FreightWaves LIVE: An Events Podcast

Steve Gold is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. He was formerly a Partner at Deloitte Consulting where he led Deloitte’s Enterprise Science Analytics practice. Prior to Deloitte Steve was a Partner at Stone Tower Equity (a multi-billion dollar investment fund). As the former Chief Supply Chain Officer of PepsiCo, Steve was responsible for Pepsico’s global supply chain strategy and operations across the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing functions, including Frito-Lay, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade and Pepsi non-carbonated beverages. During his tenure at PepsiCo, among other responsibilities, Steve was responsible for Pepsico’s transportation operations and over-the-road fleet. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Steve was the Managing Director and Partner-in-charge of KPMG/BearingPoint's Supply Chain Consulting Practice. His practice focused on global supply chain transformations across manufacturers, distributors and transportation companies. Steve was formerly on the Board of Directors and Nominating Committee of United Agricultural Products (UAPH) and the Board of Directors of AHN International and Open Mile. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (logistics and transportation) at The Ohio State University. He served as a curriculum advisor to the Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina. He is a past member of the Adler Planetarium Board of Directors, the Grocery Manufacturers and is the past Chairman of the Mount Sinai Medical Institute Council. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Benjamin Gordon is founder and Managing Partner of Cambridge Capital. He draws on a career building, advising, and investing in supply chain companies. Benjamin has led investments in outstanding firms including XPO, Grand Junction, Bringg ,  Liftit , and others. Prior to Cambridge Capital, Benjamin built BGSA Holdings into a global leader in M&A for the supply chain sector. As CEO of BGSA, Benjamin led the firm’s efforts, advising on over $2 billion worth of supply chain transactions. Benjamin has worked with firms such as UPS, DHL, Kuehne & Nagel, Agility Logistics, NFI Logistics, GENCO, Nations Express,  Raytrans , Echo Global, Dixie, Wilpak, and others. Prior to BGSA Holdings, Ben founded 3PLex, the Internet solution enabling third-party logistics companies to automate their business. Benjamin raised $28 million from blue-chip investors including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs,  BancBoston Ventures , CNF, and Ionian. 3PLex was then purchased by Maersk. Prior to 3PLex, Benjamin advised transportation and logistics clients at Mercer Management Consulting. Prior to Mercer, Benjamin worked in his family’s transportation business, AMI, where he helped the company expand its logistics operations. Benjamin is an active civic leader who is committed to giving back to the community. As founder and chairman of  GesherCity , he boosted young adult volunteerism, expanding the organization to over 100,000 members in twenty locations. Benjamin has also served on the Boards of several non-profit groups, including the Palm Beach United Way, the Palm Beach Federation, the Palm Beach Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the JDC, the JCCA, the Middle East Forum, and various other community organizations. Benjamin received a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College. Sean Dehan serves as the VP of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development at Truckstop, bringing over 12 years of experience in crafting and executing growth and product strategies for technology businesses that drive exceptional value for customers. A University of Texas graduate and Austin native, he resides in the city with his wife and four children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Louis E. Sola is a Partner at Thorn Run Partners, one of Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan consulting and lobbying firms. He brings nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of government, trade, and maritime policy, serving both in senior federal roles and the private sector. Mr. Sola was appointed by President Donald J. Trump as a Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission in 2018, unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and later designated as Chairman of the Commission. In that role, he oversaw the regulation of more than $5 trillion in annual trade, leading investigations into global supply chain disruptions, LNG infrastructure, and maritime sustainability. He worked closely with the Senate Commerce and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committees, advancing reforms to strengthen U.S. trade policy and negotiating carve-outs that benefited small and agricultural exporters. As Chairman, Mr. Sola was a key U.S. voice on international shipping and trade, testifying before Congress and engaging with foreign governments to address crises and secure U.S. strategic interests. He led efforts to counter foreign influence in the Western Hemisphere, particularly China’s Belt and Road expansion in ports and shipping, while advocating for U.S. energy dominance through LNG exports and maritime infrastructure. In addition to his federal service, Mr. Sola served as a Florida State Commissioner and founded Evermarine, a Miami-based yacht and ship brokerage representing international shipyards, including Benetti. He has advised U.S. and international companies on port, logistics, and infrastructure investments throughout the Americas, including strategic projects in Panama and the Caribbean. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Sola served in counterintelligence operations in post–Cold War Germany, the 1994 Cuban refugee crisis, and counter-narcotics missions in Panama. His military and public service background continues to inform his work on national security, trade, and infrastructure strategy. Mr. Sola earned a Master’s degree in International Finance and Accounting from the University of Illinois and completed executive education at Yale Business School. He resides in Miami, Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max is one of the visionaries that helped to create the truckload and logistics industries that we have today. As an early adopter of many safety, productivity and driver comfort, Max was very early on with items like power steering, air conditioning, steering stability controls, disc brakes, satellite communications, traction control, collision avoidance systems, electronics on engines years before it was accepted by the industry. He was one of the first to computerize his company in the mid 1980s. He would find technologies in Europe and push for implementation in the U.S. Max has developed companies in various industries with great success. He developed Paragon Trailer Rental which was sold to GE. He developed Xpress Data systems which he sold the software assets to Qualcomm. He started a company called Innovative Processing Solutions (a fintech software company) which was sold to US Bank. He co-founded a fintech company called TransCard which specializes in b to b and b to c payment applications. During his tenure at U.S. Xpress Enterprises, he completed 31 acquisitions with successful implementations. As a founder of US Xpress, he built the company to approximately $2,500,000,000 in total revenues. He has been on the SunTrust/Truist Advisory Board since 1994. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prasad Gollapalli is chief executive officer, founder and chairman of the board of Qued, a pioneering cloud-based AI workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling into the future. It seamlessly automates the entire process, securing the optimal appointment times to all types of loads including multi-stop loads. By eliminating the chaos of spreadsheet management, overflowing inboxes, and cumbersome portal logins, Qued empowers 3PLs, brokers, and carriers with a streamlined workflow while delivering significant workforce optimization benefits for shippers. Through Qued, brokers build trust by guaranteeing on-time deliveries, enhancing communication, and fostering transparency, thereby strengthening industry relationships and enhancing efficiency and reliability. Qued's innovative approach has earned recognition from industry leaders such as McLeod Software, a premier freight management and transportation software provider, which has certified Qued as an integration partner. With nearly three decades of industry experience, Prasad is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his success in start-up ventures and leadership roles within trucking and shipping software companies. Prior to Qued, Prasad founded and led Trucker Tools, the industry's premier digital freight management platform with the most popular Trucker Tools driver app. As the CEO of Trucker Tools, he led the team in implementing innovative solutions including capacity management, predictive freight matching, automated booking, and real-time GPS-based visibility. Prasad sold Trucker Tools to ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors, in June 2021. In December of 2024, DAT (a Roper Industries company) acquired Trucker Tools making ASG extremely happy with the outcome.  Prior to his tenure at Trucker Tools, Prasad held various leadership positions focused on the design and implementation of advanced transportation technology solutions. As Director of Product Management at Getloaded.com, later acquired by DAT, he led business and product strategy efforts. Prasad's expertise extends to the shipping industry, where he served as a product manager for the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR, LLC). Prasad holds an MBA with a focus on strategy and entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, as well as a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Madras, India. Prasad resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife and daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryan Alsobrooks is President of Phoenix Capital Group (PCG). PCG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company and is a nationally recognized provider of working capital solutions to small- to medium-sized transportation companies.  Financing solutions include asset-based lending, accounts receivable financing and factoring, equipment financing and fuel card services.  Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with additional offices in Fruitland, Idaho, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Alsobrooks has over 32 years commercial finance experience and more than 25 years in the transportation industry. Mr. Alsobrooks is active with the International Factoring Association and has served as past Chairman and Vice Chairman for the North American Credit Manager’s National Transportation Credit Group. Mr. Alsobrooks received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Austin Peay State University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Shillingford is a Venture Partner at Columbia Capital and CoFounder of Everstream Analytics, a leading supply chain risk analytics company and his seventh venture. David has led the development of several industry-wide data and analytics platforms both as an entrepreneur and as SVP Supply Chain at Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ: VRSK). David’s first career was as a special operations officer in the British Army.  David holds a BSc Honors degree in Chemistry from the University of Exeter in England. Scot Davis serves as Vice President of Customer Fulfillment at Shaw Industries, bringing more than 35 years of experience across the textile, chemical, and flooring industries. In this role, he leads the integration of Shaw's supply chain operations across all three business units, ensuring seamless delivery and an exceptional customer experience.  Throughout his career, Scot has held leadership roles spanning manufacturing operations, research and development, design, technical sales, and supply chain operations. He currently oversees a team of nearly 4,000 supply chain professionals across the United States, driving performance, efficiency, and customer satisfaction through collaboration and operational excellence.  A devoted family man, Scot and his wife of 33 years, Lisa, take pride in their daughter Sydney, who is building her own career in supply chain leadership.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clayton Griffin is the President of OTR Solutions, America’s most trusted freight factoring and logistics technology company. As President, Clayton develops and implements solutions, products, services, and partnerships that serve to provide market-leading value to OTR’s vast network of carrier and broker customers. He also works with the rest of the executive team to set the strategic vision, analyze M&A opportunities, and guide the company toward long-term growth. Clayton joined OTR Solutions (then OTR Capital) in 2012 and has held multiple leadership roles including Finance Manager, VP, Director of Finance, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin is a passionate and successful entrepreneur representing over $3 Billion in enterprise value across his five founding companies - a diverse portfolio of B2B service providers and intermediaries across a variety of industries, with a heavy focus on transportation. Kevin’s expertise and leadership have notable impacts on the sustained growth of his core transportation businesses, NTG (multimodal brokerage), OTR (factoring), MIG (insurance) and PayHawk (payment processing), for over 15 years. In this time, Kevin has operated through several private equity phases, alongside three of the top 300 private equity firms. After several successful exits, Kevin launched Sope Creek Capital with the goal of empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through strategic guidance and operational excellence.  In his spare time, which is often hard to come by, Kevin enjoys golfing, boating and spending time with his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott founded Truckstop in 1995 with a mission to create a “better way” for freight professionals to work. As an early pioneer of the online load board, Scott helped revolutionize how freight moves across the country, making the process more efficient and transparent for carriers and brokers alike.   