Trucking for Millennials (PDQ America)

We're coming in hot this week with the latest news that's impacting the trucking industry including the hot trucking market now that business is back, Biden's infrastructure plan, and TuSimple Autonomous trucking going public!

Then we get into the Load it Or Leave it Debate and talk about the commercialization of Rest Stops and whether or not drivers that are under 21 should be able to drive interstate.

Carlin Stafford is on air talent and a voice actor for the Truck Boss Show, a trucking news and media outlet with over 850,000 views on YouTube and 150,000 likes on Facebook. 

We chat with him about the media's role in trucking, stories he's worked on or working on like AB5 and the PRO act, trucking wrecks, how the trucking industry can garner greater respect in the public eye, the importance of calling legislatures, and much more!

Be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn and follow/subscribe to Truck Boss!

In this episode Aaron and Michael connect with Samantha Jones, the Vice President of Revenue for RocketShipping!

She has just over 4 years of experience in logistics, but as you will understand quickly in this conversation, she's more than qualified to share some valuable wisdom about LTL and logistics in general!

You'll hear about how she got into supply chain, her career trajectory, the difference between LTL and FTL, what makes a brokerage differentiated, how to grow as a leader, and much, much more! 

We had a great time getting to know Terry Roden, Owner of Teco Metal and Hot Shot Truck Driver and YouTuber known as Ratman Roden!

In this episode you'll hear Terry's entrepreneurial journey, his perspective on trucking and logistics from a shipping perspective, his advice for entrepreneurs in trucking and any other business, and a ton more wise words from his decades of work experience.

Let us know what you think of this show and don't forget to like and subscribe!

In this episode you'll hear Aaron chat with Adam Robinson, CEO & Founder of The Robinson Agency.

Adam was and still remains a trailblazer in marketing implementing omni channel marketing strategies at a variety of logistics firms prior to founding his own marketing agency where he helps customers in the logistics space today.

In this episode you'll hear more about Adam's start in logistics and how the results he garnered for Cerasis led to opportunities at Turvo and FreightWaves. 

You'll also hear his reccomendations for individuals and business owners to find and refine their voice, the power of story, his favorite tools, books, and much more.

We also discuss his massive guide he recently published for free on LinkedIn that dives deep into how to build an omni channel marketing plan of your own. Read it here.

Enjoy!

In this episode you'll be introduced to Dominick Tullo, a fourth generation trucking company owner who's building and expanding on the generations before him who established T&R Oil Co, a fuel fleet in New Jersey located at the Tullo Truck Stop, a high-volume diesel stop. 

In addition to the fuel fleet, Dominick expanded into DEF services and established 900 customers in just 3 years. 

In this episode you'll hear his perspective of growing up in a family business and how he balances his time between maintaining and scaling his business and reinvesting in other ventures. 

In today's episode we're speaking with Rob Doherty, Key Account Lead with RoseRocket.com. Rob has over 10 years of experience in the transportation industry and currently works for Rose Rocket customers to help them better connect with their customer through an optimized software solution like Rose Rocket TMS. 

We chat with him about how he got into the industry and eventually became employee number 9 at RoseRocket which has grown to over 100 employees in a short amount of time. 

If you're a freight broker shopping for a new TMS or are curious about how the latest technology is impacting trucking companies and freight brokerages now, this is a don't miss!

Big thanks to our sponsor, RoseRocket!

Modern trucking companies need modern software. Say goodbye to spreadsheets, manual processes, and contentious phone calls with your partners or customers asking where their freight is. With the Rose Rocket transportation management software, you can automate every part of the order— from automated order entry, to self-serve quoting, to advanced dispatching and on-demand track & trace — Rose Rocket makes running your business easier and more efficient. Visit roserocket.com to learn how the Rose Rocket TMS can streamline your business operations.

In this episode we get to know Justin Martin, Social Media Content Creator for FreightWaves. 

Justin joined FreightWaves based on his experience in trucking and has developed the skill and ear to create freight media and pull together insights and people from all around the internet highway and report on what's happening now in the industry.

This is a wide ranging conversation about his career and trucking topics like the driver shortage myth, the freight market today, training (or lack thereof) available for truck drivers, and much more!

Be sure to follow him on Twitter and TikTok!

Michael and Aaron had a great time getting to know Jeremy and Tiffany Wallin!

Jeremy and Tiffany Wallin are newlywed team drivers with a love for truck driving and each other.

You can read about their story on Overdrive Online, but be sure to hear this episode where we learn more about Jeremy's career, how he and Tiffany met, and what it has been like for Tiffany to learn to drive and become an owner operator!

You'll hear them discuss today's trucking market, how they work with brokers, advice for new owner operators, how they work together and work towards their goals at this stage of their life. 

Follow Tiffany @midnightbunny_girltrucker and Jeremy @teamwallin2022 on Instagram! 

Happy Truck Driver Appreciation Week to all the Truck Drivers out there! This week is all about the drivers who keep our goods moving, our shelves stocked, and who take the risks, make the investments and sacrifices to provide our world with everything you see around you. 

We kick off this episode discussing truck driver appreciation week before jumping into an awesome conversation with Michael Nelms of Keep Trucking Transportation. He's a savvy serial entrepreneur who knows how to train and coach dispatchers for success. Check him out on Instagram and his website!

In this episode, 6 truck drivers join us for some a fun round of hot takes and fast moving game of "Load it or Leave it". You'll hear our panel of guests sound off on: Truck Driver Appreciation Week Most Annoying things Brokers say to Drivers High Fuel Prices or Low Rates? The Trucking Industry Better off without Brokers / Dispatchers Interstate Driving Age at 18 and more!

