Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast

Latest Episodes:

From Production Line to Director of Transportation Strategy: A Supply Chain Journey with Rob Haddock Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Rob Haddock, Transportation Consultant for Albedo Logistics.
Join them as they explore:

How experience on the production line helped to shape Rob’s approach to supply chain management
What it was like to be in charge of the supply chain for summer Olympic events
Why shippers need to be more welcoming to drivers
And much more!

Rob Haddock is a Strategic Senior Business Executive with extensive experience leading supply chain management organizations. He is currently a Transportation Consultant for Albedo Logistics, having recently finished a 40+ year tenure at the Coca-Cola Company, where he was most recently Group Director of Transportation Strategy.
Episode Highlights:
[10:44] In his early career, Rob spent two years working on the production line at the Coca-Cola manufacturing plant. He quickly learned the dynamic nature of the production schedule, which was in constant limbo based on the upstream forecast, the inventory, and the materials coming into the facility. When he moved up into the warehouse, where he spent a decade, he was effectively responsible for every part of the production scheduling, continually adjusting on the fly to parts of the equation dropping out. He has carried this experience throughout his entire supply chain management career.
[21:50] After ten years in the warehousing role, Rob moved further up in The Coca-Cola Company, heading to a larger facility in New Jersey where he did a lot of customer interfacing before being pulled into working on the summer Olympic games in 1996 and 2000. He had to plan inventory, secure products, get trucks, and set up all the supply lines, all with very little technology. He would track inventories at thirty venues, input them into spreadsheets, and manually figure out the replenishment needed, with all products getting where they needed to be on time.
[28:59] Rob strongly believes shippers need to be welcoming to drivers as they are an integral part of logistics. So much energy goes into getting a product to a shipper’s warehouse that people almost forget it’s not yet with the customer. Who is crucial to finishing the journey? Drivers. They work nonstop and just need to be met with a smile and some efficiency. Rob advocates that every place you check in and out at a shipper receiver should essentially be a welcome center for the driver, eventually leading to greater efficiency across the whole transportation industry in the long run.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Six Entrepreneurial Pro Tips with Seretha Willingham, CEO and Founder of SJW Logistics Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Seretha Willingham, CEO and Founder of SJW Logistics.
Join them as they explore Seretha’s six pro tips for logistics entrepreneurship:

Plan your work
Be prepared to pivot off of a bad idea
Use your market intelligence by leveraging data
Do your homework
Make sure you always have long-term relationships
Always follow the process

Seretha is a seasoned Project Management Executive with extensive experience in financial data analysis, information systems technology, and strategic planning and execution. From a career start at The Coca-Cola Company to then Project Management at XPO Logistics before founding SJW Logistics in 2020, a third-party logistics company providing best-in-class solutions, Seretha has spent a lot of time in logistics, building up extensive knowledge of the sector.
Episode Highlights:
[09:37] In her work at Coca-Cola and XPO, Seretha was constantly researching. She wasn’t just researching her own company, but others too, such as JB Hunt. They all had similar stories: they started slowly and then grew everything. This research was her first step towards founding SJW Logistics. Having seen companies succeed through this approach, Seretha followed the same methods, doing what she knew best and creating a project plan. She advises always planning your work before you complete it, especially in entrepreneurial pursuits.
[15:40] Often, small business owners get so caught up in the passion of running a business and the small successes that they hold onto everything they are doing, even when it’s not working. This then means that when things don’t work out, they can feel like a failure. From her work in corporate America, Seretha learned that if things don’t work out, you need to move on and not waste money. There are so many other opportunities that you need to try until you find something that works.
[22:05] SJW Logistics recently had some issues around double brokering in the marketplace. They did their due diligence in setting the carrier up, and it seemed to be checking all the boxes, but the company they were working with was a scam. This experience has taught them to be cautious of people who wanted quick pay or other slightly weird things from their loads. Now, they always do their homework before working with someone else; you cannot be overly cautious in checking that everything adds up.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Compliance Isn’t Just a Box to Tick with Rob Carpenter, President of Carpenter Compliance Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Rob Carpenter, President of Carpenter Compliance.
Join them as they:

Explore what led Rob into compliance
Explain why compliance doesn’t protect you from exposure
Highlight the importance of explaining the why behind processes
Discuss the biggest mistakes smaller companies make
And more!

