Claim OwnershipArmchair Attorney® Podcast
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© 2026 Armchair Attorney® Podcast
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The Armchair Attorney® Podcast is program hosted by the Armchair Attorney® himself, Matthew M. Leffler. Matthew is a real-life attorney with a curious mind and a passion for how things work. From law to supply chain and everything in-between, he bridges the gap between education and entertainment.
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Should I Panic? The US supply chain faces ongoing volatility from global conflicts, intensified regulatory pressures, & persistently low freight volumes. Escalating Middle East tensions, including US-Israel strikes on Iran & related disruptions, have delayed any large-scale return of container shipping to the Red Sea, forcing rerouting around Africa, higher surcharges, & increased costs for energy, commodities, & imports. Domestically, freight demand remains subdued after 20...
The U.S. government took two big steps to fix problems with truck drivers who live outside the country. One is a new rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL), which tightens rules on who can hold a commercial driver’s license. The other, Delilah’s Law, is a new Senate bill that proposes even stricter nationwide changes. The bill is named after Dalilah Coleman who was five yea...
Who would have guessed that a panel about law & insurance would electrify the attendees at ACT Research Co.? I, for one, expected it. For 40 years, ACT Research Co. has brought the trucking industry together to anticipate change and chart its future. What's more, ACT Research Co. recently hosted its 74th Market Vitals: The Current & Future Health of the Industry Seminar in Columbus, IN. The event marked a special milestone of 40 years delivering commercial vehicle and freight marke...
In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, argued on Wednesday, March 4, the court considers whether a federal law initially designed to deal with state trucking regulations supersedes state common-law claims holding freight brokers liable for negligently selecting dangerous motor carriers or drivers. That may not sound particularly fascinating, but the issue before the court, which involves the scope of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994, could have broad liabilit...
The case asks whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA) preempts state negligence claims against freight brokers for carelessly selecting unsafe motor carriers or drivers. The crash happened December 7, 2017, on Interstate 70 in Illinois. Missouri truck driver Shawn Montgomery had pulled his 2015 Mack truck onto the shoulder for mechanical repairs. While standing outside, he was struck from behind by a speeding 1995 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Yo...
It's not everyday I get to moderate a panel of experts. Even rarer is getting the audio to release to all of you! Well, earlier this month I was fortunate enough to moderate a panel on drop trailers with Tom Larson & Peter Weis of ITS Logistics, Lance McCrorey, MBA of Continental, & Courtney Padgitt of Post Consumer Brands. The energy was palpable. Spoiler: everyone loves trailers. This program is brought to you by DAT Freight & Analytics. Since 1978, DAT has helped truckers &...
We're less than a week out from the Learning Resources case. No surprise, I'm still collecting my thoughts. At issue were the reciprocal tariffs used under IEEPA, or, put another way, the "gradual but continual accretion of power in the executive branch & away from the people's representatives." In this video, I take an excerpt from the oral arguments between Justice Gorsuch & Solicitor General Sauer where we first heard of the "one-way ratchet." We then look at Justice Gorsuch...
IEEPA tariffs are found Unconstitutional, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026). Today, Feb 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in two combined cases that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the President the power to impose tariffs on imports. This decision stopped tariffs set by President Trump to fight drug trafficking and trade deficits. Soon after becoming president, Trump declared national emergencies under IEEPA. He cited two big threats: Drug ...
To Own or Not to Own? That is the question. And who better to help answer that question than Dean Vicha, President of NationaLease. Who is NationaLease? How about one of the largest full-service commercial truck & trailer leasing organizations in North America? Founded in 1944, it is a member-owned network of over 100 independent businesses operating more than 1,000 service locations across the United States and Canada. As Dean would say, think the Ace Hardware of heavy duty le...
In this lightning installment, we are joined by Ryan Joyce, CEO & Co-Founder of GenLogs. On February 2, 2026, GenLogs announced that it has closed a $60 million Series B funding round. The investment, led by Battery Ventures and including participation from IVP, Cathay Innovation, 9Yards, and existing backers like Venrock, Steel Atlas, HOF Capital, TitletownTech, and Autotech Ventures, brings the company’s total funding to $81 million since its founding in 2023. This latest capital ...
In a big Supreme Court showdown over trucking accidents, major business groups have filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting freight brokers. The case, Shawn Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al., stems from a 2018 crash where a trucker hired through broker C.H. Robinson hit Montgomery’s car, causing injuries. Montgomery sued the broker for negligent hiring, claiming CH picked an unsafe carrier. The Seventh Circuit Court said federal law blocks such state lawsuits against brokers...
Experts have warned that Winter Storm Fern, which battered multiple U.S. states over the weekend, could result in a financial fallout exceeding $100 billion. How are the freight markets responding? We go to Ken Adamo of DAT Freight & Analytics to dig in. Or is it dig out? While some schools face cancellation, this fully remote class certainly won't be. This program is brought to you by DAT Freight & Analytics. Since 1978, DAT has helped truckers & brokers discover more avai...
Oh, it's time! It's time! It's Trailer Time! In this installment, I welcome Brent Yeagy, President & CEO of Wabash, the publicly-traded manufacturing company that designs & produces dry freight & refrigerated trailers, truck bodies, & tank trailers. Wabash also provides parts, services, & solutions like "Trailers as a Service" (TaaS). Founded in 1985 & headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National is THE major player in the transportation & logistics ...
That's right, Craig Fuller, Freight Alley himself, joins the podcast where we talk all things supply chain! Get ready! This program is brought to you by DAT Freight & Analytics. Since 1978, DAT has helped truckers & brokers discover more available loads. Whether you're heading home or looking for your next adventure, DAT is building the most trusted marketplace in freight. New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the link below. Built on the latest ...
Oh this one was a long time coming! I first met Steve Syfan at DAT's Executive Symposium in the spring of 2025. As one of the founders of Syfan Logistics, a leading 3PL based in Gainesville, GA, Steve lives a life rooted in his Christian faith. As a family business owner, Steve works alongside his father & brother as well as a team of incredible men & women that share a vision of integrity & a commitment to delivering excellence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While the busin...
What happens when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object? Thanks to the Traffic Club of Chicago, we found out! On Thursday, November 13th, Craig Fuller, Founder & CEO of Freightwaves & SONAR met Ken Adamo, GM for Shipper & Chief of Analytics for DAT Freight & Analytics. Missed the live event? Here you go! Follow Craig & Ken on x for even spicier takes! This program is brought to you by DAT Freight & Analytics. Since 1978, DAT has helped truc...
We're digging deep this week at the Armchair Attorney® Podcast as we dive into two Supreme Court cases. The first case is Learning Resources, Inc. v Trump. At issue is whether IEEPA authorizes the use of tariffs, and if it does, did Congress unconstitutionally delegate that power to the President? Oral arguments were last week, we'll discuss! The next case is Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, which will determine whether federal law preempts state-law claims against freight broke...
For months we've watched this case move through the federal courts at a breakneck speed. Oral arguments for the V.O.S. Selections v. Trump case occurred on November 5, 2025. All roads lead to SCOTUS. Does IEEPA authorize tariffs? If it does, did Congress unconstitutionally delegate that power to the President? We're closer than we've ever been to knowing the answers. For your listening pleasure, here is the oral argument in its entirety. This program is brought to you by DAT Freight &a...
In this conversation, I am joined by Josh Allen, Chief Commercial Officer at ITS Logistics. Josh drives the company's business growth, customer acquisition, & commercial strategy, leveraging ITS's asset-based model & innovative tools to expand market share & tackle industry challenges. ITS Logistics is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) company founded in 1999 & headquartered in Reno, Nevada. It specializes in end-to-end supply chain management, offering a wide range of s...
Jordan Graft is a man on a mission. As the Founder & CEO of Highway, the Dallas-based technology company focused on the trucking & industry, Highway is making freight more connected and secure. And it all starts with carrier identity. Or is it single sign on? In this episode, we talk faith, collaboration, Jordan's indefatigable drive to build one of the fastest growing technology companies in all transportation & logistics. And with cargo theft & fraud representing a multi-bi...
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