Be sure to follow/subscribe to

  @LombardTruckin   and listen to Lombard Trucking Podcast

 @TruckingwithDev 

@supertrucker on X and read FreightWaves.com

and subscribe to Gord's newsletter at autonomoustruckers.substack.com.

We met Marty Emale at the Texas Trucking Show in Houston earlier this year and were blown away by the app he recently launched, Bidspot.io. 

Marty brought his experience as an owner operator hauling bulk materials and his Masters of Finance together to create a tool that helps owner operators know whether or not a given load will assist them in staying profitable while over the road.

We also discuss negotations, broker and carrier relationships, the importance of gratitude, and much more! 

Follow Marty on Instagram

Our guest this episode is Shelby (@happiness_by_the_mile on Instagram). 

She's grown a following of over 50,000 followers on Instagram and over 250,000 YouTube subscribers through documenting her journey as a truck driver with FedEx Ground.

In this episode you'll hear how she dropped out of college, jumped in a truck and never looked back. She's now running her own trucking company with a focus on ensuring her drivers are fulfilled.

Shelby has an excellent story and has plenty of wisdom to share despite being so early in her career. 

Christopher Morrell is the founder of The Morrell Law Firm, a Top 40 Under 40 lawer from National Trial Lawyer who pursues justice for people who are physically and emotionally injured.

We had him on the show to talk about his side of the court room to learn more about a trial lawyers' perspective when prosecuting trucking companies after an accident.

In this episode you'll learn about the legal process and what steps trucking companies should take so they protect themselves and the lives of others when transporting goods over the road.

This episode is part two of a two part conversation we had with Lead Technician Ryan Campbell. 

In this second half, Ryan and Aaron discuss the shortage of trucking technicians, the career paths for younger techs who might be entering the industry and the new technologies inside the truck. 

Like what you hear or have some feedback? Give us a review!

You can also follow us on social: @PDQAmerica

Today's episode is a Trucking For Millennials International Special! We speak with Nick Roemer, Director of Marketing for Cibus21.

Nick joins the show from Scotland, where he is working with Cibus21 to assist fleets in reducing their fuel costs and and reduce the carbon footprint for diesel vehicles in the UK and U.S. 

We also take the opportunity to speak with Nick about the truck driving culture in the UK to see what similarities and differences there are between trucking in the United States.

Nick also has a background in office design, so we decided to ask him about what makes a well designed office that helps improve productivity. Be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn! 

They also provide pay-per-day insurance specifically for the commercial vehicle market, so you only pay for insurance on the days your truck is running.

This conversation is filled with insight and discussion about today's insurance market, Michael and Rafi's careers, the challenges they face, the opportunities they are capitalizing on, and much more!

Their solution is venture funded and they have a heart for trucking and ambition to make Lula the best trucking insurance experience available today. 

Check out www.lulatrucking.com to learn more!

In this episode you'll hear Aaron and Michael celebrate ANOTHER Cowboys win before discussing two articles: Truck brake light exemption denied despite industry support and Canada ending cross border vax requirements.

Then they welcome David Heller, Vice President of Government Affairs at Truckload Carriers Association and dive into David's role and the role of the TCA in advocating for their memebers and the industry as a whole to representatives in the halls of Congress.

When the subject of Truck Driver Appreciation Week came up this year we KNEW we had to have Wayne Cragg on the show! 

We talk about the impact of COVID-19, what companies do right and wrong with truck driver appreciation, the FMCSA pilot program for 19-20 interstate truck drivers, and much, much more! 

In this episode of the Trucking For Millennials podcast, we welcome back former guest Robert Bain, the Strongest Man in Logistics, to catch up and continue our conversation about the current state of the trucking industry in the midst of the seaport strike and the upcoming elections.

Edit: UPDATED WITH CORRECT AUDIO

In this episode Aaron catches up with past Trucking for Millennials guest Shay Lynn Dixon!

You'll hear about how she's navigating the 2023 freight market focused on hot shot trucking and flatbed freight. Shay has a ton of experience hauling for the aerospace industry, so if you're interested in niching down, she has some great tips about finding customers.

Shay also shares the importance of building relationships with customers and actively networking in her local community.

In this episode you'll hear Aaron and Michael discuss 2022, 2023, and a few articles! 

First they have a long overdue conversation about the FMCSA guidance to dispatchers regarding when they would be considered operating as a broker. 

Then they discuss Elon Musks's Tesla Semi and Truck Driver's reaction to it (it isn't great)

Before discussing a recent survey that covered public's perception of safe driving for big rigs over the road, and whether or not knowing a truck has more safety systems inside it make young people more likely to drive them. 

In this episode you'll hear what two drivers think about the FMCSA's proposed changes to Hours of Service. Sam, a driver with decades of experience and millions of miles and Nolan, a company driver who's been driving over the road for just under 2 years.

Each perspective is unique and goes to show how important it is that drivers submit their comments to the FMCSA. If you have yet to do that, you can do so by clicking here: Submit Formal Comment

For our second episode with Waymo, we chat with Jon Rainwater, a CDL driver who's training truck drivers how to interact and monitor Waymo's fleet of Automated Trucks.

Jon sees the future of automated trucking as a huge opportunity for all generations to take part in as this new way of moving freight across the nation is being developed and tested on highways today. 

Waymo will also start driving along interstates in Texas including I-10, I-20, and I-45, driving the interesting and promising commercial route between New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas exploring how their tech might be able to create new transportation solutions.