Rob Carpenter has devoted his work life to the Compliance side of transportation. He’s currently the President of his own business, Carpenter Compliance, and works with primary mega clients like Gallagher Bassett and TruckSafe Consulting. He also works with a number of haulage companies to ensure that everyone trucks safely and legally.
Episode Highlights:
[02:56] Rob started out as a driver, drawn in by the practical side of things. He then moved into managing companies and owning some, and even starting his own broker authority. He wanted to get involved in the operational side of things, wondering how the cash flow actually worked. So, how did he get into compliance? Well, it came from a tragic incident. He had always been a wild driver, and rules didn’t matter to him until he ended up getting hit by a truck, rendering him unable to walk for a while. This kickstarted his focus on safety, realizing how important it really was.
[14:28] Anybody who can read a book can grasp compliance at its most basic level, but you still have to be aware of exposure. You can be compliant and still face exposure, after all. Taking road tests as an example, you can use CDL in lieu of a road test and still be compliant. However, if your driver then gets in an accident, the plaintiff’s lawyer will say, “Yes, you were compliant, but how much time would it have taken to do a road test just to check if the guy could drive?” opening up a whole can of worms. Exposure is a huge part of the litigious society we are in today, and compliance leaves a lot of holes in your system. You’ve got to find those holes that a plaintiff’s attorney could extort and fill them, limiting your exposure.
[27:15] No matter what, if you could have changed a process and didn’t, you’re liable for any accidents that happen as a result. Leaders should thus explain to their drivers why they are implementing new processes to keep them exposure-proof and incentivize them while they start actioning them. Giving them the knowledge behind it will make them more likely to appreciate and adhere to processes.
[34:23] Quite often, small companies, including Rob’s own, miss the maintenance part of compliance. If you don’t upkeep your maintenance, it can cost you a huge expense and cause you to lose a lot of customers. Many people are also not aware of service hours regulations. Violating service hours can result in huge civil penalties and unsatisfactory safety ratings that can negatively affect your future business. You also need to be aware of driver fitness and ensure they are fully qualified for the seat. If your drivers aren’t right for the company, and don’t follow your processes, you can end up with violations that affect you all.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

From Casual Coder to Business Owner: Reed Loustalot and LOSTFR8’s Journey Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Reed Loustalot, Co-Founder of LOSTFR8.
Join them as they:

Delve into the conversation that led to LOSTFR8’s foundations
Explain what opportunities LOSTFR8 creates for carriers
Explore the power of social media for branding
And more!

Reed Loustalot is the “Chief Everything Officer” at LOSTFR8, a website that enables carriers of all sizes to market their services to their current and potential customers. Prior to this, Reed was a Broker at Armstrong Transport Group and a National Carrier Sales Representative at Echo Global Logistics.
Episode Highlights:
[18:28] Reed has always been interested in technology and started teaching himself to code when he moved to Chicago in 2019. After learning several coding languages, he built his own website: reedislost.com. Around the time, he was laid off from his job, and an ex-colleague, Rob, offered him a sales role at Armstrong. With nothing else to do, Reed took it on until one day in June 2022; Rob mentioned that they needed a tool built and asked him if he could help out since he had coding knowledge. Although he wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it, Reed said yes and spent the next day trying desperately to figure it out. Over the next two months, he built it out and made it into a business, creating what is now known as LOSTFR8.
[27:45] To create LOSTFR8, Reed drew on his experience as a carrier rep. In his role, he spent most of his time calling carriers and asking them where their trucks were. There’s often very little information about carrier businesses available online, so it becomes hard to figure out what kind of equipment they have or find any information required to offer them relevant opportunities. Reed saw the opportunity to give them a way to answer these questions proactively so that opportunities can be made more readily available for them. The basic tool is a web page where they can input the lanes they run, where they have capacity, what equipment they have, and how to get in touch. Every carrier has its own profile that can be set to public or shared via links. This meant they could go to the web page instead of calling someone like Reed, but since they might forget about it, he built an email tool to send all this info out to their contact lists with no admin. It’s a marketing tool.
[38:09] When he first launched LOSTFR8, Reed didn’t have much money to market it. He was really into Twitter (as it was back then), so he started to post memes and build up a following to invite to a Discord chat he had with his co-founder. With this new audience, he created an AI excuse generator for truck drivers and put it live online, going semi-viral very quickly. Seeing this traction, he then put the LOSTFR8 brand on a hat and put it up to sell, and has gradually gained more and more sales and followers. Social media and communication have been crucial to building the LOSTFR8 brand.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Red Sea Crisis’ Impact on Freight with Christopher Chase of the Port of Los Angeles Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Christopher Chase, Assistant Director of Marketing for the Port of Los Angeles.
Join them as they:

