

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

Apr 18, 2025 • 46min
AI for tariffs; world’s first autonomous road-to-rail solution; Mack layoffs
On episode 828 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is celebrating Good Friday by talking with Gaia Dynamics co-founder and CEO Emil Stefanutti to talk about a tool that couldn’t have come at a better time. With tariff turmoil causing shippers and customs brokers to scramble, Gaia has launched an AI solution for tariffs and product classifications. We’ll find out how it works and how it can save you money in a high-tariff environment.Glid is building the industry’s first autonomous road-to-rail solution. We’ll meet founder and CEO Kevin Damoa to find out how they’re getting autonomy on track.Plus, DOT Secretary says “Astro-Not”; 160 truck carrier shutdown; Mack layoffs; US Switch 2 preorder date announced; 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 2025 • 46min
Port of Huntsville on the power of inland ports; navigating a trade war
On Episode 827 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about the shockwaves that have been reverberating throughout the trade community due to the trade war. The Maritime Professor Lauren Beagan drops in to talk about the massive collapse in container bookings that has happened over the past month. How soon will we feel the pain in volumes on the trucking side?Beagan also breaks down recent maritime policy regarding new port fees as well as the Panama and Suez canals.Port of Huntsville CEO Butch Roberts believes we’re in for an inland port renaissance. We’ll find out how the port works, whom it serves and why big investments in air and intermodal will be a boon for shippers.Plus, gambling bookkeeper busted; Kodiak goes SPAC; Indiana Jones and the Great Circle drops on PS5; and more.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 00:55Headlines: $4M gambling theft; Kodiak goes SPAC 03:31The power of inland ports | Port of Huntsville 08:15It’s not a Bug, it’s a feature 22:12Navigating a trade war | Lauren Beagan 22:44Port fees and maritime policy | Lauren Beagan 42:12Catch 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 2025 • 46min
Arkansas passes new bill fining truckers who can’t speak English … is it enough?
On Episode 826 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is joined by OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh to talk about a new bill in Arkansas fining truckers who cannot speak English sufficiently. Will it be enough to keep our roads safe or should noncompliant drivers be put out of service? The trade war is a constantly evolving situation causing some industries to freeze in their tracks. Vinturas’ Alexander Style stops by to talk about how tariffs are impacting his clients in the OEM, automotive and trucking space. Shippers are getting tempted by foreign forwarders to commit classification and country-of-origin fraud; what do we need to look out for?In headlines, tender volumes drop 9% year over year; intermodal benefits from freight pull forward; Trump exempts smartphones and computers from tariffs; 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2025 • 46min
Switch 2 release skips China; the sweet tooth supply chain; government fleets
On episode 825 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about the tariff situation’s most famous hostage: Mario. With North American pre-orders in limbo, Nintendo just announced they are postponing the Switch 2’s China launch indefinitely. Amos Food Group’s Jordan Dickerson drops by to talk about the sweet tooth supply chain. We’ll find out how seasonal candies go from production to 7-11 and will tariff turmoil impact the industry? We’ll also find out if supply chain woes have got Dickerson feeling emo. RTA just scored a contract managing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ government fleets. We’ll find out from their CEO, Josh Hurley, how RTA landed the deal and what goes into managing a government fleet. Plus, new bill looks to back off speed limiters; why you should always check your mirrors Chapters0:00 Whiplash tariff decisions2:10 An amazing trucking high school4:55 Switch 2 tariff turmoil8:00 Bill to ban speed limiters9:18 Bird!10:00 Government fleet mgmt | RTA’s Josh Turley19:00 Close call20:15 The sweet tooth supply chain | Amos Food Group’s Jordan DickersonCatch 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 9, 2025 • 46min
Tariffs hit 100-year high: Ports, drayage, trucking and retail impacts
On episode 824 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is waking up with the rest of the world to the new tariff world order. With reports of ocean bookings plummeting, small shippers getting hit with customs bills they can’t afford, and financial markets in disarray - how bad will freight get hit? Junction Collaborative Transport COO Ian Weiland brings the port trucking perspective as his drayage firm services the SoCal ports. We will find out what the word on the ground is and how port trucking will ocean volume declines drive the truck load market back into a freight recession? Eric Williams just founded a FreightTech firm focused on RFPs called Beagl Technologies. Williams also just left a gig with Target’s logistics team. We’ll get deep insight on how retail will handle tariffs. We’ll also find out how Beagl plans to shake up the RFP process, and how freight bids are looking now. Chapters3:12 Tariffs and port trucking | Ian Weiland18:16 Avoiding tariffs18:36 Retail impact of tariffs | Eric Williams32:16 Rebuilding RFPs | Eric Williams 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 2025 • 46min