Jon is a CDL training instructor for Waymo Via trucking where he trains new Class A drivers in partnership with Transdev (one of our partners who recruits and manages our trained drivers) 2-3 times a week on how to interact with the Waymo self-driving system. He actually helped put together our trucking-specific training and develop the final exam our trained drivers for trucking need to take at the end of the training! He's been with the program since June 2019, and prior to that he was a truck driver for the majority of his career. He also previously worked as a case manager at the Salvation Army and was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Army.

Listen to this awesome conversation with T.J. Knudson, Director of Regional Development at Circle Logistics. T.J. is an innovative leader in logistics & supply chain, and host of Hold My Beer, We're Talking Freight Podcast.

We discuss the value of staying with one company through his career, how he's grown and learned over time, how he equips others to be leaders, and how he keeps freight fun around the office. 

Let us know what you think and be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn! 

In this episode you'll hear a collection of clips from guests we've had some excellent conversations with so far this year. Be sure to check out these full episodes, as they are packed with wisdom to help you in your career!

Anne Reinke...on the value of freight brokerages, FMCSA and Double Brokering, and Non-Competes

Gretchen Long - Her best advice to carriers and shippers

Jenny Lovering - The next innovation driving the industry forward

Brett Ekert - Scrap Life and Advice to Shippers and Carriers

Samantha Jones - What it means to blaze a trail in logistics

Jeremy Wallin - What the best brokers do

Tiffany Wallin - Advice for Women in Trucking

Matt Dahl - Advice to small trucking companies and shippers

Welcome to the new era of Trucking For Millennials.

In this episode of Trucking for Millenials, we take you back down to Houston, Texas for Frieghtfest 2023. We sit down with several great guests including Evan Shelley, Mark Manera, Jori Meyers, Trey Griggs, and Tyson Lawrence and talk through various ideas and issues in the industry.

FreightWaves and other media outlets are speculating that there's a "trucking bloodbath" on the way due to the sharp decline in dry van spot rates and rise in fuel prices. 

In this episode, we discuss how Tyler started as an owner operator shipping dry van freight in February and how he's navigating the current trucking market. 

We also discuss moving from being a police officer to starting a career in trucking, working with brokers and running off the loadboards, his tech stack, building a family business and much more! 

Meet Lida Hakobyan, a former banker in Armenia to American immigrant who has driven reefer trucks and is now living the American Dream as a freight agent for Freight Tec and a small fleet of her own!

In this episode you'll hear about Lida's appreciation for America and what it's like being an immigrant taking advantage of the opportunities the logistics industry provides, her perspective on truck drivers who haul different types of freight, what she enjoyed about truck driving and her experience as a female truck driver, her experience as a freight agent and much more!

Be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn!

Brett Ekart is a guy who was raised in a family business that started in 1972. His parents took over in 1997, and in 2015 Brett became the third generation taking advantage of the opportunities to continue building the business.

In addition to several scrap yards, Brett is running 40+ trucks. 

In this episode you'll get an inside look into

• How Brett spends his time as a leader of multiple companies
• Empowering his employees
• Working with family and friends
• Working through failures
• Favorite books
• Playing offense
• Making good people decisions
• Overcoming the adversity throughout the journey
• and much more!

If you'd like join us on the show to discuss dispatching, email us at podcast@pdqamerica.com or hit us up on Instagram @pdqamerica or LinkedIn! 

Here's an episode from us like you've never heard before!

The Big Game coming up had the team thinking about what creates a championship level team, so we brought a couple of our new team members, Sophia and Adrian, to discuss how their experience has been since coming on board a few months ago.

We also discuss the "Freedom Convoy" again and discuss a tweet from FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller. 

Who's your pick to win? Let us know! 

Technology continues to influence the trucking industry and this episode features voices of 3 different CEO's and their perspective on how it's impacting the industry today.

The "video gamification" of trucks is a subject that came up quite often during our conversations with industry professionals at GATS, so the episode starts off with a discussion about their possible role in driver recruitment.

The second half of the episode features Marcus Cooksey, CEO of LUI Transport and Founder of Duke.ai, a technology that allows Owner Operators to simply and securely stay up to date with their Profit/Loss details and Tax Liability.

We hope you enjoy this episode! 

Also featured in this episode:

Ellen Voie, Women in Trucking & Justin Clarke, CEO of F Staff.

In this episode you'll hear from Guillermo Garcia, founder and CEO of SmartHop, a technology platform that equips carriers with everything they need to run a trucking business.

You'll hear how Guillermo started his logistics career in Venezuela and eventually came to the United States to start a trucking business. 

He's now helping small carriers with dispatching, insurance, leasing, fuel, and payments. 

Be sure to check out how SmartHop can help you via their website, and let us know what you think of this episode! 

In this episode we discuss all things safety, compliance, and winter preparation with Rob Carpenter of TruckSafe.

In this episode we talk about two trucking articles:

C.H. Robinson Hit with $1.1 Billion dollar lawsuit
https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-brokerage-hit-with-1-billion-lawsuit-from-farmers-2020-2

Tennessee Based Trucking Company Ceases Operations After 69 Years
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tennessee-based-trucking-company-ceases-operations-after-69-years?utm_content=116527494&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-179175252108775

Then we break down a new segment called Load it Or Leave it!

We break down three separate clips of audio we recorded when we launched our podcast at Great American Trucking Show. 

We ask the public's opinion on the Millennial generation and the responses are thought provoking to say the least! 

Do you want to be a 5 star listener of our show? Leave a 5 star review! :)

We're into season 3 of Trucking For Millennials so we gathered a few favorite clips from episodes from last season you definitely don't want to miss! 

