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Welcome to the ThinkFreight Podcast, the podcast for the curious minds of the freight industry. Join host Thomas Werdine, founder of ThinkFreight, as we explore the diverse niches within the freight industry, along with the biggest industry stories and market trends.
Each episode features insightful conversations with thought leaders, sales executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators who share their unique experiences and the stories behind their success.
Together, we break down complex topics, uncover industry trends, and reveal the driving forces that keep the logistics and transportation sectors moving forward.
Also, subscribe to our free freight broker newsletter at ThinkFreight.io
93 Episodes
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Katie Date from Manifest joins the ThinkFreight Podcast to break down what to expect at Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas. We cover what’s new this year at the Venetian, including expanded expo space, more activations, and a dedicated Cold Chain Pavilion with curated sessions and featured companies. Katie also shares how Manifest is shaping its agenda around what’s happening in the industry right now, where AI is showing up in meaningful ways, and how attendees can get the most value by using ...
Tyler Harper thought he was signing up for a “big box brokerage” job after ASU. Instead, freight turned into a decade-long obsession, a crash course in carrier sales, and eventually the push that forced him and his co-founders to start Pinnacle Logistics Group, debt-free, on short notice, and with a single book of business. In this episode, Tyler breaks down the origin story behind Pinnacle, including the moment that changed everything, why the team intentionally leans into “ugly freight” lik...
What if you knew a shipper was actively searching for capacity before they ever reached out? In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Hill, longtime freight media voice and now part of the team at CarrierSource, to talk about one of the most powerful tools in freight prospecting today: shipper intent data. We break down how CarrierSource tracks shipper behavior across thousands of lane and equipment type searches, how sales teams are using that intel to target better, and why this kind of visibil...
Rich Krul didn’t plan on ending up in logistics. He didn’t plan on launching his own brokerage. And he definitely didn’t plan on starting a company right before a freight recession. But that’s how the best stories start. In this episode, I sit down with Rich Krul, co-founder and CEO of Hoplite Logistics, to unpack his freight journey — from growing up in Michigan and chasing sales leads in LA, to leading 250+ reps at Coyote, launching a carrier sales rebuild at Traffic Tech, and eventually st...
Everyone in freight is racing to slap “AI” on their product, brokers, carriers, TMSs, even startups that launched six weeks ago. But are any of these tools actually helping you operate better? In this episode of ThinkFreight, I sit down with Jamyang "Jam" Tenzin from Rose Rocket to cut through the noise and talk about what AI in freight is really doing, and not doing. We unpack the reality that most AI in logistics is still in the proof-of-concept phase, flashy demos and generic agents that...
What happens when your first brokerage hits $10M… and then collapses? In this raw and real conversation, Tyson Lawrence, founder of Diablo Freight Ventures, walks us through his 20+ year freight journey — from CH Robinson hustle to drayage grit in East Oakland, and through the gut-wrenching experience of losing his first company and going through personal bankruptcy after a fallout with his largest customer. But instead of quitting, Tyson doubled down — building a second brokerage, this time ...
Most truckers didn’t sign up for this job to spend hours haggling with brokers or chasing paperwork. They want to drive, make money, and get home, without the constant back-office grind. That’s where Hey Bubba AI comes in. It’s a multilingual voice assistant that books loads, negotiates rates, and handles the admin work so drivers can focus on what they actually enjoy: driving and earning. On this episode of ThinkFreight, I sat down with Tapan Chaudhari, the founder of Bubba AI, to dig into h...
A couple weeks ago, we sat down in Cincinnati with Chris White from First Star Logistics for a fun and insightful episode. Chris walks us through his journey from being recruited out of a bar by TQL to now leading brokerage sales and training at First Star. We dive into what makes First Star’s W2-to-agent model unique, how they train new brokers fast, and why Cincinnati is one of the most overlooked freight hubs in the country. Chris also shares advice for brokers navigating today’s to...
In this episode, Thomas Werdine sits down with Keith Farnsworth to dive into CrossCountry Freight Solutions’ growth journey and tech innovations, the current landscape of the LTL market, and how tariffs are shaping industry dynamics. They explore the importance of strong leadership and team development in overcoming challenges, discuss how technology is transforming sales processes, and share Keith’s personal take on where the freight industry is heading next. ---------------------------- ⚫️ ...
In this episode, Thomas Werdine sits down with Trey Griggs to discuss the upcoming Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis and why it's such a crucial event for the freight industry. They dive deep into the importance of bringing brokers and carriers together to foster stronger relationships, better collaboration, and a more effective supply chain. Trey shares insights on how the summit’s interactive sessions and community-building approach create valuable business opportunities and help ...
In this episode of the ThinkFreight podcast, Thomas Werdine sits down with Eric Williams, co-founder and CEO of Beagl, to explore his unique journey from financial markets to freight brokerage. They dive into the challenges faced by brokers versus shippers, the importance of understanding the shipper’s perspective, and how to optimize freight operations. Eric shares valuable insights on the role of contracts and how to foster successful partnerships in logistics. They also discuss the i...
In this episode, I sit down with Andrey Yakimchuk, founder and CEO of Hawk Logistics. Andrey shares his inspiring journey from immigrant truck driver to building a successful trucking company. He discusses the early struggles of becoming an owner-operator, how he navigated challenges like high-interest loans and finding good drivers, and the evolution of Hawk Logistics as it grew into a fleet of 70 trucks. The conversation dives into Andrey’s leadership philosophy, focusing on empowering peop...
In this episode, Jesse Taylor from Parade returns to the podcast to discuss the rapidly advancing role of AI in the freight brokerage industry. He introduces Parade's new AI-driven tool, Co-Driver, which automates carrier inquiries and enhances communication, helping brokers build stronger relationships with carriers while optimizing operations. The conversation also covers the importance of leveraging data intelligence to stay competitive, improve carrier recommendations, and measure A...
Redefining nearshoring in the freight industry, Talento is focused on more than just labor—it’s about building an ecosystem of technology, partnerships, and smarter processes to help companies scale efficiently. In this episode, Mia Mazal, co-founder of Talento, explains what happened with Sworkz and why she chose to launch her own company, how she’s addressing talent challenges in Latin America, and why a one-size-fits-all staffing solution doesn’t work in logistics. She also discusses...
Nick Klingensmith, founder of Stride Motivation, has faced more adversity than most—four-time cancer survivor, type 1 diabetic, and a survivor of two rollover car accidents. But instead of letting life's challenges define him, he turned them into fuel. In this episode, Nick shares how he went from a high-stakes sales career in logistics to completing over 100 Spartan races, marathons, and endurance events—proving that the mind is the ultimate battleground. He dives into overcoming limiting be...
In this episode, Zach Meese, Business Development Manager at Airfreight Express Global, unpacks the dynamic world of air freight logistics—from life-or-death medical shipments to navigating complex international cargo moves. Zach dives into the flexibility of air freight, debunking myths that it's always cost-prohibitive and showing how businesses can use tailored solutions to avoid costly delays. He shares eye-opening stories, including organizing charter flights for organ transplants and le...
In this episode, Evan Shelley, CEO of Truck Parking Club, discusses the platform's explosive growth—from just a few hundred locations to over 1,400 across the U.S.—and how it's helping tens of thousands of drivers find safe parking every day. Evan breaks down the challenges of a truck parking shortage, the heated debate around transitioning from free to paid parking, and how innovative tech solutions are streamlining the process. He also tackles the misinformation swirling on soci...
In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, Alex Winston, founder of Reefer Van Network, goes all-in on revolutionizing refrigerated small truckload shipping. Once juggling Expedite All and Reefer Van Network, Alex explains what sparked his shift to focus solely on the reefer niche and how he's tackling the “unicorn” challenge of growing a network of refrigerated Sprinter vans. Alex details how his team is scaling capacity by buying and building state-of-the-art equipment for on-demand, temp...
In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, I’m joined once again by Pam Simon from Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain and Logistics, an industry-leading event set for February 10–12, 2025, at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Pam reflects on last year’s Manifest, highlighting standout moments and the feedback that has informed an even bigger, bolder 2025 event. She gives us a glimpse into how the agenda has evolved, with sessions and speakers covering emerging technologies, innovative case...
In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, I sit down with Jesse Griffin, West Region Sales Manager at Crete Carrier Corporation, to explore his journey through some of the industry’s most well-known players—JB Hunt, Knight Transportation, FreightVana, and now Crete. Jesse shares how his diverse background, moving from operations into sales, has shaped his approach to leadership, customer relationships, and team management. We dive into Jesse’s current role at Crete Carrier, one of th...
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