Everything you need to know about tariffs with logistics legend Matt Silver
On Episode 823 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is joined by cross-border logistics legend Matt Silver to talk all about the impact of Trump’s tariffs. You’ll learn how they work; what will cost more; short-term and long-term strategy; what’s exempt; how the tariffs will impact trucking, ocean, warehousing and capacity; and more. Silver’s firm Cargado just announced a $12 million Series A. We’ll find out how and what the plans are for the cash.Plus, White House calls 90-day tariff delay “fake news”; and an update on the I-35 crash that left five dead. 2:54 Update on I-35 crash5:26 Cargado’s $12M Series A8:26 Trump on tariffs12:55 Fear & loathing in lost earnings14:56 How tariffs work21:19 Why did we tariff the penguins?22:23 What will an iPhone cost and tariff math27:07 Cars, cross border and USMCA exemptions32:28 Impact on ocean freight36:58 Impact on trucking38:28 Duty drawback 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2025 • 46min
Art of truck wraps; Nintendo’s Vietnam bet backfires; automating 36M breakdowns
On episode 822 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with Total Truck Branding’s Stephanie Burueana and Mario Lekovic to talk about the art of truck wraps. Their award winning company is responsible for wrapping some of the best-looking trucks on the road. We’ll find out how the whole process works and what it takes to win a championship.ABT is looking to automate 36 million breakdowns a year in the multibillion-dollar truck repair space. We’ll meet the father and daughter team of Alan Larsen and Rachel Havron at ABT and find out how they’re advancing maintenance into an AI-led future. Plus, Nintendo’s Vietnam bet bites them in the butt; tariff fallout; 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2025 • 46min
Easter Candy logistics with Bissinger’s; Liberation Day; MasterTech Alyssa Briggs
On Episode 821 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about Liberation Day tariffs. With Trump set to announce a new slate of tariffs today at 4 p.m., what are the early impacts and how are supply chains responding? We’ll take a look.In headlines, mass layoffs hit supply chains and Trevor Milton announces the release of a new documentary on his conviction. Bissinger’s Chief Chocolate Officer Dan Abel Jr. talks all about the logistics of Easter candy. We’ll find out the sweet science behind making sure the Easter Bunny is leaving fully stocked baskets on the holiday. We’ll also see how the company is responding to tariffs and if they will make candy cost more.Trailer mechanic Alyssa Briggs made history as the first woman to win XPO’s national MasterTech competition. Briggs hopes to inspire other women to not only get involved in the diesel mechanic industry, but to also to compete and test their skills.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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2025 • 45min
Iowa “driver shortage” bill backlash; Women in trucking; Science of Sales
On episode 820 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act, a new bipartisan bill in Iowa that has the driving community up in arms. We’ll take a look at why Iowa is trying to add even more drivers to an over capacity market and the damage the driver shortage myth does to our industry. Mid-America Trucking Show 2025 may have come to an end but we’ll recap the sights and sounds from America’s biggest truck show.Travelers’ Elizabeth Simpkins talks about the tremendous progress made by women in trucking.Trader Interactive’s Charles Bowles shares the latest data on heavy duty truck buying demographics.Ben Tschirgi just founded his own company ScienceOfSales. After a decade of leading sales teams at companies like Cowan Logistics, Tschirgi is now helping other businesses use AI to scale their revenue. Plus; Trevor Milton pardoned; squats across MATS; monkey truckers 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2025 • 60min
WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Parking Club live from Mid-America Trucking Show
On episode 818 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner and special guest co-host Reed Loustalot are coming to you live from the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Tune in to get your finger on the pulse of what the driver community is saying their more pressing issues are. 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 YouTubeCheck out the WTT merch storeVisit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts#WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


