The Freight Coach Podcast

Tired of the FMCSA leaving freight brokers in the dark on motor carrier safety? How to protect your logistics business from massive vicarious liability lawsuits?  Daniel Ilg from ILG Logistics tackles the unacceptable lack of clarity from the FMCSA regarding safe versus unsafe carriers, and how this regulatory gray area is fueling devastating negligent selection lawsuits against freight brokerages...

Navigate the massive shifts in today's freight market and build a scalable freight brokerage from scratch without forcing your team back into a traditional office in this episode with Randy Vlasic of LIWMI Logistics! We dive straight into the reality of building a fully remote transportation company that genuinely values work-life balance, leveraging artificial intelligence to eliminate daily busy...

Are electric semi-trucks truly the future of intermodal logistics, or is hydrogen the real heavyweight contender, and what exactly happens when high-tech cargo theft hits the supply chain?  Jim Gillis of IMC Logistics joined us at the IANA Intermodal EXPO 2026  to cut right to the facts of the transportation industry. We dive headfirst into the operational realities of integrating battery-powered...

Are we witnessing the return of US manufacturing, and what do shifting tariffs actually mean for the global supply chain? Are there still massive, lucrative career paths in the industry today?  Live from the IANA Intermodal EXPO 2026, Trey Boring of IMS Worldwide joined us to dive deep into the real-world impact of global trade policies, the massive push to bring manufacturing back to the States,...

Are you taking the right steps to protect your freight business from the rising wave of cyber threats, or are you just one bad click away from a devastating data breach? How can small carriers and brokerages defend themselves against sophisticated AI-powered phishing and shipper spoofing?  We're back for another episode discussing the real side of freight cybersecurity with Ben Wilkens from the NM...

Ready to ditch the comfort of a salary and become an independent freight broker agent? What red flags to look for when choosing a freight brokerage to partner with?  In this episode, cross-border LTL expert Robert Kowton from SPI Logistics shares the unfiltered reality of building a freight agency in today's fast-paced transportation industry! We're discussing why you need a brokerage with top-tie...

Are your trucks stuck in the shop while repair delays eat into your profits? Tired of wasting time on endless phone calls just trying to get a simple update on your fleet maintenance?  Today we're diving into a massive game-changer for your fleet operations with Brett Dashe from ServiceUp! We're talking about a repair management platform that completely automates the fleet repair process by connec...

Let's get straight into the heavy-hitting news that could fundamentally change the landscape of the transportation industry! Today, we're breaking down a massive $711 million nuclear verdict appeal that is sending shockwaves through the freight brokerage world. We are looking at the hard facts of this watershed legal case involving vicarious liability—where a significant percentage of the blame fe...

Are you tired of sugarcoated leadership advice that doesn't actually help you move freight? Kristy Knichel from Knichel Logistics is back and joined us at the IANA Intermodal EXPO 2026, and we're skipping the script to talk about what it actually takes to build a logistics powerhouse from the ground up! Ever wonder if taking outside money is really the smartest move for your transportation busines...

Is the transportation industry actually stepping up to combat digital freight fraud, or are we blindly waiting for the feds to bail us out? How vulnerable is our supply chain when criminals hack ELDs and pull off digital cargo theft right in front of us?  Joe Ohr from the NMFTA joined us at the IANA Intermodal EXPO 2026 to drop some absolute truths about cybersecurity in freight! We discussed the...

Are your freight brokerage compensation plans exposing your business to massive legal liability in the wake of recent nuclear verdicts?  Compensation expert Beth Carroll from Prosperio Group will break down why AI won't replace human freight brokers, how carrier reps must transition from simply executing tasks to managing AI processes, and the legal risks surrounding broker commission structures. ...

Dean Croke of DAT is back to share the current state of the freight market and the hard facts about how skyrocketing diesel prices and tightening capacity are severely squeezing out smaller operators and shifting supply chain dynamics across the country! We also cover the urgent need for stricter carrier vetting and safety standards, exposing the glaring blind spots in current federal databases. ...

