing it.
Some may become drivers. Others will build careers as diesel technicians, logistics coordinators, safety managers, or leaders within the supply chain. But all of them are part of something bigger—a workforce that is entering the industry with awareness, purpose, and momentum.
The road ahead isn’t something they’re hoping to find.
It’s something they’re already preparing to take.
And here at Mercer, we’re just proud to be a part of it.
Pic 1 (with the red truck)- "Mercer Owner Operator, Charles Crume, answering questions from a Next Gen Trucking student."
Pic 2 (with the blue truck) - "Mercer Owner Operator, Mike Ricouard, talking to Next Gen Trucking Students visiting Mercer's campus."
Pic 3 - Some of the NextGen in Trucking students.