The Freight Coach Podcast

Bitfreighter's Brad Perling is back on the show to share something about launching a successful freight tech company, from sleepless nights and zero revenue to building a profitable remote-first company serving shippers and brokers across the globe! Brad discusses EDI integration pain points in transportation, why aligned values within an organization matter, and how partnerships with TMS provider...

What's holding your freight brokerage back from achieving growth? Lack of focus, poor data, or chasing the wrong customers? In today's episode, Dr. James Kenny is back on the show as we speak about why building a clear strategy and defining your ideal customer profile is the real foundation before you even think of bringing AI, automation, or tech solutions into your business! Jim and I talk throu...

Let's welcome this week's first guest, Carly Gunby of Transfix, to share how modern freight technology is transforming outdated business development! Our conversation explores the significant role of niche specialization, consistent pricing, and real-time AI-driven tools. From analyzing broker behaviors to optimizing lane performance and adopting smarter load coverage strategies, Carly and I dig i...

What's the biggest threat to your freight business right now—fraud, market volatility, or outdated regulations?  Today, let's break down the harsh reality of trust issues between brokers and carriers, as fraud reaches all-time highs across social media and industry platforms! Tune in to find out the exact verification steps I use to spot real carriers, why load boards are becoming less relevant as...

In today's episode, NMFTA's Keith Peterson and Farooq Huda of Worldwide Express join us to talk about how the Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC) is changing the game for freight tech! We explore how universal API standards are eliminating repetitive integration work across LTL, full truckload, 3PLs, and shippers, making "build once, use everywhere" a reality.  Our guests share real-world...

What if you could quote thousands of lanes in minutes, respond to shippers in under two, and still have time to grow your customer base? Let's welcome Tabi Connect's Dan Hellmann back to the show to explain how quoting automation, RFP modules, and lightning-fast rate delivery are changing the game for freight brokers and carriers! We discuss why speed is your biggest competitive advantage in today...

Today, let's cover some industry headlines, from UPS buyout extensions and automation plans, to truck manufacturers suing California over emissions rules, to the decline in rail intermodal market share! Tune in to find out why my 12-month market outlook remains conservative and why consistent daily prospecting, 40, 50, even 60 calls a day, will keep you ahead no matter the conditions! Bottom line?...

What's really going on in freight brokerage right now? Why are rates stuck, and how should we position ourselves as brokers for the next market shift? Together with our guest today, Ken Adamo of DAT Freight & Analytics, we dig into the supply-and-demand imbalance that's keeping rates flat, the impact of tariffs and interest rates on shipper behavior, and why DAT's acquisition of Convoy's tech coul...

In today's live show, you'll learn how to find shippers, build a prospect list, and grow your freight business without spending thousands on lead-generation tools! This episode is about real freight industry insights, no gimmicks, no "guaranteed freight" scams, just what works! Discover why choosing one freight mode and owning your niche is key, how to dominate your local market, and the importanc...

Are spot rates really holding, or is capacity starting to tighten under the surface? Today, let's talk about the DAT's load board data, seasonal freight patterns, how tariffs and interest rates are shaping the future of the industry, the recent FMCSA enforcement on English language proficiency and accountability gaps around fraud, and why human conversations still matter in carrier vetting, despit...

In this episode, a former top-ranked commercial truck sales rep, Sean Lyden of Systematic Selling, breaks down what actually works in freight sales!  We talk about the 90-day rule in B2B, how to reframe cold calls as shopping for customers, and why your Ideal Customer Profile isn't just about who to target, but also who to avoid. Sean also shares his dial-based prospecting strategy, KPI tracking t...

Whether you're building relationships or just booking freight, this episode with the amazing couple from Cowtown Express Logistics, Colby and Raegan Baskin, is full of insights on how to build long-term success in the industry! Colby and Raegan unpack how they've evolved from a family-run straight truck operation to a high-integrity, full truckload freight brokerage focused on open deck freight, w...

