Logistics & Leadership

In this episode, Brian sits down with Tapan Chaudhari, founder and CEO of Bubba AI, to unpack how voice-enabled artificial intelligence is reshaping freight dispatch for carriers. Tapan shares his journey from building cloud companies in Silicon Valley to launching TruckX and eventually applying AI directly to trucking workflows. He explains how Bubba AI functions as a voice-first dispatcher that...

In this episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Brian Hastings sits down with Ricky Gonzalez, CEO and co-founder of Hubtek and Tabi Connect, to explore his 20-year journey in logistics, entrepreneurship, and technology. Ricky shares how his early career in Colombia led him to the U.S. freight industry, eventually launching multiple businesses—from freight brokerage to nearshore staffing...

In this episode of Logistics & Leadership, Brian Hastings interviews Jonathan Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels, to discuss how his company has grown from two locations and 4,000 trailers to nearly 40 locations and 40,000 trailers across North America. Jonathan shares his professional background—from Arthur Anderson, to multiple private-equity backed leadership roles, to now scaling a high-im...

From making a memorable first impression to the intricacies of building lasting relationships, this episode offers practical advice highlights the essential strategies needed to capture a prospect's attention amidst the noise. Whether it's doing thorough homework, leveraging LinkedIn connections, or creating personalized outreach, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you succeed in...

In this episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Brian Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Veritas Logistics, shares his conversation with Joe Lynch of The Logistics of Logistics podcast on one of the most critical topics in supply chain today: food safety and cold chain logistics. Brian unpacks the practical realities of moving perishable goods “from farm to fork”—why strict compliance with...

In this episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin Maines sits down with Nick Califano—beverage industry veteran and first employee at Loverboy—to unpack the inside story of building one of the fastest-growing alcohol brands. From co-founding Yonkers Brewing to launching Loverboy with Kyle Cooke of Bravo’s Summer House, Nick shares how grit, innovation, and disruption fueled their r...

In this episode, Brian Hastings, co-founder of Veritas Logistics, joins Roarke Baldwin of the Adapt AI Group podcast to explore how AI and digital transformation are reshaping the logistics industry—and why leadership will always be a human job. Brian shares Veritas’s journey from launching in the middle of COVID to celebrating five years in business, reflecting on the values of truth, integrity,...

In this high-velocity episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin Maines sits down with David Hager—Director of Transportation and 3PL Administration at Congo Brands—to unpack what it really takes to scale a rocketship like Prime Hydration from the inside. David’s journey spans from grinding it out at Total Quality Logistics to becoming employee #18 at Congo Brands, where he helped b...

This teaser episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the rocketship story behind Prime Hydration—with more to come soon. Justin Maines sits down with David Hager , Director of Transportation and 3PL Administration at Congo Brands, to unpack the early days, freight challenges, and scrappy systems that powered one of the fastest-growing beverage brands on the p...

In this emotional and inspiring episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin Maines sits down with Megan Reamer—co-founder of Jackson’s—to unpack how one family’s fight for their son’s health sparked one of the fastest-growing CPG brands in the country. Megan shares the deeply personal origin of Jackson’s—born from her son’s undiagnosed autoimmune illness and the anti-inflammatory die...

In this powerful episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin Maines sits down with Caitlin Wilson—CEO of Full Good Fulfillment—to unpack how she’s quietly disrupting the 3PL industry from the inside out. Drawing on her roots in a fifth-generation farming family and years of supply chain experience, Caitlin reveals the behind-the-scenes chaos that sparked Full Good’s launch—from missi...

In this episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Brian Hastings sits down with Jimmy Menges—National Director and freight crime investigator—to expose the hidden world of cargo theft and the organized crime rings fueling it. Jimmy pulls back the curtain on how scammers hijack legitimate operations, the loopholes they exploit, and what really happens in the first 48 hours after a load van...

