

WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
FreightWaves
WHAT THE TRUCK?!? is FreightWaves' irreverent award-winning podcast breaking down the biggest stories in transportation and logistics. WTT?!? is all about the people that make freight move. On the show you'll hear from founders, CEOs, VCs, truckers, brokers, and influencers. Join the industry three times a week on FreightWavesTV and podcast players everywhere.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 28, 2023 • 51min
Yellow’s final friday; port strikes and escalating fuel costs
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about the impending bankruptcy at Yellow that’s reported to go down Monday. What’s next for the company, what are employees saying and what options are out there for the displaced?CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco gets us up to date on labor action at West Coast ports. With an on-again, off-again strike up in Canada, what impact is this having on freight and rail? Plus, could SoCal ports be next?Trauxit’s Joe Stevens went from being an over-the-road driver to owning more than 750 assets. We’ll take a trip through his career journey and find out about his latest venture, Trauxit.Hell Bent Xpress’ Jamie Hagen comes from the school of Mackonomics. He’ll give us a crash course in being an owner-operator, managing fuel and knowing your costs.Plus, ice bucket challenge returns to freight; how to fill a milk tanker; boating in a semi and more. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 26, 2023 • 1h
Focus turns from Brown to Yellow; the great ShipHero warehouse tour; and Nikolas reignite
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is getting to the bottom of the evolving situation at Yellow. Ploger Transportation’s Chris Smith and FreightWaves’ Justin Martin get us up to date on what’s going on there on the ground floor. With another union proposal rejected, where does this company have left to go?Surge filed for bankruptcy, UPS averted a strike and the situation escalated at Yellow. FreightWaves’ Rachel Premack breaks down the latest from these headlines.ShipHero’s Aaron Rubin shows us how the sausage is made at one of its warehouses in Las Vegas. We’ll take a tour of the facility and find out how ShipHero is preparing for e-commerce peak season.FreightWaves’ Alan Adler shares the latest on Nikolas reigniting, the Port of Long Beach’s EV push and if autonomous trucks are dead in California. Plus, a plane buzzes a semi-truck; a semi-truck versus Toyotas; are there too many tracking apps; how a Lamborghini ended up under a Landstar truck; and more.Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2023 • 60min
Yellow drivers speak out; UPS backup plans; beating cancer and a down market
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to Jay and Dwayne, a pair of Yellow drivers about what’s going down at the company. At the 11th hour on Sunday, the company was spared a strike but the clock is ticking on further action from the Teamsters union. With shippers pulling freight left and right, can Yellow pull itself out of this death spiral?Yellow isn’t the only company on the clock. With a UPS strike looming over Aug. 1, shippers are being urged to come up with contingency plans. Luke Denny, co-founder and CEO at Frayt, tells us how you can keep your freight from getting lost amid disruptions at either carrier.John Seidl, vice president of risk services at Reliance Partners, educates us on FMCSA rating scores and how to deal with them. Cancer couldn’t take down Dan Deigan and neither can a bad market. We’ll find out from this owner of High Performance Logistics Sales how to overcome a bad market no matter the odds.Plus, bragging double brokers, swimming with sharks and Yellow alternatives for drivers. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2023 • 29min
Life or death: Court decides Yellow’s fate
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to a panel of industry experts about the fallout from Yellow’s court case in Kansas City. Will teamsters be allowed to strike? Will Yellow survive the outcome? We’ll find out from our great panel of Michael Bookout, Co-Founder at MyCarrierTMS; Todd Maiden, Editor at FreightWaves; Matthew Leffler, The Armchair Attorney; and Zach Strickland Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2023 • 1h
UPS/Yellow contingency plans; marijuana supply chains and driver data privacy
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to Cowan Logistics’ Ben Tschirgi about preparing for the worst with Yellow and UPS. Don’t get caught flatfooted when and if these carriers strike. Tschirgi will also teach us the art of the freight parody song.The Artist Tree’s Caroline Fontein takes us deep inside the world of marijuana and cannabis supply chains. From crop to sale, we’ll learn what goes into making freight happen in this growing category.Konexial’s Ken Evans introduces us to token-based visibility. We’ll find out how it increases driver and fleet privacy. SH 130 Concession Co.’s Mike Razniewski thinks fleets should take toll roads as a cost-saving measure.Plus, Yellow workers prepare for potential last day; dog performs CPR; meet the AI workers; and why you shouldn’t brake check a semi. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19, 2023 • 48min
Teamsters give Yellow strike notice; autonomous truck pilots; and state of EV charging
