The Freight Coach Podcast

Are you blindly plugging AI tools into your freight operations without a second thought, or worse, letting shadow AI compromise your organization's most sensitive data?

NMFTA's Director of Cybersecurity, Ben Wilkens, is back to give it to you straight about the wild west of AI in the transportation industry!

We dive right into the critical differences between foundational AI models and everyday AI tools, the hidden risks of rapid large language model adoption, and why establishing a strict AI governance framework is now a matter of national security.

The shift from zero to...

Learn how to navigate post-pandemic rate shifts and grow a multi-generational freight brokerage without burning out your team in this episode with Steve Burroughs of SPI Logistics, a seasoned expert who has successfully built a powerhouse family-owned freight agency!

We dive straight into the realities of the current trucking industry, breaking down the recent capacity tightening, the long-awaited stabilization of freight rates, and why chasing cheap freight is a massive mistake.

Steve also drops some straightforward advice on why your primary customer as a broker is the shipper, and why old-school, face-to-face relationship building will...

How are emerging financial technologies transforming the operational landscape for freight businesses, and how can automation mitigate key operational risks like tribal knowledge?

With systems development and financial literacy posing significant challenges for freight businesses, Tank Payments' co-founder Matt Rybak shares how their automated financial back-office software is simplifying the complex "factor-broker-carrier stack!" 

Since money is never free, managing cash flow, accurate billing, and timely invoicing are crucial for maintaining healthy DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) cycles. 

Tank Payments works continuously in the background, acting as a virtual employee to automate routine accounting tasks an...

In this episode, we break down the current refrigerated freight market, the massive rate spikes coming out of California, and the mid-season produce update!

Joined by Cody Koehler from A&Z Trucking, our discussion focuses on the real-world operational challenges of managing a reefer fleet, including the impact of safety check weeks on truck capacity and the critical differences between non-domiciled and illegal CDL drivers. 

We also explain how smart brokers can protect customers from market volatility through strong, dedicated carrier relationships built on fast payments, easy tracking, and mutual respect!

Ab...

If you're tired of running your freight business on pure hustle without seeing real growth, listen to our guest today, Chris Sonnek of Ten Logistics, Inc., pulling back the curtain on the unsexy side of the industry and what it truly takes to transition from just working hard to working smart!

We dive into why relying solely on national rate averages is a rookie mistake and explain how mastering carrier capacity, analyzing inverse lanes, and building a dedicated core carrier base are the real keys to protecting your margins. 

We also get frank about the g...

To protect your operations, are you auditing your network to verify legal compliance, and if you use a dispatch service, are you cross-referencing your rate confirmations directly with the broker to uncover hidden fees? 

Today, let's discuss a nationwide federal crackdown at weigh stations where ICE agents are targeting unqualified drivers operating with illegally obtained CDLs, which has already led to over 28,000 rescinded licenses!

Listen as we also highlight the upcoming U.S. Court of Appeals oral arguments involving TQL and Pink Cheetah, a case centered around federal regulation 49 CFR § 371.3 that could redefine broker margin tr...

Want to know how to buffer your bottom line against crushing diesel costs in today's freight market, and how the nation's top carriers optimize their fuel spend without getting trapped by hidden fees?

This week's last guest, Josh Thomas from Prime Inc., talks about the massive cost savings available through their Prime Advantage Plus fuel card program!

We're breaking down how smaller fleets can leverage the buying power of the nation's largest refrigerated carrier to combat wild market fluctuations using advanced fuel economy tools and route optimizers.

Josh also shares how they are...

What if a simple adjustment in how you handle your back-office systems could dramatically transform your cash flow and give you an unfair advantage over the competition? 

Lars Ward of Transflo is back to break down how technology is leveling the playing field for smaller brokerages and carriers, why your data is more relevant today during a market shift than ever before, and how automating repeatable tasks like invoicing can save your business from devastating cash flow gaps.

I've always said that you need to view your operation from the bottom up, cutting out the f...