In this candid and energizing conversation, Justin Maines sits down with Tom Quinn—retiring President of Cole’s Quality Foods and the man behind the rise of frozen garlic bread. With over four decades in the food industry, Tom shares the real story behind scaling a small-town bakery into a national powerhouse, why cutting $10 million in products actually doubled their revenue, and how relentless f...

In this energizing episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast , Brian Hastings sits down with Jeb Blount Jr. —host of the Sales Gravy Podcast and marketing leader at Sales Gravy—to talk about what really separates top sales performers from the rest. Jeb shares the hard-won lessons from his early missteps, the psychology behind rejection, and why humility beats hype every time. From cold cal...

In this powerhouse episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin sits down with Laura Eory, Director of Transportation & Replenishment at KIND Snacks. From nearly skipping a Kraft interview because she didn’t have a suit, to leading high-stakes logistics at a $5 billion brand, Laura shares the unfiltered truth of navigating career pivots, corporate politics, and the evolving chaos...

In today’s episode, your hosts Brian Hastings and Justin Maines explore the challenges and opportunities within the logistics industry, particularly focusing on entry-level sales roles and the high turnover rates due to burnout from repetitive tasks like cold calling. The conversation sheds light on the mental toughness required to succeed, differentiates between the sales and operational roles wi...

In this solo episode, Brian Hastings, co-founder of Veritas Logistics, lays out five tactical principles every freight broker needs to master to win new business—and actually keep it. With 24,000 brokerages competing for attention and trust, Brian shares what separates the amateurs from the professionals: belief, niche expertise, honest communication, a service-first mindset, and genuine relations...

In this high-energy episode of the Logistics & Leadership Podcast, Justin sits down with Yanni Hufnagel, founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect—a $100 million beverage brand built from just lemons and water. Yanni shares the raw truth of leaving a career in Division I college basketball to start over in the world of CPG, navigating rejection, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of building somet...

On today's episode, Supply Chain Leaders Brian Hastings and Justin Maines sit down with Chadd Olesen, CEO and founder of AVRL, to discuss his unconventional entry into the logistics industry and his work with top brokerages. Topics include automation, change management, and strategies for transforming midsize brokerages into industry powerhouses. Chad shares insights on the complexities of spot bi...

In this episode, Justin welcomes back transportation attorney Rob Hassman to discuss best practices in transportation law, with a focus on scheduled auto insurance policies. They explore the challenges brokers face when verifying carrier insurance coverage, the risks of leased-on drivers, and the common reasons for insurance claim denials. Rob provides practical strategies for mitigating risks, in...

In this episode, Justin welcomes back transportation attorney Rob Hassman, marking his return to the show. The discussion centers on a unique legal case involving a truck accident in Northern California, initially covered in Episode 41. The conversation unpacks the complexities of lease agreements in trucking, the legal distinction between valid and non-binding leases, and how these agreements imp...

In this episode, Brian and Justin explore the role of competition in both individual and team success. Brian reflects on his background as a collegiate baseball player, emphasizing the importance of competing and the camaraderie that comes with it. Justin shares his personal experiences with competition, from dominating beer pong in college to thriving in a highly competitive sales environment. Th...

In this episode, Justin and Brian dive into why so many people fail in the logistics industry. With sales turnover rates as high as 80-90%, they explore the key reasons behind these struggles, from lack of work ethic and fear of failure to difficulty handling tough conversations. They share personal experiences from their early days at TQL, discuss the importance of resilience, and highlight how m...

In this episode, Brian and Justin dive deep into the evolution of a successful sales rep, tackling the all-too-familiar “Sunday Scaries” in logistics sales. They share insights on building a book of business from scratch, the hustle mentality required in the early years, and how to create consistency in revenue. The conversation highlights the importance of availability, responsiveness, and contin...

In this episode, Brian and Justin get real about a challenge that many businesses face: making company goals, processes, and initiatives actually stick. They reflect on their own struggles with execution and employee buy-in, sharing lessons learned from their missteps. From the importance of structured SOPs (even if they don’t directly generate revenue) to understanding how different generations i...