Explore the situation in the Red Sea
Discuss the global impact of shipping lines shifting away from the Red Sea
Consider how to effectively manage the challenges facing the freight industry
And more

Christopher is the Assistant Director of Marketing at the Port of Los Angeles, where he focuses on the container and cruise industries, supply chain enhancement and optimization, and maintaining relationships with beneficial cargo owners and railroads.
Please note: the topics discussed in this episode are fast-changing. All information was accurate at the time of recording.
Episode Highlights:
[19:19] The Red Sea crisis is a part of the broader conflicts in the Middle East, specifically the October attacks and military actions taking place in the Gaza-Israel conflict. The leadership in Yemen has taken the position that anything heading in that direction could be supporting Israel. It is thus using shore-to-ship missiles to shoot at various ships going by. Therefore, most shipping lines have moved their vessels elsewhere because of the risk profile, including the major container lines. Shipping companies have had to make these decisions based on their types of cargo, whether they can afford to be late on delivery cycles, where they are sourcing goods, and the increases in freight rates.
[28:15] With the ongoing conflicts affecting shipping lines, there have been concerns about whether it will have a knock-on effect on domestic truck transportation. While this has not been apparent, some people see it as inevitable because everything in the global market is connected. The question then leads to, when it will stop. From Christopher’s perspective, pricing seems to have plateaued, but it’s up to insurance carriers on whether ships can return to the Red Sea. However, in the shipping world, if there’s a risk, you have to prepare for it, and if there's a way to get around it, then you should, which is what we’re seeing.
[31:31] Christopher emphasizes the need to focus on safety first to mitigate the challenges that these geopolitical situations and other factors, such as the Panama Canal congestion, are having on the freight industry. After that, you can consider the main goal and the needs of your customer base. It’s all a calculation of speed, distance, risk, and customer needs to find the best solution to the problem.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

From One Truck to Large Brokerage: PDQ America’s Story with Michael Clements and Aaron Dunn Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Aaron Dunn, Director of Sales and Marketing at PDQ America, and Michael Clements, President at PDQ America.
Join them as they:

Dig into the story behind PDQ America
Explore PDQ’s pretty darn quick attitude
Share the conversation that led to their podcast, Trucking for Millennials
Highlight some of the key learnings from running Trucking for Millennials
And more!