Are unvetted drivers putting your warehouse at risk for catastrophic freight fraud? How much is a lack of strategic theft protection actually costing your supply chain operations?  We dive straight into the rising crisis of cargo theft and CDL fraud with my guest Tom Dean from Renaissant, breaking down exactly why unvetted carriers are slipping through the cracks and causing massive industry losse...

Today, Rafael Quintana of Big Truck Logistics breaks down his journey from a mega brokerage to strategically building his own highly successful, boutique freight brokerage! We get completely frank about the undeniable value of rigorous logistics training, why the current industry push for AI automation will never replace the absolute necessity of human-to-human problem-solving in trucking, and wha...

Are you truly protecting your business from the massive rise of strategic cargo theft? Do you know who is hauling your freight? In this episode, Michelle McGinnis from MiKargo247 is back to tackle the skyrocketing rates of freight fraud and supply chain infiltration head-on! We discuss the harsh reality that bad actors are now using sophisticated cyberattacks, phishing, and social engineering to s...

For this week's last episode, let's break down two major transportation industry headlines, starting with the Transport Topics' report highlighting why frontline workers—from dispatchers and brokers to gate checkers—are the ultimate shield against rising cybersecurity threats, phishing schemes, and strategic freight fraud. Tech tools are essential, but continuous employee training, clear escalatio...

Tired of losing time and money trying to manually figure out intermodal freight costs? What if you could instantly automate your drayage and rail pricing to stay competitive in a tight market? Today, we're diving into the intermodal space with Brent Neary and Sebastian Auerbach from Bidrayl! These guys are straight-up changing the game in logistics technology by building a platform that makes inte...

What do these massive RICO lawsuits mean for the future of freight brokerages? Do claims of market manipulation actually hold any legal weight?  Transportation attorney Craig Helmreich is back to cut through the noise and give you a straightforward look at the recent RICO lawsuits hitting major freight brokerages like C.H. Robinson and TQL! We dive straight into the core claims that these giant br...

Tired of making the wrong hires in your freight brokerage? What does it take to build a winning team and scale your transportation business from the ground up? Adrian Chapman from Cover 3 Consulting shares the hard truths of freight recruiting, talent development, and what it genuinely takes to be a successful founder in today's competitive market! We break down the stark differences between true...

I am thrilled to welcome Shelli Austin from InTek Logistics to the show today to break down her unique career pivot from the theater into the freight industry.  We get straight to the heavy-hitting topics, unpacking the true synergy between intermodal freight and truckload logistics and why shippers need to treat intermodal as a consistent, long-term supply chain strategy rather than a temporary b...

Third-generation freight broker Connor Miller joins us to talk about the realities of scaling a freight agency and developing genuine technology in logistics! Connor breaks down his journey of taking his previous brokerage from $40 million to $130 million during the massive COVID surge, stepping away to build a self-sustaining nonprofit clinic in Uganda, and ultimately returning to the industry to...

Are we going to let bad actors keep hijacking our freight, or is it time we use AI to bulletproof the supply chain?  We're still live from the NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference in Long Beach to bring you an absolute powerhouse of an interview with Vishal, a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of Spades Institute! We're completely cutting through the fluff to tackle the massive rise in freight fraud,...

Today, we're live from the NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference in Long Beach, an absolute must-attend event for anyone moving freight!  I just wrapped up a frank conversation with Mike Zupon regarding the glaring supply chain security blind spots that trucking companies are ignoring, especially with the massive surge in AI-driven cyber threats and freight fraud.  The harsh reality is that criminal orga...

DAT experts Josh Hanselman and Tamir Dov dive straight into the real side of freight today by breaking down the absolute best strategies for navigating volatile freight market trends and replacing outdated gut feelings with hard, actionable data! Josh and Tamir explore exactly how you can leverage advanced DAT freight tools—like RateView, Trendlines, and the new Rate Strength Score—to accurately f...

Are you tired of the fake hustle and ready to hear what actually goes into building a successful freight business from the ground up, and what makes a freight brokerage fail? Garrett Bowers of SPI Logistics is back to break down the honest truths of freight entrepreneurship and why specializing in a specific niche—like dominating the Western 11 and Texas flatbed market—beats dabbling in LTL freigh...