Are you doing enough to protect your trucking business from the massive surge in identity theft and cargo fraud? What happens when carrier vetting software fails to spot a sophisticated scam?

Today's episode with Cam Pechia gets frank about the terrifying reality of identity theft in the trucking industry! We're breaking down a recent real-world scenario where a legitimate carrier's DOT profile was completely compromised, leading to fake trucks and fraudulent certificates of insurance flying completely under the radar.

Look, a lot of freight brokers rely way too heavily on automated vetting software, but these...

Today, I am pivoting away from the usual industry headlines to bring you a straightforward mid-year review packed with critical business lessons and life lessons I have learned along the way!

Turning 40 this year was a massive reality check for me, and it hammered home a vital truth: you cannot wait around for the perfect moment to improve your business or your physical health. 

Through top-tier communication, high-intensity habits, and strict personal boundaries, I have discovered how to maintain a sense of calm in a sea of chaos—and you can do it too by tak...

In this episode, we're diving into the critical supply chain security issues, including a disturbing trend uncovered by the NMFTA regarding a white-label ELD cheater network, exposing how bad actors exploit shared digital infrastructures to manipulate hours of service and bypass federal safety regulations, and the Highway's new policy requiring ELD hookups for all carriers to combat carrier identity theft and freight fraud!

As standard fraud prevention measures evolve, we emphasize the urgent need for freight brokerages and logistics companies to implement strict, independent compliance checks to mitigate risk and secure their operations against identity spoofing and...

Look beyond the daily grind and dive into what truly makes a champion in freight in today's episode with our returning guest, Robert Bain of GLCS! We're stepping away from transportation metrics to deliver an unfiltered breakdown of everything from the dramatic evolution of US men's soccer at the World Cup to the reality of American healthcare, infrastructure, and our unmatched national resilience!

More importantly, we dive into the crucial role that physical fitness, mental discipline, and personal accountability play in overcoming fear and achieving ultimate success in business and life.

It's time to cut...

Are your internal silos and sub-par training protocols exposing your brokerage to massive legal liabilities? Derek Zeluff from Envoy Logistics dives into why quality training and brutal, cross-departmental transparency are absolute non-negotiables for a thriving freight operation!

We break down the danger of the "low-cost model," why treating your team as logistics consultants rather than transactional order-takers changes the game, and how recent landmark rulings at the Supreme Court level are fundamentally shifting the landscape of broker liability!

In this conversation, you'll learn the following:

Today, David Abell of AM Transport Services is back to speak about how true transportation professionals bring actual insight to their customers during times of volatility!

We discuss the vital importance of financial stability, expert market knowledge, and proactive communication when navigating market fluctuations. 

From mastering your carrier selection strategy to understanding the cyclical nature of freight, you'll learn why treating your business with consistent discipline is the ultimate competitive advantage. 

Stop fear-mongering your prospects and start adding real value—tune in to learn how to insulate your business and cultivate deep, long-term rela...

Are foreign dispatchers manipulating your driver logs from halfway across the world, and how are criminal networks shifting their cargo theft tactics? 

In this episode, we'll break down two massive legislative and security updates shaking up the transportation industry!

Let's dive into the newly introduced GHOSTRUCK Act, a crucial piece of bipartisan legislation aimed at eliminating a dangerous safety loophole by legally prohibiting anyone outside of North America from making manual edits, annotations, or modifications to a driver's Electronic Logging Device (ELD). 

We'll also discuss the national security implications of this bill and my...

Want to know how to avoid getting burned by shippers with terrible operations or a track record of late payments? Today, Lance Healy from FreightFacts is back with a game-changing solution: scorecarding shippers!

Lance drops some knowledge on how his new venture is bringing much-needed transparency and accountability to the LTL space. We break down the massive gap between the boardroom and the dock, and why having access to a shipper's score—tracking everything from dwell times to damage claims—is priceless information you need before you even start prospecting.

If you're ready to level up y...

