The Freight Pod

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 navigating the Knight-Swift merger.Shannon would eventually scratch his entrepreneurial itch with the founding of FreightVana (FV) in 2021. FV's approach to the market has been rather unique, from the intentional and aggressive social media presence, to the significant investment in leasing their own trailers to develop a power only network, Shannon's team has worked to stand out from Day 1. We get into the details of how any logistics organization can stand out as we discuss the art of making business proposals unforgettable, a result of meticulous preparation in advance of a pitch. Shannon's insights emphasize the power of genuine effort and exceptional customer service in an industry where margins are tight, and competition is fierce.Leasing trailers as a broker is a newer concept, and certainly not one many companies have done at scale. FV's approach here is rather unique, and this is the most in depth conversation we've had on the show about the benefits and challenges of such an approach. In the end, it can generate a lot more opportunities with customers, but at the same time, carriers more cost for the broker to navigate. Ultimately, building the right network will drive a broker's ability to succeed on the path FV is taking. Shannon is a super easy guy to talk to and someone that has developed tremendous insight that our entire industry can learn from. I hope you enjoy the episode.***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 Committee, made up of relevant industry players from carriers, to shippers, to brokers, and vendors who support the trucking ecosystem. Throughout the episode, Rebecca highlights several recent ATRI studies, including research on the operational costs of trucking, which provides detailed benchmarking data for fleets, as well as studies on the growing issue of "nuclear verdicts" against trucking companies. She also delves into ATRI's work examining the challenges of electrifying the trucking fleet, a hot topic as a result of recent California regulation. This part of the conversation is especially compelling, as ATRI's research shows the significant infrastructure and grid capacity issues that would need to be addressed to meet the governmental requirements. Throughout the conversation, Brewster emphasizes ATRI's commitment to providing objective, data-driven research to inform decision-makers, rather than engaging in advocacy or lobbying.Rebecca stresses the importance of industry participation in ATRI's research process, as well as the organization's efforts to widely disseminate its findings through user-friendly summaries. She demonstrates ATRI's deep understanding of the complex issues facing the trucking industry and its dedication to helping address these challenges through rigorous, independent analysis.***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 the ups and downs of this story, as told by it's CEO and owner himself.The episode begins with Omar's journey, which has admirable and humble beginnings. He got his CDL license out of high school and drove trucks to pay for college and an MBA, eventually starting his own trucking company. Omar is a true trucker at heart. But, his experiences during the 2008-2010 recession led him to pivot to brokerage, and in 2016 he launched Surge Transportation. The company experienced strong growth, reaching over 280 employees and a $300 million run rate by late 2021, driven by prioritizing backup routing guide support and dynamic pricing.However, a number of strategic decisions and financial mismanagement would spell trouble as the market shifted in 2022. Surge's reliance on the spot market and lack of long-term primary contracts became problematic as the industry reached the latest down cycle. Omar walks us through every step of the way, the challenges he faced, the sale attempts in the final months, etc. Despite filing for bankruptcy in July 2023, he expressed his intent of doing the right thing, taking personal responsibility and working to restructure the business in a way that allows him to repay debts and rebuild trust. His story serves as a cautionary tale, but also demonstrates the resilience and determination required to rebuild a business in the face of adversity. ***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 about career milestones; it's a deep dive into the fabric of leadership and organizational culture. Jason shares insights into the complexities of private equity buyouts/acquisitions and the critical importance of prioritizing workplace environment. We'll explore the benefits of a flat organizational structure that fosters collaboration and accessibility, and how leaders can inspire passion within their teams—even in industries that might not seem inherently exciting. Jason also provides a candid look at the stress and triumphs of steering a company through periods of significant change and growth.We'll also unpack the strategic evolution of Steam Logistics, from its roots in freight forwarding to becoming a fully integrated, multimodal 3PL. Jason gives The Freight Pod it's first look at international freight forwarding. He also details the Cradle-To-Grave pod model that encourages entrepreneurial behavior within the company and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the logistics industry. With insights into the crucial role of custom technology in enhancing business efficiency, this episode offers a comprehensive understanding of the evolving logistics landscape. Tune in to gain valuable wisdom on intentional culture-building and how to navigate the highs and lows of leading a growing organization.***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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, working his way up and across various roles as he moved on to PepsiCo, Smurfit Stone, and Mars PetCare before establishing himself for 5 years at Dairy Farmers of America. He has now spent the last 5 years in his current role with Lindt. This wide breadth of transportation experience makes for a riveting conversation that any supply chain professional can learn from. He provides advice and insights that he gathered from his time at each of these great companies.We spend time doing deep dives into Dairy Farmers of America and Lindt & Sprungli, two very unique organizations, one owned by farmers, the other representing a shared services model across three chocolate companies. The nuances from these experiences and depth provided make for quality conversation and valuable learnings for listeners.We pivot from there to Corey's perspective on brokers and carriers pursuing his business. He gives us an inside look to his role, the challenges he faces on a day-to-day basis, and the "do's and don'ts" for prospective partners. We get into a market cycle conversation as well, looking at the last four years, from the highest of highs during Covid, to the lowest of lows brought on the last two years in the aftermath. End to end, this episode is filled with great nuggets of information thanks to Corey's decades of experience and wisdom shared. ***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 arise. His experiences reveal how hands-on roles can set the stage for significant career growth, even in a challenging job market.Gain insights into Coca-Cola's approach to supply chain resilience and the critical role logistics play in its operations. Discover the strategies that helped the company navigate frequent organizational shifts and industry-wide crises, including the implementation of E-logs and the Covid pandemic. Rob sheds light on the importance of aligning logistical capabilities with sales and marketing ambitions and the benefits of robust in-house reporting tools for strategic decision-making. This episode emphasizes the necessity of effective collaboration across various teams to ensure seamless operations and customer satisfaction.Peek into the future of transportation trends and strategies with Rob's expert analysis. Learn about the evolution of shipper-carrier relationships and the key metrics that drive successful logistics operations. Rob discusses the importance of being a "shipper of choice" and how fostering strong partnerships with carriers can optimize freight capacity. With advice for both industry veterans and young professionals, this episode is packed with actionable insights on improving transportation efficiency, managing operational costs, and enhancing industry collaboration.***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 this conversation, we talk about what makes a great carrier sales rep, different strategies that organizations take to procure capacity and how they manage the reps who work to find said capacity. As technology has improved, we hit on the impact to the carrier sales role as well as how procurement has changed with this technological evolution. We dive into AI, and the impact it may have in the space. We make some bold predictions for five years from now. These three veterans bring their unique perspectives from helping leading some of the most successful brokerages, and in doing so, make for a great episode for our listeners.***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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

CEO of RXO, Drew Wilkerson, discusses the acquisition of Coyote Logistics, highlighting the strategic advantages, integration process, and future plans. The importance of people, culture, and customer feedback for success is emphasized. The podcast explores the complexities of merging sales teams, maintaining relationships, and driving continuous improvement. Drew's enthusiasm for the freight brokerage model and the benefits of the acquisition are palpable, showcasing a strategic vision for the future.

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's first partner on the Transfix TMS. We break down how that transaction played out and the strategy for NFI moving forward as a result.Before that though, we go down a rabbit hole of awesome topics, including:-              Building positive work culture-              Challenges of remote work -              Attracting and retaining Gen Z talent-              Value of transparency in leadership-              Current market dynamics-              Power of relationships-              AI-              Evolution of TMS-              Future of brokerageSo sit back, relax, and enjoy this great episode with Dave.Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

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 flags to look for. We also discuss the challenges of managing an effective network and the importance of strong customer relationships to help build stability. Cheema's story is a fascinating one, as the company was started by Harman's father as a 1 truck operation in 2006. Harman took over in his early twenties and has scaled the organization to become a top West coast provider in the industry, recognized for service by numerous customers. ***This episode is brought to you by Rapido Solutions Group.Rapido connects logistics and supply chain organizations in North America with the best nearshore talent to scale efficiently, operate on par with US-based teams, and deliver superior customer service.Rapido works with businesses from all sides of the logistics industry — including 3PLs, carriers, and logistics software companies. Rapido builds out teams with roles across customer and carrier sales and support, back-office administration, and technology services.The team at Rapido knows logistics and people — it’s what sets them apart. Rapido is driven by an inside knowledge of how to recruit, hire, and train within the logistics industry and a passion to build better solutions for success. Learn more about the Rapido solution and begin building your team away from home at gorapido.com.***Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is 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 recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***