The Grawe Pod

Recorded just two days following the end of Q1, Grawe Pod hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall collaborate on an important discussion covering several key points that trucking and logistics decision makers should consider as they evaluate their company’s performance. What Doug and Gary cover will help as decision makers plan ahead for the remainder of 2024 in an ever-changing market. As you will hear...

The recent headlines with the news of leadership changes at two of the nation’s largest trucking and logistics companies helped to place the topic of succession planning for your trucking company into the spotlight. In this episode, podcast host Doug Grawe addresses the key questions that trucking companies need to ask when building a succession plan for the business. As Doug notes, one of the fir...

This episode of the Grawe Pod offers insightful perspective on two timely topics: 1) January’s final rulemaking on Independent Contractor status issued by the Department of Labor. 2) Prevention strategies for cargo theft and mitigating cargo claims. Podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall explore the key points on both IC status and cargo security in an episode that will be valuable for trucking...

The first 2024 episode of the Grawe Pod features a discussion on nuclear verdicts in the trucking industry and managing multiple businesses within one corporate family. Podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall explore a number of key points related to this topic. As you will hear, building and managing the separation of your businesses requires clear business purposes, buy-in and transparency at...

In this 2023 year-end edition of the Grawe Pod, series host Doug Grawe goes to the bullpen to call on series producer and trucking industry veteran Greg Thompson from the PodWheels Network to join him on the microphone. As you’ll hear, Greg asks Doug to discuss the top challenges trucking and logistics companies faced in 2023. The conversation also dedicates some time for looking ahead at 2024 wit...

In this episode, podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall highlight the power and purpose of good performance dashboards for trucking and logistics companies. Doug and Gary will discuss how the use of dashboards can offer companies an important advantage through knowing your fundamentals better than the competition and showing that you have the people and processes to improve your fundamentals. T...

Grawe Pod hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall dedicate this episode to examine some of the biggest headlines and trends happening this summer, including the impact of Yellow’s closing on its people and the industry. Doug and Gary also discuss what’s taking place these days with driver recruiting and retention efforts. You’ll also hear perspective on California’s equipment rules impacting carriers, b...

With the midway point in 2023 on the horizon, the Grawe Pod has dedicated an episode to examine several key questions related to longer range planning and maintaining a focus on reaching your company’s goals. Podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall discuss the importance of planning and asking the right questions, including the following: What do we need to do to reach our goals? Who will be res...

In today’s transportation landscape, trucking companies are crunched by the prevalence of nuclear verdicts, the shortage of quality drivers, and multiple viewpoints from Operations, Safety, & Recruiting. With this episode of the Grawe Pod, Doug Grawe and Gary Randall are back to talk about driver qualification guidelines and the qualification process. Doug and Gary explore a number of key poin...

For our first episode of 2023, the Grawe Pod addresses one of the oldest questions facing a trucking company: Should we go with an independent contractor fleet, an employee fleet or a fleet that utilizes both ICs and employee drivers? Podcast host Doug Grawe is joined by Grawe Group Executive Business Partner Gary Randall for a wide-ranging discussion on this topic. Doug and Gary walk listeners th...

Posting a recycled job ad on Indeed, conducting four rounds of interviews and utilizing a copy-and-paste approach with job qualification requirements are not cutting it in today’s market. During the People Episode of the Grawe Pod, we will be sharing a collection of insights that address attracting, hiring and onboarding non-driving talent into your transportation organization. Doug Grawe is your...

With this episode of the Grawe Pod, we will introduce you to the newest team member of the Grawe Group, Steve Youngquist. Along with introducing Steve and welcoming him to the team, Grawe Pod hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall will be engaging Steve to draw from his expertise in working through various cycles in the trucking and logistics market. As you’ll hear during this episode, some version of...

In this episode of the Grawe Pod, we will explore a very important aspect of mergers and acquisitions as the M&A activity is once again heating up in the transportation industry. Grawe Pod hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall discuss the subject of mergers and acquisitions from the perspective of having a plan for implementation in place that can be well executed once the decision is made to buy...

In this episode of the Grawe Pod, we focus on the areas of business development and sales. Your podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall center the discussion during this episode on the importance of knowing your company’s differentiators for your customers as well as making sure your whole team knows them. Don Grawe, a veteran logistics professional with a wealth of experience in the area of bus...

One of the realities of transportation and logistics is that companies will encounter emergency situations. During this episode of the Grawe Pod, hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall of the Grawe Group discuss the importance of being prepared and having the proper planning in place when unexpected events, one-off situations and emergencies arise. Doug and Gary are joined on this edition of the Grawe...

There is no question that world events are raising the profile of cyber attacks even higher. Big and small trucking companies can be targets for attacks. In this edition of the Grawe Pod, Nate Johnson from GLCS joins podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall to discuss cybersecurity, preventing issues and responding to events. The post Discussing Cybersecurity: How Prepared Is Your Company? appear...

In the first episode of 2022, the Grawe Pod will be examining a few key questions trucking executives should be asking at the beginning of the year, including: What action are you going to take in Q1? What are you going to get done in Q1 to set the table for a big 2022? Your podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall will be sharing insights related to driver retention, employee retention, and IC p...

As 2021draws to a close, the Grawe Pod takes a look at the value of using the little December and January downtime to work on your business. Your podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall discuss how December and January can offer a chance to lift your head out of the day-to-day. Doug and Gary walk through some examples of ways that trucking and logistics companies can take advantage of the few br...

Podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall discuss the headline-grabbing topic of nuclear verdicts in trucking. As you will hear, nuclear verdicts can be prevented in 3 ways: (1) investing in a robust, proactive defense that tells your safety story to the jury; (2) advocating for reasonable reforms of litigation rules to curb abusive lawsuits and abusive plaintiff tactics; and (3) developing and ma...

In this episode, Mary Akhavan from FleetNet America joins the Grawe Pod to discuss good maintenance program ideas for carriers. You will hear podcast series hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall talk with Mary about roadside assistance, preventative maintenance and the importance of using data to reduce maintenance expenses. Also, during this episode, Doug and Gary have a discussion with Mary about th...

Recorded on August 19, this episode of the Grawe Pod places a focus on the importance for transportation and logistics companies to make time for looking around the corner and to consider what needs to be done going forward to improve your business for the road ahead. Trucking industry veterans and your podcast hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall share their insights as they look around the corner a...

In part 3 of our series focusing on the “People Pipeline” and our discussion focused on recruiting and retaining non-driving employees, we are joined by Maggie Debner, the founder of HR MD ( mwdebner@gmail.com ). Our conversation with Maggie is focused in the importance of developing and retaining internal talent. As you’ll hear during the podcast, Maggie stresses that employee development program...

In Part 2 of our three-part series focusing on the “People Pipeline,” the Grawe Pod welcomes George Fieser of Global Executive Solutions Group for a discussion about finding experienced talent to fill positions in your company. George has been working with clients and companies for the past two decades in the area of executive recruiting within trucking and logistics. During this episode of the po...

The Grawe Pod dives into the people pipeline with the first episode in our three-part series focused on attracting and developing your team. Finding drivers to strengthen fleets and capacity remains an intense focus for the trucking industry. At the same time, the need to recruit, develop and retain strong professionals for positions in dispatch, customer service, sales, IT and all areas supportin...

In the debut of the Grawe Pod, hosts Doug Grawe and Gary Randall discuss why the Grawe Group launched its podcast series before diving into the feature topic of the episode, which focuses on the legislative process and the value of making transportation’s voice heard among lawmakers. Doug and Gary welcome veteran Minnesota-based lobbyist Jeremy Estensen as their guest. Jeremy, who is part of the S...