WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

On episode 848 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by gCaptain’s John Konrad to talk about global turmoil in maritime. First, they’re looking at the US-China trade deal that President Trump just announced. What does it mean for relations between the two superpowers, and how will it impact freight? Operation Spiderweb has drone warfare at top of mind, but it’s also something John Konrad has been warning about for years. Konrad explains why the US needs drone carriers now. They’ll also look at Greta Thunberg getting deported from Israel and the state of U.S. shipbuilding. Plus, a massive Canadian cross-border drug bust involving truckers; a UNFI hack starts to hit store shelves; a bicycle-riding attorney wants to ban spiky truck hubcaps; and more. Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 847 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about a cyberattack that currently has truckers stuck at United Natural Foods (UNFI), one of America’s largest food distributors. How much will it hurt the food supply chain? Autonomous Waymos are being exploited in Los Angeles by protesters who summon them then set them on fire. We’ll look at whether autonomous trucks will be exploitable in the future.  According to CargoNet, freight thefts were up 27% from 2023 to 2024. Tive’s Richie Daigle stops by the studio to talk about how the company’s trackers are recovering stolen loads. Train travel has really fallen off this century, but a new company has eyes on making it great again. Dreamliner’s Joshua Dominic tells us about a luxury overnight train from Los Angeles to San Francisco that the company plans to launch prior to the 2028 Olympics. Plus, FMCSA ends DEI rules for CDLs; project44’s ambitious new plan; and more.  Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 846 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about the news that broke that internet: the Trump versus Elon feud. Musk now says Trump’s tariffs will cause a recession this year. What does the falling out mean for freight? We’ll take a look. With over 30% of truckers identifying as gamers, is the Switch 2 their new lifeline from boredom during layovers? Is it good for the kids, the dads and the Chads? Dooner has his sons help him review Nintendo’s latest console release. Big news out of Truckstop as Kendra Tucker steps down as CEO. The company’s founder returns to the CEO desk. Is the loadboard headed toward founder mode?  We’ll take a look at trucking and tariffs north of the border with Luka Korosec, president at 1% Logistics. Loadsmart COO Geoff Kelley on how to scale a world-class freight brokerage.  Plus, are port futbol teams any good? 1:52 Switch 2 review | The Dooner Boys 14:51 Elon v Trump 19:40 Truckstop shakeup 21:35 How to scale a world-class brokerage | Geoff Kelley 29:32 Port futbol teams 31:17 Canadian trucking | Luka Korosec 35:44 Load security | Luka Korosec 39:35 Tariffs and markets | Luka Korosec Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 845 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Pallet CEO and founder Sushanth Raman about the company’s recent $27 million series B funding round. We’ll find out the latest on AI workforces for 3PLs, what problems it may solve and whether broker jobs are at risk.  We head north of the border with Left Lane Associates Mike “Ace” McCarron to find out the good, bad and ugly of Canadian trucking. We’ll learn about U.S.-Canada tensions, tariff impacts on cross-border, crime in Canadian trucking and more.  Operation Spiderweb puts trucks on the front line as one was recently used to launch a daring attack on Russia’s bomber fleet. Will trucks become a target?  ICE sets its sights on trucking. With reports of agents hitting shipping facilities and a massive bust in Texas, the industry is on notice.  Tesla Semi claims it has an 800-mile bobtail range. WattEV unveils its Tesla Semi and says it can fully charge the truck in 30 minutes or less. Chapters 0:59 WWE Knoxville  4:08 Operation Spiderweb: Trucks on the frontline 7:54 ICE sets sights on trucking 11:22 Tesla Semi: Bobtail beast 13:20 Pallet raises $27M series B | Sushanth Raman 16:16 AI workforce | Sushanth Raman  29:39 Who is at fault: Car or truck? 32:23 Good, bad, and ugly of Canadian trucking | Mike “Ace” McCarron Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 844 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with SearchCarrier’s Garrett Allen. His new site allows you to easily look up any carrier and see how often it’s been put out of service, inspected and more. We’re also diving into his blitz week dashboard to break down this year’s top violations. Konexial’s Jerry D’Addesi on the latest in AI load matching, double broker prevention and edge computing. Is the FMCSA starting to take freight fraud more seriously? After FMCSA’s identity verification became mandatory in April 2025, published authority counts dropped by over 50%. We’ll take a look at the numbers.  And in headlines: tariffs on, tariffs off; fast food restaurants vs fleet sizes; excessive LEGO sets and more.  