The Freight Pod

After 6 months of mental back-and-forth, I finally pulled the trigger and recorded a solo episode. No more self-doubt, no more negative self-talk, no more procrastinating.  Today's theme is Just Do It.  Hope you enjoy.  ***Episode brought to you by Rapido Solutions Group. I had the pleasure of working with Danny Frisco and Roberto Icaza at Coyote, as well as being a client of theirs more rece...

On this week's episode, Andrew welcomes his older brother Matt Silver to discuss the official launch of his new startup, Cargado - a load board and technology platform focused on simplifying cross-border freight operations between the United States and Mexico.  Matt shares his background, starting in the logistics industry at Coyote Logistics, where he helped build out the Mexico division. He...

What happens when you record a podcast from the moment your guest walks in, capturing every spontaneous and candid moment? That’s exactly what we did in this episode, and it led to a fascinating discussion about the power of authenticity and the often-overlooked value of raw, unfiltered conversation. We also dive into the challenges of maintaining mental health and motivation without the structure...

Alyssa Correale's journey in the logistics and supply chain industry is nothing short of inspiring. Ever wondered how a career can evolve from a small family business to leading roles in major companies like Niagara Bottling and Uber Freight? Alyssa shares her path, from her humble beginnings at Giovanni Foods, where she learned the ropes of logistics on a personal level hand-writing BOLs for...

Discover the secrets to mastering recruitment in the logistics and transportation industry with insights from two of the industry's leading professionals, Charlie Saffro and Brent Orsuga. Charlie shares her serendipitous transition from marketing to establishing her own firm, CS Recruiting, while Brent reflects on his journey from construction recruitment to becoming a renowned figure in logi...

We are joined this week by Shannon Breen, CEO of FreightVana. We begin the episode walking through Shannon's story, as he explains his early entrepreneurial spirit, from aspiring franchise owner to real estate, before finding his way into logistics with industry giant, Knight Transportation. We talk through lessons he gleaned from his first freight years, including the experience of navigatin...

The episode features an interview with Rebecca Brewster, the President and COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). She discusses her background and how she came to work in the trucking industry. She explains ATRI's role as a non-profit research organization that identifies and addresses the industry's top research priorities through a diverse Research Advisory Commi...

This week's episode provides a captivating look into the rise and fall of Surge Transportation, a freight brokerage founded by Omar Singh. In July 2023, Surge filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. One year later, the US Bankruptcy court of Jacksonville confirmed their plan of reorganization, making them the first brokerage to successfully reorganize post-bankruptcy. We dive into all the details of...

Join us as Jason Provonsha, the CEO of Steam Logistics, shares his career journey and the lessons he's learned along the way. Starting from an unexpected pivot into logistics with Access America Transport to the acquisition by Coyote Logistics before ultimately finding his long term home at Steam, Jason's story is a masterclass in adaptability and growth.  This episode isn't just ab...

We're joined this week by Corey Ritenour, current Sr. Director Transportation and interim Head of Supply Chain for Lindt & Sprungli, one of the premier chocolate manufacturers in the country. Corey comes to the table with 20 years of industry experience, all working for large, established manufacturers. He began his career at the ground level at Conagra working as a Transportation Planner...

How did a part-time, hourly worker on the production floor rise to become a corporate transportation leader within Coca-Cola? Uncover Rob Haddock's  journey from stacking cases in the early 1980s to becoming a pivotal figure in Coca-Cola's logistics and supply chain operations. Rob’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and seizing opportunities as they...

On this week's episode, we dive into our first true panel with three of our industry's experts discussing the world of Carrier Sales. We are joined by Drew Herpich, Chief Commercial Officer of Nolan Transportation Group and Transportation Insight, Jay Gustafson, EVP of Brokerage Operations at Echo Global Logistics, and Blair Blake, VP of Carrier Strategy at Arrive Logistics. Throughout t...

RXO just announced the acquisition of Coyote Logistics for $1.025 billion. On today's episode, you get to hear a deep dive with RXO CEO Drew Wilkerson. He breaks down why Coyote was such an attractive acquisition target for RXO, what he hopes to accomplish through the integration process, and how he is thinking about their future together strategically. We talk about the impact to the people...