Avery Vise – Why he's bullish on trucking in the next 6 months - What he expects rates to do for the remainder of 2021 and 2022

Giovanni Pereira – Living in a van during CDL school – why millennials aren’t getting into trucking (hard work)

Terry Roden – Grabbing the money – Lamborghini and Hot Shot Trucking

Trista Roel – Starting a business in 2020 – what steel shippers need

Shay Dixon – Finding success within a niche and building a team

Mysherri Roads – the GPS system to build a million dollar trucking business Growth, Profit, Systems

JD Redmon – Diversity in Leadership

Prasad Gollapalli – The future of carrier/broker relationships

We're so excited to have had the opportunity to host this conversation between Niki Okuk and David Heller! 

David is the VP of Safety and Govt Affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association, and has been on the podcast in the past. Check out that episode here. He's also advocating to the White House what his members think about electric trucking and believes there are many obstacles and issues in the way that must be resolved.

Niki is the Deputy Director of CALSTART, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating to growth of clean transportation tech - and a veteran trucker herself. She's talking with truckers and fleet managers about why it's crucial for them to get ahead in this transition. 

So we decided it would be great to bring these two together so they can help us learn about the subject through a conversation between two opposing sides!

What resulted was an excellent chat about charging infrastructure, the reliability of electric trucks, the affordability of electric trucks, what the point of all the changes are and much, much, more! 

In this episode you'll hear Aaron and Michael chat with Reed Loustalout!

He's currently building LostFr8.com and has also utilized ChatGPT to have some fun with PleaseAdvise.ai.

He's a former carrier rep who's leveraging his experience in the industry to help create effeciency and develop new tools to help carriers and industry professionals connect! 

Join his Discord by clicking here. 

00:04:41 Trucking employment is rising.

00:05:27 Technology is revolutionizing trucking.

00:16:02 Carriers need better communication.

00:19:23 Truckers are hard to sell to.

00:22:15 Technology increases efficiency.

00:30:03 Technology is essential for success.

00:36:12 Try and bridge the gap.

00:41:06 Start now and don't stop.

00:45:02 Persistence is key.

00:51:04 AI will revolutionize tech.

 00:56:06 Humans still needed for jobs.

00:57:44 Find your niche quickly.

01:02:40 Learn about AI technology.

In this bonus episode, Michael and Aaron sit down to discuss a recent article from FreightWaves that breaks down the promises that were made and kept (or not) from Trump in 2016.

They discuss infrastructure, regulations, taxes and other key policy decisions that influence the trucking industry and how this election could impact our industry moving forward.

This episode is a full truckload of politics, so if you're not interested in hearing another opinion about it, steer clear of this episode!

But if you're interested in hearing two guys running a trucking company and freight brokerage weigh in on today's political climate, this episode is for you!

Leave your own comment on the PDQ America YouTube channel for this episode and don't forget to like, subscribe and give us a review for a shout out on the show! 

We had a great conversation with Jackie Beckwith about how advocacy groups like the ATA and OOIDA get things done in the halls of government.

Jackie's background as Grassroots Program Manager with the ATA and her current role as the Manager of Advocacy and Government Relations for Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). 

AUVSI is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics and Jackie is tasked with advocating for organizations like TuSimple to pave the path of regulation necessary for the burgeoning automated commercial vehicle segment.

We had an excellent time getting to know Shay Dixon, CEO of Allegiant Logistics! Shay has experience in manufacturing & cold supply chain prior to conducting 5 months of research in preparation to launching Allegiant Logistics in October of 2020. 

Our conversation covers how she builds relationships to build her business, how she structured her leadership team, her focus on optimizing systems and processes, selecting the right customers and focusing on a niche, taking advantage of opportunities available for women-owned and minority-owned companies, and much more!

Be sure to connect with her on Linkedin! 

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Rabine of Max Freightlines and discuss his rise in the industry, holiday plans, and what it really means to be a broker / agent. Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube!

This episode with Jeff Jenkins of RTA Fleet Management Software is FILLED with insight from Jeff's two decade career in trucking. 

We start by diving into his career which serves as an excellent example for someone interested in learning more about how to climb the career ladder in logistics. 

Jeff entered in the industry by "dumb luck" and over time became an executive in large fleets and eventually CEO Fleetwood Transportation Services and Sharkey Transportation. 

Now he's the VP of Sales and Marketing for RTA Fleet Management Software which has provided new challenges and opportunities, which we also discuss.

RTA has also recently launched The Fleet Success Show, a podcast focused on helping fleet managers run successful fleets. Be sure to check it out on your favorite podcast platform. 

Enjoy! 

This week Aaron and Michael sat down with the creator of the popular trucking and freight news blog www.freightbrokerlive.com to discuss all things trucking!

They dive into how Stephen got started, why he hates the term "millennials", how our generation (and younger) can have a successful career in our industry, trucking media, and much, much, more!

Stephen has a passion for logistics that is supremely evident in this episode! Be sure to follow him on social media, his podcast and website so you don't miss his unique take on what's happening in logistics today!

Pierre Laguerre is the founder and CEO of Fleeting.us, who's vision is to leverage modern technology to​ create a platform that improves the commercial freight industry by intelligently matching truck owners, drivers and shippers / brokers.

In this episode you'll hear Pierre's inspiring story of how he immigrated to the US from Haiti and through his entrepreneurial journey found his way into trucking and becoming a driver, owner operator, staffing agency owner, and eventual founder of Fleeting, which has raised millions of dollars in funding through competitions, tech accelerators and direct investors.

