Armchair Attorney

About two decades ago, I walked the same halls as my next guest, James Sidou, VP & General Counsel at Saddle Creek Logistics.  See, Jim & I both attended Michigan State University College of Law. Go Green! In law school, it's about survival. The first year scares you to death, the second year works you to death, & the third year bores you to death. Or so I've heard.Fast forward to 2025 & I find myself next to Jim at the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF) where we discussed some of the most challenging legal issues facing motor carriers & 3PLs to a packed house of insurance & compliance professionals. We became fast friends & I learned a ton from him.In today's conversation, we learn about Jim's journey as a criminal prosector to his time as private lawyer including representing municipalities in eminent domain litigation. Today he serves as General Counsel to one of the largest 3PLs & warehousing companies.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 technology, DAT One gives you control over every aspect of moving freight, so that you can run your business with speed & efficiency.

Oh this is a good one! I had the great privilege to sit down with the team at Freight 360. We dig deep on some of the biggest legal issues facing the supply chain. Broker Liability? We cover it! Nuclear Verdicts? We cover it! Broker Transparency? We cover it! English proficiency? We cover it! You will not want to miss this one, my friends!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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

It's a simulcast! In our 97th episode, I join my good friend Brandon Wiseman as well as Rob Carpenter, Brian Runnels, & Jack Van Steenburg to discuss President Trump's Executive Order on English Proficiency for CDL holders. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

I am excited to welcome Ryan Joyce, CEO & Co-Founder of GenLogs to dig deep in freight intelligence as well as his time with the CIA. In this conversation, we talk about our families as well as the events that led to Ryan serving his country. Finally we look at the technology that is powering GenLogs battle against fraud & theft in the trucking industry. This is a conversation that you will enjoy! To see more of GenLogs, check this out. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

We are so back! Total Quality Logistics (TQL), the nation's second-largest freight broker, is under fire in a new federal lawsuit filed on Feb. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.Pink Cheetah Express LLC, a small Kissimmee, Florida-based motor carrier, alleges that TQL has flouted a 2023 Department of Transportation order mandating compliance with federal broker transparency rules. The suit, which seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, reignites a long-simmering debate over rate transparency in the trucking industry – just as freight markets brace for new tariffs.The complaint centers on TQL's alleged refusal to provide Pink Cheetah with transactional records for 15 loads hauled over the past three years, despite a Nov. 30, 2023, order from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That order, issued after an investigation sparked by Pink Cheetah's 2023 complaint, directed TQL to ditch contract language waiving carriers' rights under 49 CFR 371.3 – a regulation guaranteeing carriers access to broker records – and to comply with future transparency requests. Pink Cheetah claims TQL has done neither, accusing the Cincinnati-based brokerage of “arrogantly” acting “above the law.”What does TQL say? We have their answer!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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

If you're following the tariff discussion, you better understand IEEPA. This post aims to make sense of IEEPA, which is a US federal law enacted in October of 1977, & signed by President Jimmy Carter in December of 1977. It grants the President broad authority to regulate international commerce & economic transactions during a declared national emergency.Let me be clear, this is not intended as a pro or anti Trump post. This is simply how I answer a question I have been getting a lot lately: "How can Trump unilaterally implement tariffs absent congressional advice & consent?"As a refresher, the American constitution established three co-equal branches of government: legislative, judiciary, & executive. This separation of powers was a critical concept to the framers. Having lived under them, many framers feared autocrats & believed that this balancing act among the branches would prevent the rise of autocracy. But power accretes more power. And once gained that power is difficult to relinquish. In an emergency, the President gains enormous power, like going Super Saiyan. And you want that. If there is a hurricane or an earthquake, you want the President to act. But what is an emergency & who declares it such? Why the President, of course!Since the founding of our republic, the executive branch has gained enormous power. Democrats & Republicans alike have pushed the envelop ever further with each party greedily waiting to take the reins back. In my opinion, our executive branch has never been more powerful than it is today. We live in a time of perpetual emergency in order to circumvent the switch breakers the framers installed. Is this what we want?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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

MyCarrier began a fight with project44 that they could never win. In a closely watched dispute over API services in the logistics industry, the Delaware Court of Chancery has found that MyCarrier likely did breach its contract with project44 both by "building behind" project44 as well as transitioning to an alternative provider, SMC3. Despite the likely breach, the Court determined that project44 failed to show irreparable harm, a key requirement for injunctive relief & denied project44's motion for a preliminary injunction against MyCarrier.