What if brokers actually owned the data they generate and got paid for it? Today, Sam Tibbs shares how Trochi AI is flipping the script by giving brokers ownership in the data economy they fuel, literally offering equity to those who contribute the most.  We discuss why today's rate tools fall short, how Trochi AI captures real-time load-level insights, and why predictive analytics, not just histo...

Don't miss the last episode of this week with Cargo Spectre's Jason Joachim and Rohan Bhagwat! Jason and Rohan delve into how they've solved the age-old freight measurement headaches, especially the challenge of inaccurate dims causing added costs. They also explain how their system uses AI-powered automation to capture legal-for-trade dimensions, weights, pictures, and even NMFC classifications i...

Are you getting ROI from your AI tools—or are you just adding more tech without solving real problems?  Today's episode with Ryan Schreiber, a leader in AI and machine learning for logistics, digs into what AI means beyond the buzzwords, why most companies today are only seeing incremental and not transformational value, and what's holding them back: strategy gaps, messy data, and weak integration...

In today's episode, I'm joined by Sage (Erik Larson), a logistics veteran with over 20 years in the industry, from owner-operator to SPI agent. He shares how the 2008 recession nearly took him out and how his decision to go all-in on freight brokerage reshaped everything.  We talk about the grind, working to master the over-dimensional niche, building custom trailers, and moving 70+ complex loads...

Today, we'll discuss solving the truck parking crisis at a national level and scaling authentic brand content in trucking with our returning guest, Reed Loustalot of the Truck Parking Club ! Reed shares how their consistent content strategy has driven massive growth, earning hundreds of millions of impressions, and how authenticity has powered their branding.  With over 2,300 locations and 40,000...

Where is the freight market heading, and how are the current economic trends shaping it? Today, let's break down the latest spot market conditions, the recent economic indicators impacting freight volumes, and some of the challenges in business development during a market downturn! Whether you're a carrier, broker, or shipper, this episode's insights can help you better navigate today's transporta...

If you're into final mile logistics, LTL freight, or operations management, listen to this episode with Andrew Rodriguez of Harvey to hear his practical insights and strategies! Andrew highlights managing high-volume freight and maintaining top-tier customer service with a small team, his journey from freight brokerage into manufacturing operations, and Harvey's structured approach to daily shippi...

Join us today as we've got the CEO of Apex Transit Solutions, Marina Ivanov, sharing how they continue navigating the trucking industry's challenges while building a sustainable business! Marina shares what it's really like running a family-owned operation, the lessons learned from scaling without outside capital, and how technology, factoring, and the right hires changed their game! Tune in to th...

In this episode, Nick Erdmann of Vectura Risk Management is back for another insightful conversation about protecting high-value freight from the rising cargo theft threats! We dive into the harsh reality of organized cargo theft, why it's more sophisticated than most think, and how escort services are stepping up to protect high-risk shipments like pharmaceuticals and electronics! Nick walks us t...

If outdated payment methods are slowing down your operations or costing you money through fraud, you must listen to this episode with Relay Payments' co-founder, Spencer Barkoff! Spencer shares how they're modernizing freight payments across the board and reshaping how carriers and brokers handle transactions. Learn more about Relay's innovations in this episode because they're not just solving pr...

Are you keeping up with the shifts in freight, from automation to AI-driven brokers and everything in between?  With 95% of broker tasks potentially automated, the focus now is on leveraging technology while keeping the human touch where it matters, customer and carrier experience. Whether it's investing in automation, tightening up internal processes, or building face-to-face relationships in a c...

Are you confident your business can identify fraud before it hits your bottom line? How can you tell if an invoice, ID, or rate confirmation is real or AI-generated? You must listen to this conversation with Chad Capooth of Denim! Chad unpacks the alarming rise in sophisticated fraud across the transportation industry, from AI-generated fake documents and spoofed domains to virtual numbers and ide...

Are you thinking of ways to minimize costly front-end repairs and enhance safety without compromising your truck's efficiency? In this conversation with Nathan Holt from Ex-Guard, he shares how their journey from a small fabrication shop to an industry leader reshapes truck safety. Their XG-150 guard shows a dramatic reduction in repair costs and downtime. These guards are engineered to integrate...