You'll also hear Pierre's perspective on carrier and broker relationships and the greater purpose that propels him to not only create more success, but be a leading example to youth in marginalized communities. 

Travis is a Trucking For Millennials podcast listener and General Manager of Condesa Freight International.

Condesa was started by his grandfather in 1972 and in this episode you'll hear a bit about the history of the business that currently has 65 trucks south of the border and 18 trucks north of the border with 152 total dry van units they use to ship freight into and out of Mexico. 

It's an excellent conversation that covers the nuances of export and import shipments, insurance claims, what drivers and brokerages should know before getting into cross border freight and much more! 

In this episode we celebrate the Cowboys recent win, and a 5 Star Fan before connection with President of JP Auto Transport, a 2023 Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in USA •

We get into his career and what he's learned so far as he continues to build his company in public by documenting his growth on X. Follow Kevin @autotransportg!

If you're interested in learning the ins and outs of auto transport and learn from the mindset of an entrepreneur building the business in today's market. 

https://jpautotransport.com/

In this episode, we talk with Michael Caney of Highway about how carriers and brokers can establish trust, as well as all of the in's and out's of double brokering and how to avoid it. Highway is is a technology company in the logistics industry that is quickly establishing itself as the definitive source of truth for carrier identity, with core features including a patent-pending identity engine, single sign-on functionality, carrier connections, and fleet analytics. Contact hello@gohighway or visit gohighway.com to find out more.

Watch this episode on our YouTube channel and don't forget to subscribe! 

From September 8th-14th the trucking industry has been celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week - for good reason - Truck Drivers make the world go 'round!

In this episode Michael and Aaron talk about their favorite truck driver celebration from trucking companies around the nation and dive into some practical ways anyone can showcase their appreciation for truck drivers every day - inside and outside of the industry. 

Thank you for listening to the Trucking For Millennials Podcast!

We value your feedback and topic suggestions. 

If you have any, please send us an email at podcast@pdqamerica.com or simply leave a review on iTunes! 

On this episode Michael and Aaron start recording as the reality starts to set that Tom Brady is the undisputed GOAT. Then they chat about their favorite commercials during the game.

Then they get into some trending topics from the last week or so including Gamestop stock, Wallstreet Bets Redditt, Bezos stepping down, and a recent Freight Waves article about Mayor Pete's plans for infrastructure.

The man behind who sparked dozens of podcasts, hundreds of shows, and tens of thousands of minutes for freight and logistics joins us for a special episode of Trucking For Millennials!

Timothy Dooner is is currently creating new podcast, radio, video, and multimedia content for FreightWaves. In under a year he built FreightCasts, the world’s largest logistics and supply chain podcast network in media.

Dooner is a 15-year industry veteran who has held directors positions in operations, sales, consulting, and marketing. He has worked with FedEx, Reebok, Adidas, L.L. Bean, Hasbro, Louis Vuitton, and many more high level clients across the full spectrum of the supply chain.

An accomplished podcaster/producer/host, Dooner has launched over a dozen successful podcasts including the acclaimed supply chain & logistics shows: The Shipping Pod and Consulting Logistics.

He is a host and producer on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? FreightWaves Insiders, Put That Coffee Down, Midday Market Update, FreightWaves Radio on SiriusXM, and you can wake up with his FreightWaves Morning Minute News Briefs on Alexa, and all podcast platforms.

Dooner was also a featured speaker at TEDx Chattanooga.

We chat about his experience joining FreightWaves, how they've grown in a short amount of time, how he manages time, how he creates new shows and stays energized and much more!

In this episode Aaron and Michael start with some breaking news happening in the logistics industry, the biggest headline being that the Supreme Court will not hear trucking's AB5 case, making it law for California carriers

Then they dive into a conversation with Kevin Sterling, Senior Market Strategist for XPO Logistics where they learn more about Kevin's role at the publically traded company and ask him about what he believes are the best strategies for small and mid-size carriers and brokers in today's logistics market. 

Kevin provides a wealth of insight on the market, so be sure to check it out!

Also, if you're a California trucking carrier or freight brokerage, we'd love to hear from you about the recent AB5 decision. Send us a message on Instagram @pdqamerica or an email to Aaron@pdqamerica.com.

Marcus one of our first guests and we're happy to have him back to get an update on the progress he's made on his app, Duke.AI. Duke.AI is an automated bookkeeping and accounting app that allows drivers to scan documents with their phones and automate their bookkeeping and factoring invoicing. 

Listen to learn how Marcus discovered this issue in his trucking company and used his software development background to create a solution that continues to improve in functionality. 

Be sure to connect with Marcus on LinkedIn also! 

This episode kicks off with a fun post- Super Game phone call between Aaron and Michael. The winner of their football game prop bet will be awarding the loser with a celebratory Gatorade bath on our Instagram @PDQAmerica

Then they get into some trucking news and chat about the USMCA deal, a Texas Flatbed Carrier shutting down, and Kobe Bryant's passing. 

Then you'll hear an interview with Dave Coleman, owner of Jack's Chrome Shop and part owner of Chrome and Steel Radio. Dave has built a substantial audience on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

You'll hear about how Dave got into trucking, his passion for media and content creation, and more. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss part two where they dive deeper into the world of custom trucks and the truck show circuit!

Today we have the inspiring story of Clarence Bethea, who Michael connected with this week at a recent event.

Clarence is the CEO of Upsie, a warranty company which saves its customers anywhere from 50% to 90% compared to competitor warranty plans.

While his main area of focus is not trucking, Clarence found himself on the path of personal and professional growth through an opportunity that began in the trucking industry. 

