Driving Forward Podcast

Rates aren’t going up. Costs are. That means your tech strategy can’t wait. In this episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson, Robert Bain, Jennie Malafarina (Virago Marketing), and Lexi Farris (Upwell) break down how freight leaders are responding and why those who delay tech adoption are falling behind. We cover:👉 Culture change vs. tech adoption👉 How to do more with less (without burning out y...

She’s back! With a new role and the same bold energy. June 19th, we’re joined on Driving Forward by Grace Sharkey, now stepping into her new role as Sr Manager of Communications & PR at Orderful. From journalism to SiriusXM to shaking up supply chain tech, Grace talks career pivots, storytelling in freight, and what’s next for one of logistics' most recognizable voices. And yes, Nate Johns...

In this follow-up episode with James "Artie" Crawford and Benjamin Wilkens of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA), we continue the conversation with a sharper focus on real-world responses and actionable strategies that are shaping the industry's defense. After uncovering the scope of the threat in Part 1 (Billions lost to fraud, identity theft, and hijacked...

Cargo theft and cybersecurity breaches are no longer isolated incidents—they’re a growing epidemic in freight. Join us LIVE for a high-stakes episode of Driving Forward with guest experts James "Artie" Crawford and Benjamin Wilkens from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA).Hosted by GLCS's Robert Bain (Strongest Man in Logistics), this episode pulls back the c...

GLCS’ Robert Bain, aka The Strongest Man in Logistics, grabs the mic for this week’s Driving Forward while Nate Johnson takes a short break. Joining him is Jennifer Karpus-Romain, Executive Director of the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA), the only nonprofit dedicated to helping sales and marketing pros in transportation thrive. TMSA isn’t just active, it’s historic: celebra...

Sharm Chelliah, Sales Director at Greenscreens.ai, is flipping the script and stepping into the interviewer’s chair—putting Nate Johnson, host of Driving Forward, on the receiving end of the questions. With 15+ years in tech, data, and logistics, Sharm brings a unique lens shaped by roles at MicroStrategy, Flexport, and Project44. He’s helped giants like Coca-Cola and Home Depot make smarter decis...

Pamela Polyak was born into trucking. But she didn’t inherit her leadership. She earned it. In this raw, revealing episode of Driving Forward, we sit down with the third-generation CEO of Polyak Trucking to unpack what it really takes to lead in one of the toughest industries on the planet. From growing up in the family business to building her own freight empire, Pamela shares the moments that de...

Julie Andrich didn’t set out to become a CEO but nearly three decades after starting as a dispatch assistant at her family’s trucking company, she’s leading Autumn Transport with grit, grace, and a deep commitment to the values that built it. Join us LIVE on Driving Forward as host Nate Johnson talks with Julie to talk about growing a freight business through integrity, service, leadership, and fa...

We’re going LIVE from the Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis with a Driving Forward episode focused on one of the most urgent issues in logistics today: freight fraud. Join hosts Nate Johnson and Robert Bain for a timely conversation with industry leaders spearheading efforts to protect the freight ecosystem.🎙️ Featured Guests:• Ken Riddle, Director, FMCSA• Dale Prax, CEO, FreightValidate• Dani...

In this episode of the Driving Forward Podcast, Nate sits down with John Leach, CEO of FLS Transportation Services, a $600M logistics powerhouse that’s quietly become one of the top 3PLs in North America. John’s journey didn’t start in freight. He spent years leading in telecom, then helped build the commercial machine at Coyote Logistics before stepping in to lead FLS. That diverse background sha...

Logistics is louder, messier, and more demanding than ever. Customers want answers now. Operations are overloaded. And too many companies are still relying on outdated tech to chase problems that are already costing them money, time, and trust. That’s where Glympse comes in. And it’s why everyone’s watching. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Ruff, a CEO who’s built and scaled tech that doesn...

Adam Wingfield — Founder & Managing Director of Innovative Logistics Group — is on a mission to empower small fleet operators across the country. In the April 10th episode of Driving Forward, Adam and Nate discuss what it really takes to succeed in today’s freight market and how Adam’s new collaboration with FreightWaves is helping small carriers gain the tools, insights, and data they need th...

