Brent Yeagy on AI and labor
From Presidential Lecture Series | Brent Yeagy · · Purdue University News
“There's no one-size-fits-all answer on AI and jobs — for white/gray collar roles I see more reallocation of talent than mass displacement, while blue-collar roles will be mixed depending on the nature of the work; Wabash's manufacturing is less susceptible to wholesale displacement.”
On , Brent Yeagy, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at WABASH NATIONAL CORP, spoke about AI and labor during Presidential Lecture Series | Brent Yeagy on Purdue University News.
About Brent Yeagy
Brent Yeagy, president and CEO of Wabash, appeared on the podcast "Risk & Resolve" on April 1, 2026ched. He discussed his background, including his service in the U.S. Navy submarine force, and his leadership at Wabash. Yeagy described the company's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that between mid-March and early April 2020, Wabash saw a 70% reduction in its backlog, with roughly a billion dollars of backlog evaporating. He also addressed the company's approach to healthcare costs, noting that with a nominal revenue of $2.5 billion, healthcare costs amount to $50 million. Yeagy said the company moved away from accepting the typical 12% year-over-year cost increase and instead aimed to accept only 6%. Yeagy also discussed the future of manufacturing and technology, stating that while humanoid robots and AI are a "big force multiplier," current technology has not yet shown an ability to economically match a fully capable human in adaptable environments. He predicted that such technology could become actionable at scale for a broader tier of manufacturers within the next three to five years. Looking ahead, Yeagy said he intends to continue reshaping how Wabash employees receive healthcare and the outcomes they get, and to build the company's culture for future leadership. He added that over the next three to four years, he expects Wabash to "fully express its brand" for customers in a more exciting way.