Throughout the conversation you'll hear how Clarence transformed himself from a talented basketball player with a criminal history and not much education to being mentored by the former COO of Best Buy. 

His experiences in trucking and mentorship helped shape him into the businessman he is today and have value for anyone looking to lead teams and scale businesses to their real potential. 

Be sure to connect with him on Linkedin and check out Upsie.com! 

This episodes starts with a bit of Super Bowl conversation and a potential wager between Michael and Aaron. Plus some shout outs with 5 star fans!

Then we connect with Trucker Avocado, a truck driver that's approaching his first year in business in February. Not only is a driver, he's currently building a YouTube channel that documents his successes and failures along the way. Subscribe to him here.

We talk about why and how he got into the drivers seat, his experience so far, truck driver education, finding the right company, communicating with dispatch, his YouTube channel, his goals, and much more! 

Enjoy!

Believe it or not, we were actually able to make trucking insurance interesting! 

It wouldn't have been possible without the help of Quan Cosby and George Scillieri of Marsh & McLennan companies. 

If you're a University of Texas fan,  you may recognize Quan's name as he was a star wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns and a former NFL athlete. 

Now, he's an insurance professional and VP of Risk Management for Marsh & McLennan Insurance. 

George Scillieri works alongside Quan as the Director of Safety Services at Marsh & McLennan. 

Together these two provided a masterclass of information regarding trucking insurance and how small and medium size trucking companies can make sure they have the right coverage at the right time. 

Give it a listen and let us know what you think! 

In this episode we speak with Ricky Barnett, the Senior Talent Advisor at FreightVana! 

You could also call her a "professional vibe curator" and "culture ambassador". 

When you look at her LinkedIn you'll see how she promotes the FreightVana brand while maintaining her unique identity, which is important to this and future generations when they are choosing where to build a career. 

In this converation you'll hear us discuss...

• company culture
• attracting and recruiting talent
• the business case for fun
• how she approaches content creation
• her top tips for smaller trucking companies when marketing
• how you can be more authentically you

and much more!

Vanessa Gant aka "The Money Architect" is an Accountant and Tax Strategist who has a vast amount of accounting experience and has forged a niche in transportation and logistics accounting.

For the past 15 years she has worked with both small and large companies that had strained as well as positive cash flows. Her expertise entails engineering a design to increase net profits by 35% and to grow and scale your transportation and logistics business within 18 months. 

The best part is she does all of this while reducing your tax liability and keeping your company compliant with all federal and state tax guidelines.

In this episode you'll hear our conversation with her about a variety of topics including how she got started in the logistics industry, how she assists trucking companies of all sizes to reach their goals and grow their business through proper money management, tax tips, career advice for accounting professionals and much more! 

In today's episode we're covering a topic we never have before! 

How to buy and sell trucks! This episode is full of tips (including a SUPER TIP) about buying your first truck, what to look for, how to gain leverage in negotiations, where to buy and sell, and how to sell your truck for a fair market value.

Zach has a ton of experience in the space and is ready to make you an offer on your truck or find you the truck of your dreams! Reach out to him via www.truckvin.com!

On our most recent episode, we take a trip outside of transportation and logistics to learn more about an industry we serve, steel!

It was great to learn more about the industry from a business owner from our local community, Trista Roel, CEO/Owner of Pride Metals.

This is a unique episode as Pride Metals is a company we work with. We speak with her about being a woman in a male dominated industry, what she's looking for when speaking with transportation companies and much more!

In this episode we have a conversation about one of trucking's most critical issues - truck parking!

There is a severe shortage of parking for truck drivers and we speak with Scott Grenerth of TSPS.io and RigRest.com to find out what's being done to improve it. 

We had the opportunity to speak with Scott after he led a panel discussion with TxDOT and truck drivers at the Great American Trucking Show. 

We also collected input from our driver Sam Willoughby, who provided some valuable first hand insight into the problem. 

Through new technologies and regulatory study from TxDOT, positive changes are being made. 

Thanks for listening! 

Send feedback to us on social media (@PDQAmerica) or aaron@pdqamerica.com

This conversation with Matt Dipilato of ARKA Express is a must listen! We dive into Matt's 14 year career and learn how he's made it to the C-Suite of a 500+ truck carrier.

We talk about the importance of educating oneself, networking, and taking ownership of what needs to be done. 

He's got an excellent story about his time serving as a leader in the Traffic Club of Chicago and how he and his team has shifted the driver culture of ARKA Express through the newly launched National Driver Council within the organization.

This episode is full of insight for anyone looking to become a leader in logistics and create an environment where drivers WANT to work and feel valued.

In this episode Aaron and Michael discuss the supply chain of Christmas Trees, 365 parking spots coming to Wyoming, and Vivek Ramaswamy's upcoming truck policy announcement planned for December 21st. 

Then they get to know Jared Flinn, co-founder of BulkLoads.com, an online platform that connects shippers and carriers in the bulk freight industry. With over 21 years of experience in transportation and logistics, Jared is a not only a "40 Under 40" according to Springfield Business Journal, he's a "Top 100 Most Influential People in the Trucking Industry" by FreightWaves. 

Jared also started Smart Freight Funding, a factoring business and Bulk Insurance Group to help streamline and modernize these services in the industry. 

If that wasn't enough, he's also an author of a children's book series that can be found on Amazon, Semi Sam. 

Subscribe to his podcast/YouTube here, and be sure to check out BulkLoads.com! 

DOT Compliance and Trucking Consultant Kenneth Nolley joins us this week to talk about summer safety tips, the rising cost of insurance and shed some additional light on the experience of a law enforcement officer.