In this edition, we welcome back friend of the show, Amanda Schuier, Strategic Maintenance Director at Jetco Delivery & TMC General Chairman 2024 - 2025 to chat about the upcoming Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations Annual Meeting. We talk maintenance, we take safety, & we talk what's next!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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment, we have a Valentine's Day Special with the one & only Kary Jablonski! Now I've been a fan of Kary for a while & am excited to sit down with her this week. With the Trucker Tools & DAT Freight & Analytics combo, we have a lot to discuss! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment we talk about the Freight Essentials v. GlobalTranz & Worldwide Express, a lawsuit filed by Dylan Admire of Freight Essentials containing some pretty wild allegations. Disclaimer: This is just the Complaint & the Defendants have not filed their Answers yet. Everything in the Complaint will remain allegations unless & until we have a finding of fact by the fact-finder. In this case, a jury. Disclaimer over. Let's get into it. GlobalTranz is accused of misrepresenting transportation costs to business development companies (BDCs), which caused them to lose out on their portion of gross margin splits, the commission payments they were contractually entitled to. These costs included fuel surcharges, cargo insurance, & bad debt reserves. A little bit of extra "juice" for the bottom line. This discrepancy was allegedly brought up to the powers that be. Then things got wild.Freight Essentials' largest customers were allegedly poached by Worldwide Express through an extension of a credit of over $1.5 million to one client & credits of $100,000.00 to another. Then Worldwide Express allegedly pretended to have acquired Freight Essentials to further move customers away from the agency. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Over the last few years we've seen an explosion of freight-related creators building incredible audiences. And that appetite isn't going anywhere. In our latest episode, we welcome Andrew Silver, Host of The Freight Pod & the Former CEO of MoLo Solutions. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment, I sit down with Tristan Bordallo, CEO & Founder of Iamfr8, a California-based trucking company, as well as the Founder of Fr8topia, a California-based freight brokerage. We often hear the phrase "walk a mile in someone else's shoes," but how about driving 500 miles in someone else's twin screws? As a broker, it can be hard to appreciate just how challenging it is as a trucker to safely deliver freight on-time & undamaged. Well, Tristan took the plunge to start his own asset-based trucking company to learn more. In this conversation we dig into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the freight market over the last couple years, & the excitement of 2025. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment, we welcome back friend of the show Tyler Robertson, CEO of Diesel Laptops, the leading heavy duty diagnostics & repair company in the US. In the heavy duty space, it's all about the right part at the right time for the right price. No one does it better than the team at Diesel Laptops. From fault code to part identification & everything in-between, Tyler & his team are reshaping the heavy duty service industry. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment, we welcome back friend of the show, Shannon Breen, of FreightVana fame to give us a rundown of the latest news coming out of his organization. Last week, it was announced that FreightVana would acquire the brokerage of Loadsmith. We talk freight. We talk trailers. And we talk 2025. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Once again we welcome back friend of the show, Brandon Wiseman, to do a deep dive on the latest regulations from the FMCSA. From clearinghouse to broker transparency, seed regulators to autonomous trucks, this is the information that sets the stage for 2025. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Freight visibility platform, FourKites, Inc., did not see this one coming. A couple months ago, I covered the most important corporate defamation case in the US: project44 v FourKites, Inc. Back in March, we had a ruling. In the end, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that, “… a corporation has a distinct reputation from that of its management- level employees and an interest in protecting that reputation among its employees and the public at large.”  Today we have a settlement.TLDR: project44 won. As an Illinois attorney, this was the likely outcome. project44 sued for defamation per se, but the case was dismissed at the trial court level, & project44 appealed. The appellate court reversed & FourKites, Inc. appealed. On appeal, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the appellate court ruling & remanded to the trial court. What this means is that FourKites, Inc. will now be required to answer the complaint & assert its affirmative defenses. After that comes discovery, which includes requests for records & answers to interrogatories followed by depositions. Get your popcorn, this is just the beginning. In Illinois, certain statements are considered defamatory per se. These include statements that impute a person has committed a crime, is unable to perform or lacks integrity in performing her or his employment duties, or lacks ability or otherwise prejudices that person in her or his profession. If a defamatory statement is actionable per se, the plaintiff is not required to plead or prove actual damages to recover. This was a question of first impression in Illinois. That question is whether there is publication when defamatory communication is sent to corporate employees from a person outside the corporation? Everything rested on “publication” of the alleged defamatory statements. FourKites, Inc. argued the corporate employees were one and the same as the corporation. The project44 & Illinois Supreme Court disagreed. To answer this question, the Illinois Supreme Court looked to similar legal doctrines in Illinois, specifically the “intracorporate publication” rule. Under the intracorporate publication rule, interoffice reports or communications that are circulated among employees within a corporation have been ‘published' to ‘third parties' for defamation purposes. The rule generally applies when an employee is terminated based on defamatory comments made by management or coworkers within a corporation and subsequently file a defamation action against the corporation. In the end, "a corporation has a distinct reputation from that of its management." Remember though, dear readers, if this does go to litigation, truth is always a defense. Will it settle? Will it go to trial? Time will tell. [spoiler, they settled].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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

