Plus appoints former FMCSA deputy administrator and chief counsel Earl Adams Jr.
Plus has appointed Earl Adams Jr., Esq., as its VP of public policy and regulatory affairs.
Adams will lead Plus’s global public affairs and safety advocacy efforts and advise on regulatory developments as the company partners with global commercial vehicle makers, including Scania/MAN/International of Traton Group, Hyundai, and IVECO to bring driverless trucks to market. Adams assumes the position from Wiley Deck, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.
“After nearly a decade on our autonomous journey, we are on the brink of commercializing autonomous trucks,” David Liu, CEO and co-founder of Plus, said. “Earl’s unmatched experience in transportation policy and his ability to connect diverse stakeholder groups will be instrumental to the next phase of our growth. I am grateful for Wiley’s invaluable contributions to our leadership in this field and wish him the best success in his new venture.”
Adams brings over 20 years of experience in regulatory counseling, public policy, and safety advocacy in the transportation industry. Previously, he served as the deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and before that as its chief counsel. While at FMCSA, Adams led the agency’s team, drafting safety rules for autonomous commercial vehicles and served as its liaison to the Office of the Secretary’s autonomous working group.
NATSO names Darren Boyd Schulte interim CEO
NATSO recently named Darren Boyd Schulte as interim CEO, overseeing all business operations for the association. He follows Lisa Mullings, who served as CEO for 20 years.
Schulte has almost four decades of experience in the truck stop and travel center industry. He brings expertise in operations, retail merchandising, marketing, and member engagement. He has led executive and management teams, held positions directly impacting thousands of employees, and managed multimillion-dollar operating budgets. Schulte also mentors executives within and outside the travel center and truck stop space.
“I am honored to be named interim CEO of NATSO and look forward to supporting NATSO, the members, and staff as we continue to advance the interests of the truck stop and travel center industry,” Schulte said. “NATSO leadership and the NATSO team are committed to continued success for the industry.”
Schulte joined NATSO in 2012 as VP of membership. At NATSO, Schulte developed and enhanced products and services in the areas of education, research, and training for truck stop and travel center operators. He was also responsible for member recruitment and retention as well as soliciting truck stop and travel center participation in NATSO events and programs.
Orange EV makes new additions to its leadership team
Orange EV recently added Olivier Roubi as VP of rental and leasing and Dr. Zouhair Lazreq as VP of engineering.
Roubi brings over 25 years of experience in automotive and commercial vehicle fleet management across the U.S. and Europe. In his new role, Roubi will focus on expanding Orange EV’s short-term rental and long-term lease programs. These initiatives will include customized rental solutions that allow customers to experience pure-electric terminal trucks before committing to long-term ownership while simplifying the process and enhancing the customer experience.
“I’m very excited to join Orange EV and help customers accelerate their CO2 footprint reduction and reduce operational cost by providing them with flexible and competitive short-term rental and long-term lease offers for their yard truck operations,” Roubi said.
Dr. Lazreq joins Orange EV from a career spanning aerospace, consulting, and automotive industries. He previously served as VP of global engineering for Bridgestone Americas, leading the engineering function for Firestone Airide. His career also includes leadership roles at Ford Motor Company and Dana, overseeing engineering and operations for more than 120 facilities in 26 countries.
“Joining Orange EV felt natural because of its technical leadership and commitment to sustainability,” Dr. Lazreq said. “I’m excited to build on the team’s strengths, enhance internal processes, and support a thriving team that drives our mission forward.”