In this wide ranging conversation we discuss the recent news that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to increase trucking company insurance minimum from $750k to $2M dollars.

We also chat about how truck drivers can stay safe and compliant in the summer months and Kenneth shares some insight from his experiences as a Trooper with Texas DPS. 

Then we have a very insightful conversation about the relationships between law enforcement and the citizens and how a recent CDLLife poll found that 79% of drivers would not deliver to a city with a defunded police force.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! Be sure to connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn by clicking here.

On this podcast we cover a millennial minute article about the gap between millennial wealth and why it isn't as high as the Boomer generation, how the trucking economy is outpacing the U.S. economy, and we read comments on the FMCSA broker transparency open discussion. 

Enjoy! 

On this episode of Trucking For Millennials we continue the conversation we started last week with Talmadge (T.D.) Studor, a freight broker for Modus Trucking. 

You'll hear about how he got into trucking and logistics, how one of his first jobs delivering packages influences his job now, relating with drivers, speaking with shippers, handling times of high volume, building a book of business from square one, working as a team, his opinion about the Millennial generation and whether or not they're doing enough, and much, much more!

Our last episode, "Load it Or Leave it 2" features him speaking about what he's experiencing as he serves grocery store freight for Kroger in the middle of the Coronavirus. This episode is a deep dive into his career that will be valuable for anyone looking to grow and maintain a positive trajectory as a freight broker. 

We're back with Chris Jolly to launch us into a new year full of optimism and great conversation on a variety of topics. 

On this episode we waste no time jumping into relationships freight brokers have with dispatchers, before discussing the #1 question Chris receives from his clients.

Then we discuss the ports and what we expect from the supply chain congestion in 2022, what the infrastructure bill could do, and the upcoming vaccine mandate for employers of 100 people or more. 

We also have some conversation about football and touch on much more!

On this episode of the Trucking For Millennials Podcast, we sit down with Justin Martin to talk about the current state of trucking, the impact of Hurricane Helene and the Seaport Strike, as well as the effect of this year's election on the trucking industry. 

You'll find out very quickly why Gretchen Long has over 80,000 followers on TikTok in this episode!

In this conversation Gretchen details the story of how she was introduced to dispatching at her old job leading a sales team by a truck driver. That was the spark of inspiration for her to learn everything she could about truck dispatching and a conviction to be the best dispatcher she could be. 

Since then she's helped drivers stay profitable and others start their career in dispatching, and we learn a ton of tips and tricks that set the PROFESSIONAL dispatchers apart from the Wannabe's. 

Be sure to give her a follow @longmoneytrucking!

LoShawn Parks is a trucking company owner, podcaster and YouTuber approaching 40k subscribers! 

He's an excellent resource and example for anyone in trucking to subscribe and follow. 

In this episode, you'll hear how he got into trucking in the first place and a conversation covering:

Truck Leasing

Buying a Truck in Today's Market

What motivates LoShawn

Scaling Smart

and more!

This week's episode features Laura Lysacek and Miranda Bender, but you may know them as the Broker Babes (@brokerbabes on Instagram)

If you're into trucking and on Instagram, you've probably seen this pair of freight brokers striking a pose inside and outside trucks, but that's just part of what they do.

Most of the time they are helping carriers stay loaded and shippers keep shipping as full time freight brokers!

In this episode you'll learn about how they got into the industry, decided to team up and start a business on their own, what they want their followers to know, how they generate new business and much more! 

We really enjoyed getting to know them and know you will to! 

Don't forget to give them a follow! 

In this episode we speak with Josue Ramos, General Manager of J and R Trucking!

We speak with him about how he recently took on the responsibility of growing his father's trucking business and the dynamics of that decision. 

We also discuss the challenges and successes he's experienced as he learns to manage drivers, reduce costs, and grow the business.

Be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn and leave us a review on iTunes for a shout out on the show!

Matt Dahl is a Logistics Professional and Chess Player who likes to solve problems who is coming up on one year of experience as a freight broker. 

In this episode we discuss his engaging LinkedIn content, his experience of logistics so far, how his sales experience and chess playing background influences his work today, and what he wants shippers and carriers to know about the work brokers do! 

Connect with him on LinkedIn! 

What are you thankful for? Tell us! www.pdqamerica.com/thanks

This episode is an oversized load of practical wisdom that will help you no matter what role you have in the industry. 

Dean Croke is the Principal Data Analyst for one of the largest load boards in the U.S., DAT.com. He's got an incredible mind for data analysis but he also has experience as a truck driver and owner/operator from his time in Australia before coming to the states. 

You'll be amazed by his depth of knowledge regarding sleep, and how this subject is largely overlooked by our industry when it is so important to over the road safety. 

As Dean says, "You can be 100% compliant with Hours of Service and completely asleep at the wheel at the same time". 

In this conversation you'll learn about optimizing your sleep and your business for the road ahead as Dean has several insights about DAT rate data and what he thinks we're facing over the next 3 to 6 months. 

We also play Load it or Leave it!

Are you curious about cannabis transport? We were!

That's why it was great to get a message from Kyle of Top Shelf Transport on Instagram. 

He's got many years of experience in the cannabis market and has recently leveraged that experience AND his experience owning and selling a moving company to start transporting cannabis across California where he's based. 

Michael and I had fun getting to learn from Kyle about this growing industry and what his plans are for the future. 

We had a great conversation with Founder and CEO of MavenMachines, Avishai Geller!

Avi is an MIT graduate with a wealth of experience in computer science and saw the opportunity to bring his knowledge to the trucking industry to provide a comprehensive solution to increase operational efficiency, improve safety, and maximize profitability. 

