Inside Freight

Nate Graham started his career loading UPS trucks to pay for college. Seven years later, he walked away from a full-time operations management role with no plan, and landed at Fifth Wheel Freight. Now, three years in, he's leading his own team, just closed on his first house, and hasn't looked back. In this episode, Nate breaks down what it's really like to build a career in freight...

What does it actually take to run one of lululemon's largest U.S. distribution centers?   In this episode of Inside Freight, we hear from Los Mejia, Director of Distribution Operations at lululemon's Columbus, Ohio Distribution Center, to talk carrier strategy, peak season realities, and why culture might be the most underrated competitive advantage in logistics.  We cover how Columbus h...

What causes freight market cycles, and why are rate shifts so "surprising" even when everyone sees them coming? In this episode, FWF Director of Analytics Matthew "Shooter" McGavin answers both.  We cover how supply and demand interact with fuel costs, federal policy, and interest rates to move the market, why the freight cycle can't really be reliably predicted until it&a...

What freight market data should brokers actually be paying attention to, and what's just noise?  In this episode, FWF Director of Analytics Matthew "Shooter" McGavin walks through the freight market indicators that brokers should be tracking daily, weekly, and monthly. He explains how to translate that data into meaningful conversations with shippers and carriers and shares his pers...

What does it take to manage global logistics for one of the most recognizable names in beauty? What do shippers really think about their broker partnerships? In this episode, we sit down with Cherylann Welch-Frazer, Senior Global Logistics Manager at Tarte Cosmetics, to talk through the realities of freight in the beauty and cosmetics industry, from ocean and air to OTR, customs compliance, and ev...

What does it actually take to stay relevant as AI reshapes the workforce? In this episode of Inside Freight by Fifth Wheel Freight, we explore a simple but critical mindset shift: you won't be replaced by AI, but you may be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI well. Nick Beukema, VP of Technology at Fifth Wheel Freight, breaks down how professionals across freight, logistics, and beyon...

What does basketball have to do with a freight brokerage? More than you'd think. In this episode, we sit down with Isaac, a nine-year veteran Sales Rep at Fifth Wheel Freight, who went from walking on at Grand Valley State University's basketball program to becoming a top freight broker...without ever planning to work in logistics. Isaac breaks down how the lessons he learned on the cour...

In this episode of Inside Freight, Fifth Wheel Freight’s VP of Technology, Nick Beukema, shares his perspective on how AI is widening the gap between average and great brokerages. Not necessarily through bigger budgets, but through better implementation, creativity, and operational agility. We also dive into the future of freight technology, including cheaper SaaS tools, AI voice, workflow automat...

What makes a carrier a broker’s first call? In this episode of Inside Freight , we sit down with Dakota, Director of Carrier Relations at Fifth Wheel Freight , to break down how carriers can stand out in today’s freight market. From communication and transparency to reliability and service, Dakota explains what separates good carriers from the ones brokers call again and again. Whether you’re a tr...

In this episode of Inside Freight , Fifth Wheel Freight’s VP of Technology, Nick Beukema , shares how technology is transforming the modern freight brokerage. From building proprietary software inside a brokerage to navigating the rapid rise of AI, Nick discusses how logistics companies can stay ahead of the technology curve. We cover the role of internal tech teams, how brokerages are approaching...

Automation is changing freight brokerage...but not everything should be automated. In this episode of Inside Freight , VP of Technology Nick Beukema breaks down where AI and automation can make the biggest impact in logistics, from back-office processes to document processing and operational efficiency. He also explains the areas that he believes should remain human. We explore how freight compani...