I love trailers. You love trailers. We all love trailers! And this episode, I am joined by Craig Barth, Chief Financial Officer of Premier Trailer Leasing, one of the largest & most agile trailer leasing companies in the United States. With over 60,000 trailers in their fleet, you know we are going to talk trailers. Rent vs buy? Full service vs net leasing? Refrigeration vs dry van? If you love trailers, and I know you do, check out our full conversation!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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

The Metamorphosis (1915) by Franz Kafka is a surreal novella that follows the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As Gregor grapples with his new horrifying form, he is shunned by his family and isolated in his room. The narrative explores themes of alienation, identity, and the dehumanizing effects of modern life, as Gregor's metamorphosis serves as a metaphor for his declining sense of self-worth and his family's growing disdain. Kafka's unsettling portrayal of Gregor's gradual loss of humanity invites readers to reflect on the fragility of human existence and the harsh realities of societal expectations.Where will I be next?I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In this installment of Fleeting Conversations, we welcome back friends of the show, Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at DAT Freight & Analytics, as well as Jason Miller, Interim Chairperson for the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business and the Eli Broad Endowed Professor of Supply Chain Management. Have we entered a new freight cycle? What will Americans find in their stockings this year? We ask some of the brightest minds in freight to find out more. Where will I be next?I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Over the past decade, Alex Mai has transformed the media landscape with unparalleled content geared towards truckers & transportation enthusiasts. As the Founder & CEO of Mutha Trucker News, Alex has built one of the most recognized brands in the business. And with over 586,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, there is not doubt why. Suffice it to say, I need to talk with this mutha trucker!Where will I be next?I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Without a doubt the Forward Air & Omni merger was the most interesting merger I have followed. Here's the TL;DR: Publicly-traded trucking company tries to acquire PE-backed freight forwarder. Deal is structured to circumvent a shareholder vote of the public trucking company. Deal is announced & shareholders of public trucking company sue to enjoin, demanding a vote. Injunction gets removed because the deal was [checks notes] structured to circumvent that same vote. Public company faces backlash, & tries to pull out. PE-backed freight forwarded says, 'nope'. Both parties end up in the Delaware Chancery Court. Specific performance demanded. The deal is consummated right before trial. Senior leaders of both teams are out. Now PE owns a huge piece of public trucking company. What should that company do? Go private? All signs point to... probably?Where will I be next?Next up is DATCON, Oct. 22nd-24th in Kansas City. My audience can save $200 on tickets using code "armchair200". Next is the Broker-Carrier Summit, Oct. 23rd- 25th in Fort Worth. Finally, I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

​The International Longshoremen's Association & United States Maritime Alliance announced they reached a tentative deal Thursday night. The tentative agreement is for a wage increase of around 62% over six years & extend the master contract until January 15, 2025. The parties will continue to negotiate the outstanding issues.The outstanding issues you may ask?Autotomation. And to dig into this more, we welcome Captain John Konrad to help explain what this means for global supply chains. Captain Konrad is the founder and CEO of gCaptain and author of the book Fire On The Horizon: The Untold Story of the Gulf Oil Disaster. He is licensed to captain the world's largest ships and has sailed from ports around the world. John has built some of the world's most advanced ships and managed billion-dollar offshore construction projects in some of the world's harshest marine environments. John is a distinguished alumnus of New York Maritime College. Follow him on X @https://x.com/johnkonrad Where will I be next?Next up is DATCON, Oct. 22nd-24th in Kansas City. My audience can save $200 on tickets using code "armchair200". Next is the Broker-Carrier Summit, Oct. 23rd- 25th in Fort Worth. Finally, I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

You have 103 days to get your affairs in order. 103 Days.​The International Longshoremen's Association & United States Maritime Alliance announced they reached a tentative deal Thursday night. The tentative agreement is for a wage increase of around 62% over six years & extend the master contract until January 15, 2025. The parties will continue to negotiate the outstanding issues.We've been here before. April 26, 1956 began the era of containerization. Back then, longshoremen hand-loading a ship cost $5.86 a ton. Shipping containers brought the cost down all the way to 16 cents a ton. Using container shipping instead of break bulk shipping made as many as 19 out of 20 longshoremen unnecessary. For decades, the unions fought containerized shipping; but it was a lost cause.You have 103 Days. Get ready.Where will I be next?Next up is DATCON, Oct. 22nd-24th in Kansas City. My audience can save $200 on tickets using code "armchair200". Next is the Broker-Carrier Summit, Oct. 23rd- 25th in Fort Worth. Finally, I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In our latest installment of Fleeting Conversations, we welcome Salvatore Mercogliano, PhD to the program. The topic, the next supply chain crisis. The United States Maritime Alliance & the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) are at an impasse over wages & automation. Set to expire on September 30, 2024, the current labor contract covers 45,000 dockworkers. With a coast-wide strike across 36 U.S. ports appearing increasingly likely & the Biden administration signaling it would not force the dockworkers back to work, the stage is set for a potentially devastating supply chain crisis. Dr. Mercogliano is the Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice & Political Science at Campbell University and an Adjunct Professor of History & Engineering at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Dr. Mercogliano is a maritime expert and  also runs the successful YouTube channel What is Going on With Shipping? Follow him on X right here, you will not be disappointed. Where will I be next?Join me at the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2nd in Chicago. I will be speaking about Post Employment Restrictive Covenants. Next up is DATCON, Oct. 22nd-24th in Kansas City. My audience can save $200 on tickets using code "armchair200". Next is the Broker-Carrier Summit, Oct. 23rd- 25th in Fort Worth. Finally, I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

Safely delivering freight on time & undamaged is difficult even under the best of circumstances. And while professional driving is among the most common jobs in the US, it remains among the most dangerous. But it's getting harder. Much harder.Everyday we see news of nuclear verdicts. These verdicts are among the largest concerns for truckers & motor carriers. They impact everyone: from shippers to brokers to motor carriers to consumers. While not a legal term, nuclear verdicts generally describe any verdict exceeding $10M. These are not those verdicts.Increasingly the trucking industry is facing verdicts exceeding $100M. Manufacturers, trucking companies, and, without Supreme Court intervention, brokerages, now see the dire situation unfolding before them. I have taken to characterizing these as thermonuclear verdicts: judgments that exceed $100M. Judgments that will bankrupt nearly anyone that touches them.  Woe be to the transportation industry. If you're not paying attention yet, you will be.Where will I be next?Join me at the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2nd in Chicago. I will be speaking about Post Employment Restrictive Covenants. Next up is DATCON, Oct. 22nd-24th in Kansas City. My audience can save $200 on tickets using code "armchair200". Next is the Broker-Carrier Summit, Oct. 23rd- 25th in Fort Worth. Finally, I will be at Freightwaves' F3: Future of Freight Festival, Nov. 19th-21st in Chattanooga! 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy.

In our latest installment of Fleeting Conversations, we are joined by Charlie Saffro, Founder & CEO of CS Recruiting, the leading supply chain & logistics recruiting company in the US. Through her leadership, Charlie & her team have built one of the most important Woman-Owned search firms that specializes in the Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain industry. We discuss Charlie's recent TedX talk & what is going on in the current labor market.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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, and literary critic, whose macabre and gothic tales left an indelible mark on American literature. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe faced a tumultuous early life marked by the death of his parents and a strained relationship with his foster family. Despite these challenges, he pursued a career in writing, quickly gaining a reputation for his dark and imaginative works. Poe's mastery of the short story is evident in classics such as "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Cask of Amontillado," where he delved into themes of madness, death, and the supernatural. His poem "The Raven" (1845) brought him widespread acclaim and remains one of the most famous poems in American literature. Poe's pioneering contributions to the detective fiction genre, notably with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," also established him as a forerunner of modern mystery writing. His life, fraught with personal and financial difficulties, ended tragically at the age of 40. Despite his struggles, Poe's innovative storytelling and atmospheric prose have secured his legacy as one of the most influential and enduring figures in literary history.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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

In Episode 72 of Fleeting Conversations, we welcome Sam Martinez, VP of Modern 4PL Strategy at Redwood Logics, Transport Topics' 45th largest logistics company. With 15 years of supply chain experience, Sam is a passionate advocate for leveraging technology to automate & eliminate supply chain bottlenecks through increased data visibility & an open ecosystem approach to integration.Redwood Logistics is a multimodal freight brokerage & logistics provider with services including truckload, less-than-truckload, refrigerated, flatbed & intermodal freight. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

In our latest episode of Fleeting Conversations, ol' Armchair Attorney® welcomes Paul Burgoyne, Founder & CEO of REACH | Vantage Solutions, a leading connected services platform in heavy duty trucking. Whether you're a commercial fleet or a provider of heavy duty services, discovering the right technician at the right time has never been more important. And with over 6,000 service events a day flowing through Reach, find out how truckers & technicians are leveraging the platform to help safely deliver freight on time & undamaged. Learn more at right here. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

In episode 70 of Fleeting Conversations, we welcome back friend of the show, Brandon Wiseman, transportation lawyer & DOT guru. Brandon is the President & Founder of Trucksafe, a partner at the Childress Law, PLLC firm, & the Co-Founder of eRegs, a fully digital way for motor carriers to access, annotate, & distribute FMCSRs to their drivers. We cover regulatory compliance for motor carriers, the rise of nuclear verdicts, & the challenges facing regulated entities in a post-Chevron world. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

What happens when freight is held hostage? While rates remain in the favor of most shippers, the rise of freight fraud & theft continues to grow. In episode 69 of Fleeting Conversations, we welcome TJ Knudson, Regional Vice President of McClay's Logistics, & Tony Darnell, Regional Director of Operations at McClay's Logistics, to help us understand. We're talking supply chain, cargo theft, & the ever growing world of freight held hostage. We also provide the latest updates on the FTC's rule banning noncompetes. Spoiler: if you don't like noncompetes, you probably won't like the update. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

Non-competes: A tale of two lawsuits. Yesterday, in case no. 24-CV-01743, a US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied a motion for preliminary injunction thereby paving the way for the FTC's ban on noncompetes. In a nutshell, the court believes that the FTC's rule banning noncompetes is enforceable. So noncompetes are done, right? Not so fast. Remember that on July 3rd, 2024, in case no 24-CV-00986, a US District Court for the Northern District of Texas reached the exact opposite conclusion. Instead, that court issued the injunction that prevents the rule from going into effect. In a nutshell, the court believes that the FTC's rule banning noncompetes is unenforceable. Sidebar, does it surprise you the learn that the judge in the Texas case was appointed by Trump & the judge in the Pennsylvania case was appointed by Biden? So what happens when federal district courts disagree? We're about to find out. Now it's important to note that the appellate courts, in this case the 3rd Circuit & the 5th Circuit have not examined the FTC's final rule or these two cases. Nor have they examined how the removal of Chevron Deference will impact their thinking. What is clear, is that we are just getting started.I have no doubt that more litigation against the FTC's rule will happen across the country. These lawsuits will find their way to the appellate courts. Those courts will issue opinions that will bind only the states within their jurisdiction. We could actually see noncompetes legal in some states at the federal level & illegal in others. This would be a truly wild outcome.Unless SCOTUS opines, we can expect a very fragmented labor market as it relates to noncompetes. If SCOTUS eventually does take the case, it will be among the most important labor decisions in our lifetimes. Until then, 30 million working Americans will be in limbo.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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

In this episode, we welcome Chris Fields, Vice President of Sales at Zelh Logistics, a leading remote staffing & solutions company focused on supply chain. Outsourcing has always been a part of logistics, but the business case has never been stronger & the risks never higher. In a world of global trade, discovering the right person at the right time at the right price can be the key differentiator.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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

June 28, 2024, Supreme Court case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. 40 years of judicial precedent out the window, but what does it really mean? We dive deep into today's program!Chevron Deference is a principle rooted in administrative law that originated from the 1984 Supreme Court case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. In this landmark decision, the Court established a two-step process for reviewing federal agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. The first step requires courts to determine whether Congress has directly spoken to the precise issue at question. If Congress's intent is clear, that intent must be followed. However, if the statute is ambiguous, the second step allows courts to defer to the agency's interpretation as long as it is reasonable.  The rationale behind Chevron Deference is to acknowledge the expertise & specialized role of federal agencies in interpreting & administering complex regulatory schemes. This deference gives agencies significant power to shape policy through their interpretations of ambiguous laws. Over the years, Chevron Deference has been both praised for promoting regulatory efficiency & criticized for potentially allowing excessive agency power. It remained a cornerstone of administrative law, influencing how courts interact with federal agency decisions for over 40 years.  But all that is changing. 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 has the data! New users of DAT can save 10% off for the first 12 months by following the links below. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more. Even under the best circumstances, moving freight was never easy. But with DAT, we got your back!

This is an episode of my newest Podcast, LRC. In this podcast, we read short fiction. If you enjoy it, please subscribe on Apple or Spotify!Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) was an iconic American author, celebrated for his profound contributions to science fiction and fantasy literature. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Bradbury developed a passion for writing at an early age, fueled by a love of adventure and imagination. His most famous work, "Fahrenheit 451" (1953), a dystopian novel about a future society where books are banned and burned, remains a cornerstone of American literature and a powerful commentary on censorship and conformity. Bradbury's prolific career spanned over seven decades, producing an extensive body of work that includes novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays. Collections like "The Martian Chronicles" (1950) and "The Illustrated Man" (1951) showcase his lyrical prose and ability to blend the fantastical with the human experience. In addition to his literary achievements, Bradbury's influence extended into popular culture through adaptations of his work in film, television, and theater. His legacy endures as a visionary storyteller who used speculative fiction to explore profound themes about society, humanity, and the future.

In this episode, we dive deep in the world of over dimension freight with the oversized personality that is Sage Outcast. From driving a truck to brokering some of the most challenging freight in the business, Sage has the experience & expertise to backup just about anything up.  We talk hot topics from driver shortage to safety & maintenance. Want to catch more of Sage? Find him on Twitter right here or on LinkedIn right here. Thanks as always to our friends at DAT! Want to save money on a new DAT account? Are you a broker? Go here! Are you a trucker? Go here!Save 10% for the first 12 months! You'll be glad you did!

In this installment, we welcome the enigmatic Reed Loustalot of LOST FR8 fame & the Chief Marketing Officer of Truck Parking Club. From the brokerage floor to the center stage at FreightWaves, Reed started a movement that has no signs of slowing. Among the discord, two words echo in the supply chain: Please Advise.Thanks to our partners at DAT! Using the link in this comment thread, you can save 10% off for the first 12 months to brand-new DAT customers only. And for Truckers? We have that too!I recommend DAT One Pro as it gives truckers access to tri-haul and 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, I recommend  DAT One Select as it gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more.

Here is the recoding from the dynamic virtual panel discussion featuring industry titans Jason Miller, Dave Broering, & Ben Gordon, as they delve into the intricacies of the current supply chain. Titled "Navigating the Supply Chain: Insights from Industry Leaders," this panel brings together three seasoned experts from diverse backgrounds to share their invaluable perspectives & strategies for success in today's complex supply chain landscape.Drawing upon their extensive experience at institutions like MSU, NFI, & Cambridge Capital, our panelists will explore a wide range of topics, including supply chain optimization, resilience in the face of disruptions, & mergers & acquisitions in logistics. From navigating global trade challenges to harnessing the power of data analytics, attendees can expect to gain actionable insights & practical advice to drive efficiency & innovation within their own supply chain operations.Whether you're a seasoned professional seeking fresh perspectives or a newcomer looking to learn from the best in the field, this panel promises to deliver thought-provoking discussions & invaluable takeaways. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with industry leaders & elevate your understanding of supply chain management. Thanks to our partners at DAT for their continued support! Our affiliate program allows new users 10% of DAT for the first 12 months.  Truckers using our load board  link will get DAT One Pro for tri-haul & 15-day rate. Brokers using our load board link get DAT One Select for access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more.

Each year truckers travel billions of miles to move billions of tons of freight. And having spent the last 15 years in trucking myself, one thing is clear: when it comes to the movement of goods, plan for the unexpected. This week I am joined by my friend, Tyler Harden, Chief Product Officer of TTN Fleet Solutions,  one of the largest heavy duty emergency & roadside service networks in the US & Canada. For over a decade, TTN has been a trusted partner of fleets of all sizes when it comes to unplanned & roadside service. And who better than Tyler to help me understand this network? A third generation trucking executive, Tyler knows what it takes to help fleets safely deliver freight on time & undamaged.  Thanks as always to our partners at DAT! Since 1978, DAT has been helping truckers find freight, and through our partnership, I can save new DAT customers 10% off their first 12 months. For truckers, follow this link to learn more about DAT One Pro that gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate.And of course, I have some savings for new brokers as well! For Brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more.Please like & subscribe, your help is what helps us keeping making this program

This week we welcome Danielle Chaffin, Solutions Engineer with Revenova & a 3rd generation supply chain leader. Hot off the heels of the TIA (Transportation Intermediaries Association) in Phoenix, Danielle helps me understand what TIA is all about. But more than that, Danielle shares her experience as a third generation leader in supply chain, from the difficult calls when a parent or loved one is on the road, to solving big problems for brokers & truckers. These are the conversations that we need to have as an industry. Follow Danielle on Twitter / X right here!I love this logistics, & I love my partners at DAT. Today we can offer first time uses 10% off their first 12 months. For Truckers, DAT One Pro gives you access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For Brokers, DAT One Select as it gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms & more.

On January 25, 2024, Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ: FWRD) announced that it completed its previously announced acquisition of Omni Logistics, LLC. Together, Forward & Omni create a category leader in LTL with a differentiated service offering, industry-leading team, & expanded geographic footprint. It's also the most interesting merger in supply chain in over a decade (at least to me.)Having covered this deal with the better part of eight months, to me this was the inevitable outcome. But beyond the headlines is one of the most interesting transportation stories in the US supply chain.  Who better to walk us through the players, the deal, and what I expect will become a juggernaut in the LTL space than my good friend, Brittain Ladd.The road ahead is fraught with dangers: will the combined entity unlock untold value for shareholders or will it go down as one of the biggest blunder supply chain mergers? Time will tell. As always, thanks to our partners at DAT! DAT has been helping truckers find loads since 1978, and with their support, I am proud to offer my listeners an incredible deal of 10% off their first 12 months for new DAT customers. DAT's products are as expansive as they are valuable.For truckers, simply click this link to learn more about DAT One Pro for tri-haul and 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. For brokers, DAT One Select gives you access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more. Just follow this link here.  

In this installment, we welcome Amanda Schuier, Strategic Maintenance Director at Jetco Delivery & the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, Inc's General Chairman & Treasurer. Having spent the better part of 15 years in heavy duty maintenance myself, I am excited! We talk leadership, maintenance, & diving into some of the largest challenges facing the transportation industry.Learn more about TMC fall meeting right here.  And what's up with autonomous trucks here.Thanks as always to our partners at DAT. If you're new to DAT, follow this link to earn 10% off your first year. Here is the link for truckers! DAT One Pro gives truckers access to tri-haul & 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rateHere is the link for brokers! DAT One Select gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more.

We are so back & excited to welcome first-time guest, Chadd Olesen, CEO of AVRL to the program. Chadd is an entrepreneur & technologist that started one of the most interesting softwares companies in logistics: AVRL.  Together with his team, Chadd is tackling some of the most challenging automation problems facing brokers and motor carriers in the safe movement of freight across the country.  Get ready, this is a great conversation!Thanks to our friends at DAT! Since 1978, DAT has been helping Truckers find freight, and they aren't slowing down. If you are new to DAT, you can save 10% for 12 months by using the links below. Help support the podcast and we help support this industry we love.DAT for Truckers!DAT for Brokers!

In this installment, we breakdown California's controversial AB5 independent contractor law. We start with Dynamex, which was the 2018 case in California that adopted the ABC test.  What is the ABC test? We break that down as well.  We also dig into Prop 22 and the ongoing litigation around AB5. Disclaimer: I am a lawyer, but I am not your lawyer. This is not intended to be legal advice. If you think you need a lawyer, you probably need a lawyer. It just won't be me!Thanks to our partners at DAT! If you are new to DAT, follow this link for 10% of for the first 12 months! 

In this installment, we welcome back friend of the show, Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at DAT Freight & Analytics. Amidst growing concerns of fraud and theft in the freight business, Ken and I discuss proposed regs, both real and imaged. We dig into controversioal minimum rate guarantees, proposed speed regulations, and so much more. There is riches in the niches, and we go deep. And Ken loses a Big Bet when Illinois and The Ohio State collided!  Thanks as always to our terrific friends at DAT. If you are a trucker or a broker looking to leverage the most powerful freight tool on the market, you can save 10% for the first 12 months.  DAT One Pro gives truckers access to tri-haul and 15-day rate! DAT One Select gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more.

I have been practicing law since 2010, but I did not anticipate I would find myself at the intersection of law & logistics. Yet here we are. And so are you. In this installment, I am joined by the incredible Brandon Wiseman, Owner & President of Trucksafe, and a Partner at the Childress Law, PLLC. Brandon is a subject-matter expert in law and regulations that impact motor carriers across the US. From autonomous trucks to speed regulators and everything in between, you will want to check out this conversation. Thanks to our partners at DAT. Seriously, how cool is that? Want to support the podcast? Let me support you! New customers of DAT can receive 10% off the first 12 months by following either of these links. DAT One Pro gives truckers access to tri-haul and 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. And for my brokerage buddies, DAT One Select gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and so much more.

In this installment, we welcome Adam Wingfield, Founder & CEO of Innovative Logistics Group. From operating  an 18 wheeler to working with the C-Suite, Adam has been an advocate for commercial vehicle operators across the United States for over 20 years. In this episode, Adam and I dig deep into the history and the challenges shaping our supply chain. Based in Charlotte, NC, Innovative Logistics Group empowers trucking entrepreneurs through personalized carrier solutions. From compliance to fleet management to dispatch services to trucking education, Innovative Logistics Group is a resource for truckers everywhere. Find more on Adam's content on Twitter and Instagram. Huge thanks to our partner, DAT.  Listeners can receive 10% off a new subscription for the first 12 months. How? Click these links! DAT for Truckers!DAT for Brokers!

In our latest episode, we welcome Dave Broering, President of the Integrated Logistics Division at NFI, Transport Topics No. 16 Largest For-Hire Carrier & No. 42 largest brokerage. Hot off the heels of Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics, Dave and I discuss the current and future outlook of freight, his journey in supply chain, and the new TMS TruckingHub that will soon be rolling out to motor carriers near you. Thank you to our partner, DAT Freight and Analytics. Want to save 10% off your first 12 months with DAT? Say no more, say no more. A nod's as good as a wink to a bling bat! Please support our partner!DAT for Truckers!DAT for Brokers!

In our latest installment, we welcome back friends of the show, Brittain Ladd, and Jason Miller,  Interim Chairperson for the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business. And hot off Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics, the Armchair Attorney  dives deep into the changing regulatory landscape of autonomous trucks. Just a year ago the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration put out a supplemental advance notice of proposed rulemaking (SANPRM) around level 4 (remote operator) and level 5 (remote assistant) automation. In September of 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required a driver in all self-driving trucks. Automation is coming. And it may be faster than many think. Special thanks to our friends at DAT Freight and Analytics for supporting this podcast and supporting truckers all across the country. Want to save 10% off your first 12 months with DAT? Here's how.Truckers! DAT One Pro gives truckers access to tri-haul and 15-day rate as opposed to 30-day rate. Check it out right here.Brokers! DAT One Select gives brokers access to Market Conditions, Exact Match alarms and more. Check it out right here.

In our 50th episode we welcome Timothy Dooner, Host & Producer of FreightWaves hit program, What The Truck.  If there was ever a "Face of Freight," it would be Dooner.  From FedEx to Freight media, we dig deep into Dooner's past as an artist, logistician, and creator. Our conversation is as expansive as it is fascinating.This week I also breakdown the latest on Omni Logistics & Forward Air Corporation (A match made in Delaware). project44 & FourKites, Inc. (Interesting litigation per se). And legislative update on H. R. 6884, the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act that seeks to raise truck insurance minimums from $750K to $5M (File that under unlikely to impossible).Thank you to everyone that has helped us reach this impressive milestone. We are just getting started. Get ready.  

You asked, we delivered. This flash installment of Fleeting Conversations welcomes first-time guest, Michael Lombard of Lombard Trucking, and friend of the show, Ken Adamo of DAT Freight & Analytics. We talk freight, data, and transparency. Maybe a bit of history as well. Follow Michael on TikTok at @Lombardtrucking or on X at @LombardTrucking.  Follow Ken on X at @thefreightnerd.Wait, isn't there a call to action on trailers? Of course. I know you. You want... no..  you NEED trailers. We got the trailers. Check them out at www.contractleasing.net