In this episode we dive into his motivations for building Maven Machines, how he recruits talent into his business, how Artificial Intelligence is the future and now of trucking, and much more! 

This conversation is full personal branding goodness and freight sales mental fortitude!

Gunner Miller is the Vice President of Sales at Twelve Point Logistics, podcaster on CWG Podcast, and pro wrestler. 

You'll hear his story abou thow his pro wrestling career and logistics career started at the same time, how to balance and decide between careers, what it means to go "all-in", and he even drops some gems about selling freight. 

Connect with him on LinkedIn, where he'll be posting every day for 2023 and be sure to subscribe to his YouTube. 

Have you ever seen an Instagram ad or profile promoting how easy it is to have passive income from the trucking industry if you just give them a bunch of money? 

These Trucking Automation businesses say they'll get the truck, driver, dispatcher, loads, and take care of all the maintenance so you can sit back and collect the cashflow. 

So we decided to talk to the founder of RivX Automation Antonio Rivodo who's enthusiasm for automating business operations has met the trucking industry.

In this episode we learn more about what trucking automation is and how he has continued to scale his business to bring clients this service. We even learn what trucking niche his fleet is involved in!

In this episode we speak with the hilarious Larry Cothran, who, if you're on Instagram and are in the trucking community, have definitely seen one of his hilarious videos.

While Larry may be known for his humorous reels and takes on trucking, he's also an Owner Operator, a Marketer, and a Triathalon athlete!

You'll hear about how Larry got into the industry, how he's lost over 50lbs while driving, how he stays fit over the road, his best advice to new drivers, the power of networking, and much more!

We also discuss the spat between Lombard Trucking (friend of the show) and "G Face", a TikToker who boasted about Double Brokering and how he teaches others how to do the same. 

Enjoy! 

Tandem has created an innovative way for conventional trucks to harness the power of battery power that's as easy as hooking up to an additional axle. 

In this conversation you'll hear from Matthew and Paul Sabatini. These brothers are taking a paper napkin idea into real life with working prototypes of their first product, the Centaur. 

The Tandem Centaur enables instant hybridization of class 8 trucks, immediately reducing emissions and fuel consumption on diesel fleets on the road now by up to 95% within minutes of connecting.

Hear their story about how they plan to revolutionize the industry and check them out online! www.drivetandem.com

The second half of our conversation with Dave Coleman of Jack's Chrome Shop and Chrome and Steel Radio covers the role of a chrome shop, custom trucking trends, the truck show circuit, and what Dave thinks the future looks like for custom truck culture.

Mark Manera has made it his mission to help drivers across North America have a healthier life in and out of the truck.

In this episode you'll hear how Mark, who is undergoing a doctorate in physical therapy how working with a truck driver inspired him to take his knowledge of diet and exercise to truck drivers through a new mobile app and online community at www.truckinfit.com. 

We ask him about how truck drivers can improve their health through exercise inside and outside of the truck and make healthy choices in their diet without making a huge change that isn't sustainable. 

Be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn! 

In this episode you'll hear our converstion with Bharath Krishnamoorthy aka "B" of Axle Payments.

This is an excellent episode of your a freight broker looking to scale your business faster as Axle helps freight brokers gain access to capital for quick payments to carriers and automates back office functions so you spend more time selling freight than managing the paperwork. 

This is also a great episode for anyone starting up a business, especially one that is tech focused. B knows what it's like to start a new business with friends, learn a new industry fast, and raise money from investors - all topics we cover in this conversation, plus much more! 

Enjoy! 

We had a great conversation with Sadie Church, VP of Marketing for CDLLife.com. 

Sadie and truck driver Brittney Richardson are traveling the country on the "Fueling Our Heroes" tour, making sure that truck drivers are fed quality meals while many restaurants are still closed during the nationwide Coronavirus shutdown.

If you'd like to contribute to the Fueling Our Heroes cause, go to their kickstarter by clicking here.

Sadie shares what she's learned over the road as her and Brittney travel from 5am-7pm feeding truck drivers at different places across the country. We also talk about what carriers can do to show they appreciate their drivers, and what advice Sadie and Brittney have for newer drivers entering the industry.

We hope you enjoy this episode! 

 Nolan Grush, CTB is the Carrier Relationship Manager at PDQ America. It's his second time on the podcast and in this episode we discuss a range of topics including

• Freight Caviar's recent "on the street" interviews with truck drivers who have choice comments about freight brokers
• ATRI's report about truck crashes
• Elon Must updates Tesla Semi delivery to Pepsi
• Fun facts about Nolan
• Football predictions continue
• and more! 

Connect with Nolan on Linkedin here! 

This episode comes from the trenches of freight brokerage. Every day, freight brokers send and receive hundreds of emails each week from customers and carriers. 

In this episode we have a story of a freight broker, "T" was attempting to help a shipper sending their daily RFQ's to their list of brokers that their rates weren't keeping up with the current market. 

So we called him! You'll him retell his experience and explain his perspective as Aaron and Michael share theirs as we all navigate the competitive freight broker market and work to find quality loads for quality carriers. 

At the start of 2020 we released the first edition of the Flatbed Forecast, which covers the previous 6 months, changes in the industries that directly effect flatbed trucking (mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction) before looking forward to what the next 6 months can bring. 

The latest edition of the Flatbed Forecast will be available soon, so sign up at www.pdqamerica.com/forecast so you don't miss when it releases!

In this episode Michael gives you a sneak peak at what to expect in the latest edition. 

Enjoy!