Michael Clements is the President of PDQ America, an asset-light freight brokerage specializing in open deck hauling. Aaron Dunn is the Director of Sales and Marketing at PDQ America, responsible for building relationships with customers and carriers alongside leading brand positioning, marketing strategy, podcast production, optimized digital media creation, and distribution. He currently Co-Hosts Trucking for Millennials with Michael, where they discuss trucking news and engage with transportation and logistics professionals.
Episode Highlights:
[02:13] PDQ America started in 2013 with a flatbed truck and a 32 ft gooseneck trailer. Taking things one load at a time, the business quickly grew to needing another truck and trailer and Michael had to wrap his head around the laws that came with owning a truck business. Several months in, they got their first big truck: a 2007 Freightliner Columbia, which was quickly followed by a 2011 Freightliner Cascadia. However, the rapid success might have been too good to be true. PDQ started out in the hauling of oil and gas products in a period of snatch and grab. Though he hates to admit it, it gave Michael a false bottom for where the business could go.
[10:04] PDQ stands for pretty darn quick. It started off as a hotshot. They had guaranteed work from day one but going with a hotshot model guaranteed affordability. Michael pretty much walked into a perfect situation. The original truck and trailer pair came from someone local passing away and their wife selling it on to a dealership who then passed it onto PDQ. This gave them the perfect starting point for those first two years of growth. But once oil and gas took a major hit in 2015, Michael started losing customers and went into a lot of debt that he had to work his way out of, going down to just two drivers and trying to get by as best they could. It was this slump that led the company to rebrand to a logistic company that did both brokerage and trucking, changing its name from PDQ Trucking to PDQ America.
[20:57] In 2019, Michael wanted to start a podcast for PDQ, sharing their journey and trucking news. He put out feelers on LinkedIn and someone tagged Aaron, who at the time, was out in the wild creating a local podcast. They met up and Michael shared his idea of Trucking for Millennials. Aaron’s background was not in trucking, it was in car sales and marketing. With a keen eye for creating content and building a message, he was always looking for local people to think in innovative ways about marketing. When he saw Michael’s post on LinkedIn, he knew he had to meet him and hear his ideas. It was pretty much a yes from the get-go, and Aaron was keen to learn about the trucking industry and apply his skills to it.
[29:44] Through Trucking for Millennials, Aaron has got to learn more about the industry every day through his own experience and through the lens of the people they interview. Over the past four years, he has compounded his knowledge by having more and more conversations with truckers, technicians, brokers, vendors, and any other logistics role you can think of. Everyone has a unique perspective of the industry and all of those together have given him a true perspective on what’s going on, as well as how it’s evolving. When he started out, there was fallout from ELD mandates, and then rates shot up, and then COVID hit. Through each fluctuation, Aaron has learned more about the industry that he can bring to the podcast himself. That being said, through every conversation and change in the industry, one thing is commonly said: collaboration and discussion are paramount in the trucking industry.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Bad Carriers? With Cassandra Gaines, Founder and CEO of Carrier Assure Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Cassandra Gaines, Founder and CEO of Carrier Assure. Tune in to hear Cassandra’s story, how she suddenly found herself in the world of trucking law, and how her years in multiple businesses led to her devising the software system Carrier Assure that would change the face of trucking in America forever.
Cassandra is a world-class trucking lawyer who’s worked with the likes of Lewis Brisbois, Echo Global Logistics, and Schneider National. You may know her as the host of “MadGaines”, the live trucking show launched from her MadGaines podcast that made transportation law exciting!
Episode Highlights:
[02:17] - Cassandra shares her journey on the road to becoming a Trucking Lawyer, from early days fresh-out-of-college, working in sales, and how the threat of losing her job pushed her to move to law school. Cassandra shares how law school retrained her brain and helped her on the path to becoming a full-fledged trucking lawyer, working under Jeffrey Simmons on a range of trucking-related cases.
[11:23] - Cassandra tells us about the differences between being a lawyer at a law firm, being a lawyer in-house, and working for her own business. She explains that learning how to balance business concerns, and understanding the practicalities of everything, is a fun experience to go through. We hear a story about her past role at GlobalTranz, how she made a mistake with the compliance team, and how she learned from that experience. From there, the conversation turns to her own experience of running her own business, and the process of learning to delegate and how to hire the right people.
[20:32] - In 2018, Cassandra received many messages from companies asking for legal advice. After realizing money was an issue for these people, Cassandra grabbed her phone and started making online content to help answer their questions. After a couple years of this, the pandemic hit. Cassandra, then, started doing live Q&As online to help the trucking industry. That is when everything changed.
[30:30] - Cassandra tells us how shockingly difficult the lack of an industry standard for carrier vetting was, and how RMIS helped her and her team save loads of time. But how do you know who’s good and who’s bad after that initial vetting? Cassandra brought in software developers to produce Carrier Assure: a complimentary system to RMIS that would help organize and grade existing carriers.
[36:38] - Cassandra tells us about the flood of messages she started receiving from truckers who had been given bad grades on Carrier Assure. It was a big mountain to get over, and she explains how she is working to introduce processes to help drivers improve - but it wasn’t the easiest road at all.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Combating Human Trafficking in the Trucking Industry with Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach for Truckers Against Trafficking Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach for Truckers Against Trafficking.
Join them as they:

Discuss Laura's journey into the world of advocating against human trafficking
Elaborate on the free training and materials they give to create awareness to over one million people on human trafficking
Explain that anyone can be a victim of human trafficking
And more!