With a background in technology and a passion for solving complex problems, Scott grew Truckstop from a basement startup to a leading trusted brand in the transportation industry. Over the years, his vision and leadership have driven innovation and set the foundation for Truckstop’s ongoing growth and success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Kennedy is the co-founder and CEO of Platform Science. Previously, Jack was the President of Qualcomm Enterprise Services. Prior to Qualcomm, Jack served at News Corp where he held roles as the Executive Vice President of News Corp Digital Media, Executive Vice President of Fox Interactive Media, and Senior Vice President of Fox Network Group. During this period, Jack oversaw activities leading the digital transition of News Corp from a traditional media company into a “digital first” organization. During his tenure, he was part of the joint Fox/NBC Universal team that created the joint venture now known as “Hulu,” and the launch of one of the digital advertising technology companies, The Rubicon Product (RUBI:NASDAQ). He was responsible for a $2B+ portfolio of over two dozen digital assets. Jack retired as a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves in 2016, after serving as a founding team member of DiUX, the Department of Defense’s recently established Silicon Valley presence. His career included multiple combat deployments, tours in Washington D.C. which included serving on the staff of U.S. Senator John McCain, and as the Aide de Camp to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jack holds a BS in Economics and Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from the Harvard Business School and was a Legis Fellow of the Brookings Institution. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for ATN International, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don has over 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics sector, with proven success in advancing digital transformation, forging key industry collaborations, and leading growth strategies. Before joining Transflo, he held senior leadership roles at Knight-Swift Transportation and FreightVana, where he drove innovative solutions and cultivated lasting partnerships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yannik Thomas is Vice President, Network Design & Optimization at Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies, moving approximately 7 million rail shipments each year across 19,300 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia. NS serves every major container port in the eastern US and operates the most extensive Intermodal network in the East. Yannik is responsible for designing NS’ network and service products to provide reliable and efficient service to rail shippers. He also leads technology investment and product management across Transportation and Intermodal Operations. He previously held leadership roles in Intermodal Operations and in Finance. Prior to joining NS, he spent 12 years with management consulting firm, Oliver Wyman, advising Fortune-500 Transportation and Industrial clients on strategy, finance, operations, and technology topics. Yannik holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada and a Master of Business Administration from the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France. He serves on the boards of The Belt Railway of Chicago, The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, Pan AM Southern, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A leading authority on China’s economy and financial system, Leland is the co-founder and CEO of China Beige Book International.‍Leland is a frequent commentator on media outlets such as CNBC, Bloomberg TV & Radio, CNN, BNN, BBC, and FOX Business, and he has served as a guest host of two of the financial world’s top morning news shows, CNBC Squawk Box and Bloomberg Surveillance. His work is featured regularly in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, New Yorker, The Atlantic, Forbes, Foreign Policy, The Hill, and South China Morning Post.Before co-founding China Beige Book in 2010, Leland was a capital markets attorney based out of New York and Hong Kong and worked on the deal team at a major investment bank. He holds a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Hardy C. Dillard fellow and editor-in-chief of the International Law Journal; a master’s degree in Chinese History from Oxford University; a BA in European History from Washington & Lee University; and a graduate Chinese language fellowship from Tunghai University (Taiwan).Leland is an elected member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Economic Club of New York, an elected life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a board member of the Global Interdependence Center, and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Structure is key for building strong cross border operations. Sunset Transportation’s Justin Danks and FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell break down the importance of building a strong process and being proactive when it comes to success in cross border freight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of US-Mexico trucking could include everything from automation, real-time tracking, smart cameras and biometric identity authentication for drivers. Carriers that can shift gears early and adopt emerging technology will enjoy an edge. Matt Silver, CEO of Cargado, and FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney discuss technology’s growing impact on cross-border freight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cross border freight has a crucial role in the North American supply chain, and not having a risk management plan is no longer an option. Mark Vickers, Executive Vice President & Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners, and FreightWaves’ Mary O'Connell break down how cargo liability insurance is different for cross border shipments and how not having a risk management strategy in place is a costly misstep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Planning infrastructure around increased trade volumes can be tricky. Jerry Maldonado, Director of Laredo & Mexico Operations for Warren Transport and FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell break down the planning and infrastructure changes at the border and surrounding areas to improve efficiency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) are designated areas within the U.S. where businesses can operate with special customs benefits. But FTZs aren’t just about storing goods — they can be powerful tools for reducing import costs and streamlining processes. Jorge Canavati, Principal of J. Canavati & Co. LLC, and FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney discuss the advantages and strategic uses of FTZs in international trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices