FreightCasts

Welcome to another episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, broadcasting live from the 3PL Summit! Join your hosts, Malcolm Harris and Michael “The Dude” Vincent, as they dive into the biggest headlines and innovations shaping the logistics industry today.In this episode, we sit down with industry experts to explore how technology and data are redefining the freight landscape for brokers and 3PLs.On This Episode:• AI in Sales Coaching: Larkin Ison, Head of Industry Relations at Rilla, joins us to discuss how freight brokers and 3PLs are leveraging AI to coach their sales teams at scale.• Market Intelligence & Data: Mazen Danaf, Principal Economist at Uber Freight, breaks down the current market data and provides an essential Q1 market outlook for 3PLs.• Industry Headlines: We discuss the financial struggles of the US Postal Service, the recent bankruptcy filing of Sparhawk Trucking, and a deep dive into the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse stats regarding marijuana usage among drivers.• The Playbook: A look at Adam Wingfield’s latest insights on the match between America’s 292,000 shippers and the small carrier market.

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Freight has invested heavily in visibility, data, and layered compliance—yet risk persists. The issue isn’t awareness. It’s enforceability. As markets mature, trust shifts from relationships to standards embedded directly in the transaction. In this conversation, Michael Caney explores how leading 3PLs are operationalizing identity, authority, and participation rules at booking—and how, as adoption scales, those standards are increasingly shaping shipper expectations and broker differentiation.

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In freight, cycles are inevitable. What separates the 3PLs that thrive from the ones that just survive is how they build and protect partnerships when it matters most. In this fireside chat, Malcolm Harris sits down with Todd Waldron to break down what he calls the Partnership Flywheel, a practical framework for how great 3PLs show up differently whether the market is down, at inflection, or on the way back up. From carrier loyalty to AI adoption to real time accountability, Todd brings an operator's perspective on what partnership actually means in 2026, not as a slogan but as a competitive advantage. You'll walk away with three moves you can make in the next 30 days to be partner ready no matter what the market does.

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In this episode, we dive into the optimistic economic outlook for the rail industry following a strong February that saw carloads jump 6.5% year-over-year. This notable surge in grain, coal, and chemicals suggests that industrial activity and freight demand are finally regaining traction across the broader economy.

We then shift to a dire warning from Postmaster General David Steiner, who recently told Congress that the U.S. Postal Service faces an imminent financial collapse. Without immediate legislative intervention to lift its $15 billion debt limit and eliminate restrictive mandates, the agency could run out of cash to deliver the mail in less than twelve months.

Finally, we discuss how the prolonged freight recession has forced a legacy Wisconsin-based carrier to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Family-owned Sparhawk Trucking, which has operated since 1979, highlights the brutal and persistent financial pressures currently squeezing midsize domestic fleets.

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Is the trucking industry fixing its problems… or just covering them up?

In this episode of Brake Check, we dig into the real issues shaping the future of trucking in 2026  and what they mean for drivers, carriers, and the entire supply chain.

Joining us today:

David Owen (NASTC)

Kendra Cimmino (InformData)

Christina Tattory (InformData)

We break down three critical conversations happening right now across the industry:

CDL Reform & Driver Pipeline

Are we lowering the bar to move freight faster? Or building a stronger, safer next generation of drivers?

Compliance Pressure on Small Carriers

New regulations and enforcement are stacking up but are smaller fleets being pushed out while larger players adapt?

The Shift to Continuous Driver Monitoring

From MVR delays to hidden violations, we expose the visibility gaps that fleets can’t afford to ignore and how real-time data is changing risk management.

This is not surface-level trucking talk.

This is the reality behind the policies, the data, and the decisions shaping the road ahead.

If you’re a driver, fleet owner, recruiter, or industry leader ... this is a conversation you need to hear.

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Drop your thoughts in the comments:

Are we improving safety… or just creating more risk?

#Trucking #CDL #Freight #Logistics #SupplyChain #OwnerOperator #FleetManagement #Transportation #BrakeCheck #FreightWaves

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