Start building a sustainable and resilient freight business in this episode with our guest, Steve Gabrick of MVP Logistics! Steve shares the real strategies for choosing your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and dominating the mid-market shipper space!

We're moving past the social media clickbait and empty spray-and-pray methodologies to discuss how specialization, intentionality, and data analysis can streamline your sales pipeline and insulate your operations from market volatility.

From predicting the upcoming 18 to 24-month upscale cycle to humanizing your customer outreach through consultative partnerships, Steve and I deliver a straightforward look at what it takes...

Are you leaning too hard on automation and letting the human connection slip away in your freight business? How can you utilize data to anticipate your customer's next move before they even realize it themselves?

Revenova's CEO, Chris Wyndham, is back to discuss the critical balance between cutting-edge technology and the human element!

Chris breaks down the massive success of their recent user conference, sharing how real-world feedback from those in the grind is driving the evolution of their CRM and TMS solutions. We also dive into freight automation, proactive customer engagement, and task automation...

Want to learn what it actually takes to scale your transportation business, survive tough freight markets, and manage volatile shipping lanes straight from someone who is in the trenches every single day?

Fabian Aguilar from SPI Logistics joins us to share the real side of the freight and produce shipping industries, his journey from working at a family brokerage to going independent, discussing the power of specialization, how to maintain long-term customer relationships, and why superior tracking and proactive carrier communication are the absolute keys to success.

If you're looking to tap into the produce...

I am joined by Nick Lester, Director of Operations at River City Logistics (RCL), to deliver an industry-wide wake-up call, challenge the race-to-the-bottom quoting wars, and establish a higher baseline for logistics partnerships.

Recognized as an award-winning industry powerhouse, River City Logistics has scaled its nationwide footprint by adhering to an uncompromising operational philosophy: service over everything. In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on the specialized world of vehicle and high-consequence shipping, exposing how deceptive, low-ball transactional pricing models consistently fail auto dealers, auctions, and enterprise fleets at the delivery gate. Nick breaks down what...

Lynn Gravley, the newly appointed chairman of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and founder of NT Logistics, joins us to break down the real side of the freight industry!

Lynn shares his journey from being a broke, freshly minted college graduate to building a thriving managed transportation business. He dives into how managing full networks differs from traditional freight brokerage, the massive role of data analytics and Power BI dashboards, and why aligning with the TIA is a game-changer for building authority. If you are ready to stop fighting fires and start optimizing your logistics network, tune...

Today, we're diving straight into how big shifts from carriers like J.B. Hunt are impacting everything from dedicated fleets to risk management strategy and why understanding a carrier's operational shift can insulate your brand!

Stop looking at just one data point and learn how to position your company to flourish by tightening up your processes, building strong relationships, and implementing real risk mitigation protocols, because this next market wave is about to separate the novice from the pros!

Resources / References

Turn complex data into actionable insights in this episode with Dean Croke from DAT as he hits the road and dive straight into the true state of the freight industry!

Dean breaks down the reality of the current produce season, separate fact from fiction regarding market stability, and explore how major events like the World Cup are creating unexpected waves in truckload demand!

About Dean Croke

Dean is the Prinicpal Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, the leader in market and pricing intelligence and operates the largest truckload freight marketplace in North A...

In this episode, Dedicated Logistics Partner's CEO Chris Barnard joins us to share what it really takes to navigate today's logistics market, scaling from small delivery routes to robust fleet ownership!

Our conversation cuts straight to the core of building long-term partnership networks, achieving carrier density, and mastering the high-growth final mile sector through dedicated, just-in-time inventory services.

Chris also shares his unfiltered perspective on why true logistics leaders must defy basic logic, remain entirely selfless, and prioritize customer trust above short-term margins!

About Chris Barnard

Chris is the F...

What legal ripple effects will the recent Supreme Court ruling create across the logistics industry? Bryan Nelson is back to decode how this landmark decision fundamentally shifts the framework of carrier selection policies and liability for transportation professionals!

Bryan breaks down why relying solely on standard operating procedures won't fully insulate your business in court and explains how the ruling changes the landscape for using conditional vs. unrated carriers.

Whether you are a broker adapting to automation or a shipper auditing your supply chain, tune in to this episode!

About Bryan...

Today, let's talk about how to counter the rapidly evolving cyber threats facing the transportation industry in this episode with Jaime Lightfoot of Lightfoot Labs and Joe Ohr of the NMFTA!

They share the new realities of logistical vulnerabilities, moving beyond abstract ransomware fears to reveal how everyday tools like legacy maintenance software and Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are being weaponized as backdoors into critical transport infrastructure.

They also breaks down why fleets cannot afford to play catch-up with sophisticated, state-sponsored cybercriminals who exploit software white-labeling and GPS spoofing to manipulate logbooks or orchestrate strategic...

In this episode, we break down the massive wave of M&A activity hitting the industry, featuring our returning guest, Chris Kolquist from Koliway LLC!

With tons of headlines about large companies looking to acquire businesses, we dive into what it takes to survive the freight recession and come out on top.

We also cover the impact of the recent SCOTUS ruling on carrier decisions, how to transition from a founder-led business to a scalable organizational structure, and the future for boutique brokerages utilizing AI and automation!

If you want to know what...

If your brokerage reps are still spending 10 minutes copying data from a shipper email, manually calculating lanes, and guessing on a spot rate, your business model is an operational failure. Today I am sitting down with Ricky Gonzalez, CEO of Tabi Connect, and tech strategist Rush Feldhacker to execute a forensic intervention on the massive technological velocity shift rewriting the rules of logistics. Tabi Connect has engineered an absolute powerhouse AI-driven Rate Management System (RMS) that completely automates freight quoting across shipper TMS platforms, digital bid boards, and unstructured email streams.

With the truckload spot market hitting...

What if you could consolidate all of your fleet analytics, from toll and bypass data to safety signals, into one cohesive dashboard? Quinn Cochrane of Fleetworthy joins us to explain how they are revolutionizing fleet intelligence by consolidating multiple core products into a single, federated data source!

He also shares how a unified vehicle management approach eliminates operational roadblocks for carrier networks and owner-operators and the real-world applications of smart data hydration, highlighting how combining compliance and safety data optimizes workflows, drastically reduces compliance risk, and puts actionable insights directly into the hands of fleet managers and...

Discover the unfiltered truth about the broker-carrier dynamic and why the future of logistics relies heavily on authentic partnerships in this episode with Dan Lindsey of Broker-Carrier Summit!

Dan covers the cyclical nature of the freight market, the ongoing conversations surrounding rates and transparency, the operational impacts of recent FMCSA modernizations, the rise of fraudulent entities, and why looking to the government for solutions is a mistake compared to private sector innovation.

Stay connected to the show to learn what it truly takes to build long-term brand strength and profitable relationships in the current transportation...

How are surging cargo crime syndicates and evolving regulatory battles forcing a massive overhaul in how we secure our freight and vet our drivers? Today's episode tackles the serious security threats currently facing transportation professionals!

From a broader industry perspective, the sophisticated rise in digital identity fraud, deceptive pickups, and double brokering is undeniably alarming. That's why when it comes to safeguarding the supply chain, we need severe, tough-on-crime penalties, such as Virginia's strict 20-year prison sentence for cargo theft, to act as a real deterrent to offshore syndicates.

Let's also delve into the heated...

How can transportation professionals sustain success and maintain clear visibility when the threat of operational risk looms large?

Let's hear today's returning guest, Cheema Freightlines' CEO, Harman Cheema, talking about the critical shift toward higher standards in the trucking industry, and his unfiltered look at the major challenges defining today's market, including the FMCSA's registration system overhauls and the operational risks surrounding the high-stakes practice of buying and transferring authorities.

