Rob Matthews currently serves as Regional Fleet Manager at Lewis Tree Service, a 100% employee-owned company where he oversees critical operations across a diverse fleet of commercial and utility vehicles. A Marine Corps veteran with over 27 years of hands-on experience, Rob has built an impressive track record managing light, medium, and heavy-duty fleets across industries including waste management, propane distribution, and military logistics. His approach is rooted in operational excellence, data-driven decision making, and a relentless focus on safety, compliance, and process improvement. From multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to executing fleet strategy back home, Rob brings discipline, accountability, and mentorship to the forefront of everything he does.

• [02:43] Rob’s journey from Hot Wheels in the sandbox to managing real bucket trucks
• [04:23] The unique challenge of “incidental drivers” who are craft workers first, drivers second
• [06:28] How Lewis Tree Service keeps America’s power lines clear while managing 26,000-pound vehicles
• [08:39] The two-method approach: being present with drivers and using coaching-focused technology
• [10:46] Why driver-facing cameras became a game-changer for behavior modification and coaching
• [13:25] Real-world exoneration stories: how video evidence protects drivers and resolves disputes
• [15:30] Tracking safe driving habits instead of just measuring crashes and incidents
• [18:07] The power of positive reinforcement: celebrating good behaviors caught on camera
• [19:10] “Complacency kills” – bringing military mindset to civilian fleet safety culture
• [21:11] Supply chain challenges and the importance of backup plans in fleet management
• [26:30] Why humility and continuous learning are essential for fleet managers
• [31:09] Lightning round: theme songs, futuristic features, and the hot dog sandwich debate

When your drivers are craft workers first and professional drivers second, how do you instill the discipline needed to safely operate 26,000-pound bucket trucks through residential neighborhoods? The challenge becomes even more complex when these same drivers are responsible for keeping America’s lights on, often working in high-pressure storm response situations where lives and communities depend on their expertise.

According to Rob Matthews, Regional Fleet Manager at Lewis Tree Service, the answer lies in combining military leadership principles with smart technology deployment. Drawing from his Marine Corps experience and 27 years in fleet operations, Rob explains how his team transformed their safety culture by focusing on coaching rather than punishment, using driver-facing cameras as development tools, and maintaining the “complacency kills” mindset that keeps standards high even when operations run smoothly.

In this episode of RoadRageous, host Chad Lindholm sits down with Rob to explore how military discipline translates to civilian fleet management. They discuss the unique challenges of managing incidental drivers, the power of positive reinforcement in safety programs, and why building authentic relationships with frontline workers is just as important as implementing the latest technology.