Michael Rheinheimer

Jim and Jourdan Hansen are embracing the future. The brothers behind Jimbo & Company Transport in Middlebury say they have decided to put AI to work for them.

Far from being swayed by recent trends and tech industry buzzwords, the pair are early adopters. They started using artificial intelligence, although in a smaller way, five years ago.

“It’s grown significantly since then,” said President & CEO Jim Hansen. “Initially it was just creating the load board for the drivers, and then we fed off that. Our whole company runs off that load board. So as you’ve got that data (the AI) starts to read it and put things together. Once you have the data, you can start issuing commands and then it pretty much knows what you’re doing.”

Hansen says the A.I. is taking care of small and tedious tasks formerly handled by office staff, such as calculating payroll or tracking driver habits. It also helps track driver safety.

“Before, we would have to check to make sure that the driver was legal to take [a shipment],” Hansen said. “Now, it’s telling us, ‘Hey, this guy is able to take this, or he’s not able to take this.’ It’s giving us red flags right away.”

Hansen says the newfound efficiency from the A.I. creates a trickle-down effect. Quicker order processing and quicker driver means quicker deliveries and an expanding business with more opportunities for growth.

“Getting the order placed with us, to picking it up from the factory to put I our yard, to getting the paperwork done on our end, to getting a driver used to be a two-day process,” Hansen said. “Now you can get it done in half a day, and that guy’s on the road.”

The next frontier for the A.I. has to do with optimizing a driver’s time and earning potential.

“A lot of stuff that we’re currently working on is trying to figure out where you’re at and then what do we have available,” Hansen said. “Say a guy delivers in Missouri, there might be something in Missouri and it’s letting him know, ‘Hey, there’s a unit in Missouri if you want it.’”

While some are concerned about A.I. and the disruption it’s already causing, Hansen has a more optimistic view.

“A.I. doesn’t have to be a scary tool,” Hansen said. “It actually can be helpful… Don’t be afraid of it taking away jobs. I would say embrace it – learn it. You can utilize it. It’s a tool to use. You’re not going to get away from having a human anytime soon.”

Jimbo & Company Transport hired outside experts to build a custom A.I. for the processes they need. To maintain a competitive edge, Hansen did not disclose the name of the programs used.

James says using A.I. has helped the company save on overhead, allowing them to put resources into expansion. Jimbo & Company Transport plans to add 100 contractors during the second quarter.

James is sharing credit with his younger brother, Jourdan, who serves as the company’s Vice President and COO. Jourdan’s future-focused approach to tech has helped the brothers’ business stay ahead of the curve.

“He has a lot of the creativity. He wants us to be on that [A.I.] bandwagon,” Jim said. “Some people can’t grow out of the old school ways, but eventually we do get rid of the pay phone. If you don’t grow with it, eventually it won’t be there for you.”

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Thirteen years ago, Don Sheliga started working as an engineer for Coachmen RV, a Middlebury, Ind.-based division of Forest River Inc.

Twelve years ago, he got the news that changed everything. That’s when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

But Sheliga is not alone in his fight. His wife, Linda, has been by his side since day one. He credits her with giving him the fighting spirit that’s on display at Rock Steady Gym.

Sheliga said his wife was watching CBS’ “Sunday Morning” after he was diagnosed. The show had a story on Rock Steady Gym’s original location in Indianapolis. Inspired by how the training was helping patients slow the progression of their Parkinson’s symptoms, the pair began driving to Indianapolis for boxing classes. Classes, Sheliga said, helped manage his symptoms.

But driving back and forth to Indianapolis started to take its toll.

“After about six months I said, ‘You know, maybe we can do this up here.’”

So Sheliga took the initiative and, along with several others, started Rock Steady Gym Michiana in 2016. They now have two locations to serve the community. The Elkhart gym holds classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The South Bend gym holds evening classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from six to 7:30, and at 9:30 on Saturday mornings.

Though less than a decade old, Rock Steady Michiana has seen steady growth. Sheliga says there are about forty people at the South Bend gym, plus another 30 regulars at the Elkhart classes.

While the work is rewarding, running two gyms is not an easy feat. It’s taken a village to help keep the lights on, and his employers have been a big help.

“Forest River has been so nice,” Sheliga said. “This year, they actually gave me a $500 check donation. I’d like to challenge the other manufacturers and vendors to meet it or beat it.”

The chance for manufacturers and vendors to meet or beat that $500 donation is coming up at the end of the month.

A fundraising gala will be at 5 p.m., April 26, at Morris Park Country Club in South Bend. It will include a silent auction.

Sheliga’s goal is to raise at least $75,000 for Rock Steady Boxing in Michiana. He’s hoping donors will feel called to help.

“Boxing has all the things that people with Parkinson’s lose – balance, mobility, agility, movement,” Sheliga said. “The program works. Our goal for everybody is to slow down Parkinson’s… so that the quality of life gets better.”

To purchase tickets to the fundraising gala, or bid on silent auction items, visit RockSteadyBoxingMichiana.com.

Don is also thankful for the support from Forest River’s management team.

“Forest River has been so nice,” Sheliga said. “They’ve accommodated me with my certain issues. If I need time off, they give it to me within reason. They let me leave early if I’m having a bad day, let me come in late if I’m having a bad day. They’ve just been super. Zach Eppers and Bob Dumm – I mean, I couldn’t think more highly of two people.”

The post Coachmen’s Don Sheliga Fights Back Against Parkinson’s first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Hosted by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, the Regional Knowledge Summit will be held later this month, and MARVAC President and CEO John Lindley hopes to see you there.