What does it take to grow a family-run logistics company into a $100M industry leader? Kristy Knichel did just that—and she’s just getting started. In this episode of Driving Forward, host Nate Johnson sits down with Kristy to talk about her rise as President and majority owner of Knichel Logistics, the bold moves behind their explosive growth, and how she's breaking barriers as a woman in fre...

We’re BACK at the Mid-America Trucking Show for another Driving Forward live broadcast — straight from MATS Booth #38601 on March 27th at 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT! Join hosts Nate Johnson and Robert Bain “The Strongest Man in Logistics” as they go live for the second straight year from the floor of MATS, bringing you real-time insights, laughs, and the latest in freight and logistics. We’re also ex...

Step inside two big industry events - the TMC Annual Meeting and the TCA Annual Convention - as we break down the key takeaways, game-changing innovations, and powerful conversations that took center stage. Host Nate Johnson sits down with Susan Mayo, Zach Barnhouse, and Robert Bain from GLCS to discuss the biggest themes shaping trucking today. From cutting-edge fleet maintenance and technology a...

It’s only March 2025, but the trucking and logistics industry is already shifting fast. Did the experts predict these changes or were they way off? In this eye-opening episode of Driving Forward, originally ran in early January, host Nate Johnson sat down with Grace Sharkey, Matthew Leffler, Chadd Olesen, and Robert Bain - a powerhouse panel of industry visionaries - to forecast the biggest trends...

US Trucking isn’t just an industry, it’s a foundational part of America. Yet every day, new tariffs, tighter regulations, and shifting economic pressures are making it harder for carriers and drivers to keep moving forward. Policies crafted by people who’ve never sat behind the wheel are reshaping the industry, and the consequences are real: higher costs, shrinking margins, and an uphill battle to...

What does it take to build a logistics company that not only moves freight but also moves the industry forward? In this episode of Driving Forward, we sit down with Melanie Patterson, Founder and Managing Director of Integrity Global Logistics and Team Integrity Knowledge Center, to uncover the leadership principles, tough decisions, and defining moments that shaped her journey. From navigating in...

Freight fraud is at an all-time high, and the criminals are running the ultimate trick play. Are you about to get intercepted? From double brokering scams to cyberattacks that wipe out entire operations, fraudsters are winning big, and most companies don’t even see it coming. On this episode of the Driving Forward Podcast, we sit down with Danielle Spinelli from Descartes to break down: The latest...

Alvys is transforming the future of transportation management, and we’re digging into the story behind their game-changing success LIVE from Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics! Join Nick Darman, CEO & Founder of Alvys, and Ava Barnes, VP of Brand & Community at Alvys, as they discuss the innovations, growth strategies, and industry shifts that are setting Alvys apart. Hos...

Trucking isn’t just about the open road—it’s about the next generation stepping up to drive the industry forward! Lindsey Trent, President of Next Generation in Trucking Association, is on a mission to turn classrooms into career paths and build a strong, skilled workforce for the future. Join host Nate Johnson on this episode of Driving Forward as they unveil how to promote trucking careers, enha...

Trucking isn’t just an industry; it’s the backbone of America. But right now, truckload carriers are facing the fight of their lives. Skyrocketing costs, relentless regulations, a shrinking workforce, and the ever-tightening grip of government policies are pushing carriers to the edge. Some are barely hanging on, while others are finding ways to rise above the chaos and win. So, what makes the dif...

Will Jenkins, a trailblazing entrepreneur in the logistics industry, joins Driving Forward host Nate Johnson to share his journey from co-founding brokerage powerhouse MoLo Solutions to founding the innovative recruiting resource Journey and becoming an investor and partner in Shipper CRM. With a passion for founder-led sales and a no-nonsense approach to hard work and discipline, Will offers inva...

What has nearly three decades of leadership taught John Hausladen about the trucking industry? In this episode of Driving Forward, host Nate Johnson sits down with John, President & CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association, to explore the seismic shifts he’s witnessed in trucking, leadership, and advocacy over the years. Together, they discuss the evolution of trucking, from the rise of auton...

Cybercrime is a $10.5 trillion global crisis—and freight fraud is its rapidly growing undercurrent, threatening to derail supply chains worldwide. Freight theft, double brokering, and phantom shipments are more than logistics issues—they’re part of a much larger cybercrime ecosystem that’s costing businesses billions. In this eye-opening episode, GLCS’ Nate Johnson joins forces with freight fraud...