We are joined this week by Dave Broering, President of NFI Integrated Logistics. Dave takes us through his career journey from being hired at American Backhaulers in 1997, to spending 12 years at C.H. Robinson, before finding his current home at NFI, where he oversees all integrated logistics responsibilities.  NFI just announced it has acquired the brokerage from Transfix and will become it'...

Harman Cheema, CEO of Cheema Freightlines, joins the show as our guest this week. This is our first time hosting the owner of an asset-based carrier, so this episode is a deep dive into the world of owning trucks. Cheema operates over 500 trucks, 2,000 trailers, and it's own brokerage as well. We talk about hiring and retaining drivers in a turnover-heavy industry, hiring practices and red fl...

AI-written episode summary: We are joined on this week's episode by Scott Pruneau, CEO of ITS Logistics, as he shares his remarkable journey from a serendipitous start at CH Robinson to spearheading one of the industry's most dynamic companies. Listen closely as Scott recounts the formative days of produce brokerage, offering a genuine slice of the comprehensive business education that b...

Episode summary written by AI: Have you ever considered the strategic precision and leadership valor honed in the military's high-pressure environment could translate into business triumph? Jim Steger, CEO of Integrity Express Logistics, joins us to share his remarkable pivot from Air Force officer to founder of a leading logistics firm. His insights into maintaining global military logistics...

We are joined this week by Kendra Tucker, CEO of Truckstop. Our conversation starts with Kendra's pre-freight career, where she earned an International Studies degree at University of Chicago before spending the bulk of her professional time helping build CEB into an organic $500 million organization. She began in the Product org but found an adeptness at working with and understanding the ne...

Another episode summary written by AI- hope you enjoy: We are joined this week by Felipe Capella, co-founder and CEO of Loadsmart, whose career leap from law to logistics embodies the spirit of innovation. Discover how Felipe's decision to embrace risk and innovative ideas propelled Loadsmart from skepticism about algorithmic pricing to a leader in automated, instant pricing. Our conversation...

We are joined on this week's episode by CEO of Trucker Tools, Kary Jablonski. We begin by discussing the power of personal branding through social media. Through our candid conversation, we reveal how authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the hidden currency of LinkedIn, fostering genuine connections and opening doors to untold business opportunities. Kary’s insights into social m...

When life throws a curveball, some craft an entire new ballpark—meet Jordan Graft, CEO of Highway, who sits with us today to reflect on the indelible marks of entrepreneurship and personal growth. Hear how he harnessed his experiences as a three-time CEO before the age of 40 to carve out success amidst the bustling freight industry. Our exchange offers a glimpse into Jordan's transformative j...

Resilience isn't just a buzzword; it's the lifeblood that fuels personal triumphs over professional stumbling blocks. Andrew is joined on this episode by Eddie Leshin, an industry veteran whose career dates back to the early days of American Backhaulers. This episode is a treasure trove of brokerage insight, but we start with some credit to the Michigan Wolverines, National Champions, an...

Dawn Salvucci-Favier, CEO of Greenscreens.ai, shares her transformative adventure from an administrative assistant to leading a pioneer predictive pricing platform in the truckload spot freight industry (soon to be beyond spot). Her narrative is a riveting tale of seizing opportunities, the impact of mentorship, and the evolution of logistics from a world of manual route planning to the cutting-ed...

Matt Vogrich joins the show to share his story. Once known as the "Mop-Topped Assassin", Matt enjoyed an illustrious basketball career, being recognized as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois his senior year of high school before joining John Beilein and the Michigan Wolverines for college. From there, he helped his team over a four-year stretch go from a losing record to playing...

AI-written episode description: What happens when you combine an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit, a fascination with the trucking industry, and a passion for tech innovation? You get a riveting discussion with our guest, Brian Cristol, Founder and CEO of Isometric Technologies. His journey traverses his time in investment banking, his pivot to the tech world, his experiences with college footbal...