Chapters 3:04 New authority approvals down 50% 5:19 Tariffs on, tariffs off, tariffs on 8:16 Fleet sizes vs. fast food restaurant locations 10:52 Konexial | Jerry D’Addesi 16:54 FreightTech innovations | Jerry D’Addesi 20:15 Too much LEGO 22:40 SearchCarriers | Garrett Allen 27:41 Blitz week breakdown | Garrett Allen Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 843 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is joined by Justin Martin to break down the headlines regarding FMCSA’s proposed rule changes; a carrier bankruptcy; and a look at the truckload market. A recent TikTok series revealed many drivers don’t know their pay. Martin breaks down the videos and answers the question: How well do drivers know their numbers? We’ll also find out how being a Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy “reply guy” can help shape policy, and we’ll take a look at some of the worst driving of the week. With more than 40,000 U.S. roadway deaths attributed to unsafe driving each year, we’re shining a light on the deadliest 100 days of the year: from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Dooner is joined by Mike Lutzenkirchen, executive director at Lutzie 43 Foundation, to learn why this mission is so personal for him. The Lutzie 43 Foundation was established in loving memory of Philip Lutzenkirchen, Mike’s son, shortly after his death in 2014.  DriverAssure’s Mike D. shows off the company’s new driver verification app.  Plus, Switch 2 supply chain leaks; flying kangaroos; and a look at the post Memorial Day truckload market. Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 842 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is looking at a scorching hot freight market in Savannah, Georgia. The port is seeing record container volumes, and the market is very tight with outbound tender rejects over 23%. The Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act just passed in Oklahoma. American Truckers United’s Shannon Everett talks about how the bill will take unsafe drivers off the roads. We’ll also learn what else needs to be done, and we’ll get his reaction to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signing the English Language Proficiency executive order. An $83 million freight fraud ring was busted early this week in Southern California. DK Consulting’s Dwight Young drops by the studio to talk about the time he was a victim of a cargo theft ring and the long-lasting impacts it has on operators in this space. In 2023 over 20,000 residents of Yellowknife in Canada had to evacuate due to a devastating fire. Today, we’ll meet a trucker, Darko Vidakovic, who had to drive over 3 miles in reverse to escape the blaze.  Plus, a container ship in Norway almost hits a house, North Korea gives new meaning to drop shipping and more. 3:15 My freight theft story | Dwight Young 15:10 Container ship almost hits house 15:50 Escaping the Yellowknife fire in a semi | Darko Vidakovic 27:00 North Korea’s drop shipping 27:30 Duffy signs the EO | American Truckers United 35:17 The Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act | American Truckers United Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 841 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is coming to you live from FreightWaves’ Domestic Supply Chain Summit. We’re kicking things off with coverage from Austin, Texas, where DOT Secretary Sean Duffy officially signed the English language proficiency executive order. We’ll find out why both truckers and trucking associations cheered this critical move toward road safety.  Can you say “short sea shipping” five times fast? OpenTug CEO and co-founder Jason Aristides barges right in and gives us a crash course on the power of inland waterways. We’ll find out the crucial role they play in domestic supply chains and learn why tariff turmoil could cause demand to grow.  Freight fraud as a business model? Overhaul’s Danny Ramon talks about the latest on freight fraud and why it has become so attractive for bad actors. He also shares a Memorial Day cargo alert.  Plus, Armenian cargo theft ring busted in Southern California; and thieves target Apple products on Pennsylvania highway.  Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 840 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about yet another freight theft in Southern California. The thieves spoofed a bill of lading and made off with a shipper’s freight. Travelers’ Scott Cornell stops by to talk about the rise of strategic theft and why your cargo may be at risk. President Donald Trump told Walmart to “eat the tariffs,” but is that a realistic ask? With steep 30% tariffs across a lot of Walmart and many other retailers’ items, they’re saying cost increases are unavoidable. Rodney Manzo at Anvyl by Sage breaks down the company’s latest state of the supply chain report, which looks at shipper fears around increasing costs related to tariffs, transportation, and shipping delays.  The truckload market got tight last week due to International Roadcheck, but can it last? We’ll take a look at the latest data in SONAR’s Trade War Command Center, and we’ll look at how rates, volumes and tender rejections are holding up. Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 839 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with SONAR’s Will Hopping to learn all about their new Trade War Command Center, which tracks freight trends, rates and disruptions in real time. Nikola and CARB, who killed the hydrogen truck? William Hall took the plunge and bought a Nikola. Now that the company is bankrupt, have he and other owner-operators been left holding the bag? He shares his experience and updates us on his ownership experience. OOIDA is celebrating its annual Truckers for Troops event. Over the past 17 years, OOIDA has raised more than $800,000 and sent more than 3,278 care packages, serving more than 39,276 members of the military. Norita Taylor fills us in. 0:32 Trade War Command Center | Will Hopping at SONAR 16:59 Trucker vs cargo thieves 17:35 Truckers for Troops | Norita Taylor at OOIDA 22:18 Final Destination 23:30 Nikola and CARB who killed the hydrogen truck? | William Hall at Coyote Container Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor SONAR Trade War Command Center Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices