Transfix

Michael Caney, COO of Highway, came ready to talk, and he did not pull a single punch. In this lively episode of *Supply Chain Decoded*, Michael joins Jenni Ruiz to trace his journey from booking freight with a fax machine and manufacturers guide to helping Highway rethink identity, trust, and governance across the freight transaction. Michael explains why Highway has evolved beyond carrier vetting into an integrated platform, how the entire freight industry is undergoing a real-time penetration test, and why stronger technology has pushed thieves toward fewer, more sophisticated, higher-value attacks. He also offers a blunt diagnosis of why so many freight tech startups fail: they arrive with capital, hubris, and a solution before taking the time to understand the people moving the loads. They also get into: - Why brokers cannot build their own way out of every security problem - How network effects, proprietary data, and vertical integration create a durable technology moat - Who truly owns carrier telematics and freight transaction data - Why the Supreme Court’s *Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II* ruling is an opportunity for brokerage to professionalize - How consistent carrier standards can strengthen growth rather than restrict capacity - Why pricing and carrier eligibility must be evaluated together, load by load - How AI can produce exponential gains—and exponentially larger mistakes - Why shippers must accept more responsibility for the risk structures they helped create The through line is clear: freight brokers win by focusing on their commercial relationships and service, while trusted platforms handle the security infrastructure that becomes stronger at scale. Equal parts history lesson, hot-take marathon, and candid look at freight’s next chapter, this is Michael Caney at full speed. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

Aqil Naeem and Caleb Sirak entered the freight industry by convincing a conference to give them a student discount. There, one of the first technology leaders they met was Transfix co-founder Jonathan Salama. Now, the best friends and co-founders of E3 Group have come full circle as Transfix partners. In this episode of *Supply Chain Decoded*, Aqil and Caleb join Jenni Ruiz to discuss how E3 applies its “explore, experiment, expand” philosophy to some of freight’s hardest problems—beginning with cargo theft. They unpack Shield, E3’s driver-verification platform, and explain why preventing fraud requires knowing who actually arrives at the dock—not merely which carrier was onboarded. Their approach places legitimate drivers at the center, helping them establish trust while giving brokers and shippers better information before freight changes hands. The conversation also explores: - Why AI implementation must begin with an operation’s existing workflows and incentives - How E3 builds alongside drivers through an advisory group and 24/7 human support - Why companies must continuously evaluate AI tools instead of treating deployment as the finish line - How open-source models can offer businesses greater control and lower costs - Why brokers and shippers must collaborate more closely to combat cargo theft - How asking “ridiculous” questions can produce genuinely transformative technology It’s a conversation about friendship, experimentation, driver advocacy, and building AI that works beyond the demo—and at the dock. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

The national freight market may look flat—but underneath the averages, major legal, regulatory, and regional shifts are reshaping capacity. In this episode of *The Transfix Take*, Jenni Ruiz and NFI market expert Justin Maze examine C.H. Robinson’s decision to appeal a closely watched Texas judgment and the freight industry’s continuing debate over broker liability. They also unpack a sudden cross-border capacity shock following the reported revocation of thousands of Mexican driver visas—and what mounting enforcement changes could mean for brokers, carriers, and shippers heading into 2027. They discuss: - Why the C.H. Robinson appeal could have broader implications for freight contracting - How enforcement changes are constraining cross-border capacity - Why diesel remains unpredictable despite relatively stable linehaul rates - What tender rejections holding near 12.7% reveal about the market - Where rates are declining across the Southeast, Coastal, Southern, and Midwest regions - Why West Coast rates continue to climb as the Pacific Northwest enters peak season - What a soft spot market could mean through early November Plus, Justin explains why the market could remain quiet for several more weeks before holiday freight begins shifting more volume into the spot market around mid-November. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

What changes when you stop playing a supporting role in your own career and step fully into the spotlight? Amber Romando returns to *Supply Chain Decoded* with a new title, a new company, and more energy than ever. Now Vice President of Operations at BWS Logistics, Amber joins Jenni Ruiz to discuss embracing unfamiliar territory, leading with intention, building culture across a remote workforce, and remaining a student—even after more than 20 years in supply chain. The conversation also spotlights CSCMP Chicago’s third annual Women Empowering Women event, **Main Character Energy**, taking place October 29 in Naperville. Hosted by Amber and featuring a panel moderated by Carly Gunby, the event brings together women at different stages of their careers for honest storytelling, meaningful networking, and candid conversations about self-worth, authenticity, and taking ownership of your next chapter. In this episode, Amber shares: - Why success means having the power to choose your next move - How to recognize when you’ve become a supporting character in your own story - Why leaders must listen directly to carriers, employees, and partners - How relationships and trust drive business in a volatile market - Why men should also attend and support the women in their workplaces and lives It’s your career, your story, and your time to shine. Learn more and register for **Main Character Energy** at https://cscmpchicago.org. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

The freight market just delivered an October surprise. Rates climbed across every region—outpacing the gains seen over Labor Day—while one of the largest brokerage acquisitions in industry history signaled that freight consolidation may only be getting started. In this episode of The Transfix Take, Jenni Ruiz and NFI market expert Justin Maze unpack C.H. Robinson’s $5.8 billion agreement to acquire RXO and what the deal could mean for brokerage scale, AI integration, and future consolidation. They also examine the unexpected rate surge, shifting regional capacity, and the growing importance of service as shippers head deeper into RFP season. They discuss: Why the C.H. Robinson–RXO deal could become a major industry domino How national average linehaul rates climbed six cents to $2.18 per mile Why tender rejections remain elevated at approximately 12.7% Where capacity is tightening most across the Midwest and Northeast Why the Pacific Northwest and California remain markets to watch How declining diesel prices could affect next week’s regional rates Why Prime Day is unlikely to create a significant freight-market ripple How service failures and spot-market exposure could influence 2027 contract rates Plus, Justin explains why some recent gains may flatten in the coming week—even as stubborn capacity constraints keep the market difficult for shippers. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.