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to FreightWaves’ Justin Martin and Yellow mechanic Jimmy Harrison about the carrier’s troubles. As Yellow careens toward bankruptcy, we’ll find out where its drivers’ heads are at. They’ll also determine the trucking national anthem; why you should teach your kids about trucking when they’re young; and the insane world of truck racing. Torc’s Dan Parker shares insights from its autonomous truck pilots. What does the regulatory landscape hold for AVs as the tech matures? They will also look at how partnerships spur early adoption.Voltera’s Jonathan Colbert gets us up to speed on the state of Class 8 electric truck charging. We’ll also take an exclusive look at what markets are heating up and which ones are underdeveloped. TTN Fleet Solutions’ Tyler Harden says you can’t separate driver satisfaction from well-maintained trucks. We’ll also look at fleet breakdown management. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2023 • 56min
How cargo is targeted for strategic theft, hiring in a down market and FreightTech 100
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about the cargo theft playbook that thieves are using this summer. Scott Cornell, national practice lead for transportation, crime, and theft specialist at Travelers, shares how theft has gone strategic with identity theft, double brokering and fictitious pickups.How and when do you hire drivers in a down market? Lanefinder CEO Mats Holmbäck is passionate about sitting drivers in seats. We’ll find out the whys and hows of his trucking-only job platform where drivers find and match with the jobs they want.With 32 terminals across the country, Roadtex is a leader in the LTL temperature-controlled space. Frank Hurst, executive vice president of LTL at Echo Global Logistics, shares what’s good and challenging with keeping LTL freight cool during record heat waves. The FreightTech award honors innovation within the freight industry. Nominations are narrowed down to the FreightTech 100, which is then voted on by a handpicked peer group of CEOs, industry leaders and investors actively investing in freight to select the FreightTech 25. Joe Antoshak, supply chain research and analyst at FreightWaves, breaks down how it all works.Plus, analyzing a FreightGuard report over a $300,000 money heist; what trucking was like in the early ’00s; a Tesla Semi versus Donner Pass; CDL TEAR needs your help; and from trucking entrepreneur to living in your parent’s basement. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2023 • 60min
Walcott Truckers Jamboree; building MacroPoint and a true FreightTech rockstar
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is coming to you live from the 44th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree where TrueTMS George Thellman is on scene. He’s there to judge a trucking beauty pageant and spread the word on digitizing freight. Descartes’ Dan Cicerchi shares the incredible story of founding MacroPoint. We’ll learn how he built the company, what he’s up to now at Descartes, what FreightTech to invest in and how to scale a business.Aaron Peck, Founder & CEO at Mothership is an actual FreightTech rockstar have founded the Interscope-signed screamo band A Thorn For Every Heart. Now he’s the founder of Mothership and we’ll find out how he plans to revolutionize last mile delivery.Sasha Seymore is a co-founder and the COO of Learn to Win, an education technology company based in Redwood City, California, that improves training and onboarding for commercial enterprises, the Department of Defense, and athletic teams and programs. We’ll find out how teaching on the PGA Tour and the Pittsburgh Penguins translates to freight teams.Plus, how AI is changing society; FedEx myth busted; Nikola’s wild ride; flooding in Vermont and worst hold music in freight. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 12, 2023 • 1h
Yellow’s last stand; cost of UPS strike; and why peak season is screwed
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to FreightWaves’ Rachel Premack about Yellow’s last stand, the cost of a UPS strike and the Las Vegas Sphere.Freight Grim Reaper Henry Byers, who famously called last year’s ocean market collapse, has a new report and it’s not looking good. We’ll learn why ocean freight has already peaked.Tive Inc.’s Krenar Komoni shares his company’s latest release of integrations for visibility across all modes. FreightWaves’ Justin Martin is sick of online scammers saying you can make a million bucks with a box truck and he’s here to rant about it. Plus, driver health; how coal is loaded; whether a jewel theft was an inside job; and more.Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10, 2023 • 56min
Has ocean freight already peaked; fastener supply chains; and UPS contingency plans
On today’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about a surge of ocean imports to U.S. ports. Is it here to last or is the peak of peak season already here?With a UPS strike looming on the horizon, shippers need to scramble to secure contingency plans. Jay Silva, vice president of partnerships and alliances at OneRail, lets us know what to do if the worst happens. Plus, he’ll get us up to date on the latest final-mile trends.It’s fourth and inches for some brokers in this market. Former Chicago Bears great Desmond Clark tells us how his Bear Down Logistics is leading in a down market. We’ll also learn about his new show and how an immigration law in Florida is impacting trucking.Ever wonder how the wild world of fastener supply chains works? John Oldham Jr., global logistics manager at Field Fastener, gets us bolted down with the ins and outs of securement hardware. Plus, what kind of truck to buy; Tesla autopilot versus a semi; how not to load cans; and weekend dad energy. Watch on YouTubeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