The first of the two Regional Knowledge Summit sessions will be April 22 at Suburban Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, Mich., while the second one will be April 23 on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, Saginaw, Mich. The program on both days runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the agenda for both days are three talks. First, attorney Bonnie Mayfield will speak on new employment laws, including Michigan’s new Earned Sick Time Act. After lunch, Lindley wills speak on the new state legislature and regulatory landscape. Finally, Curtis Hemmeler will speak on the new Ground Monitor Interrupter (GMI) requirements going into effect in 2026.

Hemmeler, who is the executive director of the RV Technical Institute (RVTI) and senior vice president of standards for the RV Industry Association (RVIA), is working to spread the word about these new requirements.

The GMI devices will serve a simple, yet potentially life-saving purpose. Once installed, they will protect RV owners from “hot skin,” which can happen if an RV’s electrical system is plugged into an improperly grounded receptacle. “Hot skin” refers to when any metal item, including an RV’s metal exterior, becomes electrified, raising the risk of shock or fire.

Hemmeler explained that a bad electrical ground can “energize” the whole RV. To counteract this, RVs built in 2026 will be required to have a GMI device installed on the unit. “So, if there’s any kind of issue with a campground’s pedestal, it’s going to trip the GMI on the RV.” (For further background see: “Grounding Monitor Interrupters on RVs Coming in 2026”)

The RV industry is looking to educate as many people as possible – including RV dealers and campground owners – about the new GMI requirement. Hemmeler’s talk will cover industry standards, inspections, and how the new ground monitoring devices will work. Also on the agenda, tips for how campgrounds can prepare for the new equipment. This will include guidance on maintenance plans, electrical inspections, and risk mitigation.

Hemmeler says the independence of the RV industry is maintained by its self-regulation, adding that’s a perk they don’t want to lose. But the biggest goals are consumer safety and campground readiness, he said.

“The whole idea of the change is for safety,” Hemmeler said. “The second piece would be to make sure the campground is ready – make sure the consumer doesn’t have any problems when they try to hook up, so that the consumer has a good experience. If they don’t have a good experience, they’re less likely to continue to recreate or camp, and they might choose an alternative. Obviously, our goal is to try to keep them in the RV world, so that they can continue to purchase within the industry, but also so they can create those family memories that are very positive versus being an unhappy experience.”

Lindley agrees with the importance of safety and a good customer experience.

“At the end of the day, user experience and user safety are as important as any other factor when it comes to the industry and the industry’s success,” he said.

Lindley says registration for the Regional Knowledge Summit is easy. You can do so by calling MARVAC at (517) 349-3300, or emailing [email protected]. Registration costs $50 for members, and $150 for non-members, with $100 credited toward a MARVAC membership if joining within seven days of the event. He’s hoping to see a good turnout at this year’s summit.

“These events provide a great opportunity for colleagues to get together with colleagues,” he said. “Those are truly extraordinarily valuable conversations that members of the association have with each other that we’re able to facilitate.”

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Even though selling and repairing RVs is what keeps the lights on, the Veurink family believes in going the extra mile for their neighbors in need.

That’s why this summer, Veurink RV Center (VRV) is spearheading a donation drive for Streams of Hope food pantry in Grand Rapids, Mich. The “2025 Pantry Pile-up” is being supported by Midway RV Center, Dutchmen RV, KZ RV, and RVBusiness.

“The actual donation period will be June 2 through the 21,” said VRV Creative Marketing Director Mollee Veurink. “We kind of thought, ‘Hey, this is when we’re going to get customers in our door just to bring awareness of even what’s happening in our own community.’”

Veurink said the hope is the more awareness from customers, the more donations there will be to Streams of Hope. Even though it’s a food pantry, Veurink said they do more than provide meals to those in need.

“If you’re going through a rough season of life, they’ve got that resource for the spiritual side,” she said. “We fully support that ministry.”

Streams of Hope is asking for many items to meet the growing need for help. Not only do they need canned goods, they will also accept cereal bars, cereal, dry pastas, hygiene products and baby products. Veurink says there’s a big need for diapers and baby formula, since those tend to go quickly when needed by a family.

Those wanting to give to the collection will be able to do so at both of Veurink’s locations. Its center in Grand Rapids is located at 7144 Division Ave. S., while the Newaygo branch is at 8669 S. Mason Dr.

Midway RV Center is also serving as a drop-off location. Its address is 5590 Division Ave. S. in Grand Rapids.

Veurink said the pantry is just about a mile from their Grand Rapids location, and about two miles from Midway. For the pair of businesses, charity begins at home.

“One kind of cool thing we like to do is invest in the community,” said Veurink. “When our customers invest in us, we’re able to invest back into the community. Whether we’re employing people right in our own neighborhood and we’re able to provide jobs, but also if someone’s in need we’re able to kind of hear that and be intentional with helping them in any way.”

This summer’s donation drive is being run by the company’s REACH team, the all-volunteer force made up of Veurink RV’s employees. It’s a labor of love, that usually gets 20 to 25 employees to lend a hand for any given project. Veurink said the employees are always happy to help out, and even many new hires sign-up for projects shortly after their start dates.

Veurink credits that volunteer spirit to family business’s culture, carefully crafted by her father, Tim Veurink. Even though his son and her brother, Matt, is now the general manager, she said their dad handles the behind the scenes “visionary-type stuff.”

“He said it’s easy to write a check, but it’s cool to be able to see a different perspective and it opens the eyes of the team,” Veurink said. “We do more than just sell and fix RVs.”

Once the donation drive is finished, all the items will be driven to Streams of Hope – hopefully, Veurink said, inside of campers.

The post Veurink RV Center Leads Donation Drive for Food Pantry first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.