We also discuss why the digital transformation of freight transactions must not completely replace the fundamental human connection required to prevent fraud and cross-border vulnerabilities.<...

Stop paying hidden costs for empty miles and unutilized trailers, and start pivoting from losing money to generating revenue with your existing assets in today's episode with our returning guest, Todd Waldron of REPOWR!

Todd talks about the massive financial leakage in traditional trailer fleet management and explains that typical fleets experience 10% to 15% idle days and up to 12% in annual empty miles to relocate capacity. 

REPOWR flips this dynamic by offering a platform where carriers can optimize trailer pools, execute load-away solutions, and actually get paid to relocate equipment to where it's needed.

F...

With recent Supreme Court and high-profile liability rulings shaking up the industry, what does the future look like for your brokerage from an insurance and risk mitigation standpoint?

Cameron Pechia from Valley Trucking Insurance is back to break down what these legal shifts really mean for your day-to-day operations.

The reality is that the legal defense veil has been ripped away from brokers, creating a massive new target for attorneys chasing insurance money. While freight brokers aren't legally required to carry specific insurance, a proper vetting process is no longer just a best practice—it's yo...

How do you protect your logistics business when changing trade policies and shifting corporate liability fundamentally reshape the industry?

In this episode, let's uncover the operational realities of nearshoring trends, evaluating how changing truck volumes and cross-border corridors impact your long-term procurement strategy, and the recent Texas Supreme Court decision involving shipper liability that could drastically alter how brokers and carriers manage risk mitigation moving forward!

Resources / References

📊📉 Don't miss out on the l...

How can you turn dynamic shifting lanes into continuous business growth when traditional logistics strategies fall short? What steps can you take to capitalize on fluctuating spot market pricing agreements?

Beyond the numbers in today's lane analysis, we're tackling the industry's heaviest headlines, including a massive cargo theft crisis where stolen freight is liquidated online before the driver even delivers, the FMCSA's rollout of the Motus registration platform to eliminate fraudulent double-brokering, and C.H. Robinson's aggressive purge of carriers based strictly on safety scores.

This episode isn't textbook theory; it is real, front-line strategy...

James Currier is back to strip away the delusion that the market is coming to save you and dive hard into what it takes to actually build a sustainable freight strategy!

In this episode of the podcast, we break down why a spike in spot market rates doesn't fix a broken capital structure, the critical role of fleet utilization through online platforms, and how carriers can survive the relentless pressure of rising fuel costs and tightening line of credit constraints from commercial banks.

It's time to stress test your equipment and focus on real profitability...

Let's welcome Joe Ohr and Ben Wilkens from NMFTA back to the show as they discuss the critical intersection of transportation and cybersecurity and the stark reality of modern freight fraud!

We also cover the driving force behind the NMFTA's new threat report portal, a collaborative tool designed to share real-time intelligence and disrupt the predictable playbooks that cybercriminals rely on.

To stay ahead of these growing logistics security threats, we highlight actionable defense mechanisms, including the non-negotiable need for continuous employee education, strict password hygiene, multi-factor authentication, and robust offboarding practices. 

Don't l...

What does it take to crack down on cargo theft, chameleon carriers, and unregulated dispatch services? In this episode, Chris Burroughs from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is back to discuss the real cost of silence on Capitol Hill and why your voice matters now more than ever!

We're diving straight into the Build America 250 Act, what the Supreme Court's Montgomery v. Caribe ruling actually means for broker liability, and how the FMCSA's new MOTUS registration system is set to purge fraudulent entities from the marketplace.

If you want to protect your freight business, stay...

Joining us today is Jim Mullen from the Truckload Carriers Association, sharing his invaluable insight into how recent regulatory enforcement from the FMCSA and the DOT is shaking up the carrier and brokerage landscape!

From ELD crackdowns and cabotage violations to the modernizing of freight safety compliance, this episode breaks down what you need to know to stay competitive. Tune in to understand the changing dynamics of the supply chain and learn how to position your business for long-term success!

Connect with Jim