Laura Cyrus is the amicable Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach for Truckers Against Trafficking, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit organization that trains truck drivers to recognize and report instances of human trafficking. She is a passionate advocate for the well-being of victims of trafficking in the Logistics sector.
Episode Highlights:
[07:12] - Laura shares her deeply personal journey, revealing the transformative path from facing personal struggles to becoming a dedicated advocate against human trafficking. She emphasizes how her challenges fueled a passionate commitment to making a positive impact. This personal evolution is a powerful motivation throughout her involvement with Truckers Against Trafficking, illustrating the resilience and determination needed to turn adversity into a mission of helping others.
[18:37] - Truckers Against Trafficking offers free training resources designed to educate truck drivers and industry professionals on identifying and reporting human trafficking. These materials include educational videos, brochures, and online courses. The training equips individuals with the knowledge to recognize signs of trafficking, understand the importance of their role in combating it, and provide practical steps on how to respond and report suspicious activities. Laura mentions that by making these resources freely accessible, the organization aims to empower a wide range of people within the trucking industry to contribute actively to preventing and detecting human trafficking incidents.
[27:04] - Who are the victims of human trafficking? Laura Cyrus says anyone can be a victim, highlighting that human trafficking doesn't discriminate based on gender or age. Men, women, boys, and girls can all become victims. Notably, she stresses that many victims have some connection to their traffickers, whether through relationships, acquaintances, or familial ties. There is a need for a broad understanding of vulnerability factors to combat this issue effectively. By recognizing and addressing these diverse vulnerabilities, Truckers Against Trafficking aims to bring a more comprehensive and impactful approach to the fight against human trafficking.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Delivering the Capitol Christmas Tree with Tim Dean, Jesus Davila, Steve and Gina Jones Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

In this special holiday episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto brings together truck drivers from Werner Transportation, Tim Dean, Jesus Davila, Steve and Gina Jones, to discuss their unique journey delivering the 2023 Christmas tree from West Virginia to the nation's Capital.
Join them as they:

Celebrate delivering the Capitol Christmas tree from its forest location to the Capitol lawn.
Delve into insights and advice on safety, distractions, and patience from experienced truckers.
Discuss Gina's role in encouraging female drivers
And more!

Jesus Davila, a leader in Werner's Operation Freedom Fleet, holds over 550,000 accident-free miles. He's earned titles like ATA America’s Road Team Captain and Werner Road Team Captain. With 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and multiple prestigious awards, he values family time when not on the road with his wife, Michelle, and their children.
Tim Dean, a standout driver, achieved five million accident-free miles, a rare feat at Werner. His extensive career includes roles as ATA America’s Road Team Captain and mentor. He's a Nebraska Truck Driving Championships champion, earning accolades like the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance IDEA and Nebraska Trucking Association Driver of the Year.
Gina Jones, with over a million accident-free miles, is a distinguished figure in trucking. She serves as both ATA America’s Road Team Captain and Werner Road Team Captain, advocating for women in the industry. Gina, alongside her husband Steve, is a key part of Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet.
Steve Jones, with over a million accident-free miles, is committed to safety and excellence. Alongside Gina, he supports students in truck driving schools and actively participates in committees at Werner. His prior service in the US Army for seven years reflects his dedication to service, which he carried into his trucking career.
Episode Highlights:

[22:20] Tim and Jesus had the unique responsibility of transporting a 63-foot Norway spruce Capitol Christmas Tree from the Monongahela National Forest to Washington, D.C. They described the stops, interaction with communities, and the warmth received. They shared experiences driving through small towns and engaging with people, including a visit to the West Virginia capital with thousands in attendance. They also encountered challenges, including navigating tight roads and receiving overwhelming community support at multiple stops. They both speak to embracing learning opportunities, reflecting on experiences, and valuing the relationships built along the journey.
[31:55] Steve and Gina managed the delivery of 10,000+ handmade ornaments from West Virginia, ensuring safe transportation to D.C. Additionally, they delivered companion trees to military bases and governmental buildings, culminating in a touching delivery to service members' families, reflecting on the emotional impact of their work as couples working together.
[35:15] The team encountered significant challenges navigating Washington, D.C.'s streets, especially during the last mile of the delivery process. Despite having law enforcement escorts, dealing with malfunctioning gates and traffic required careful maneuvering to ensure the safe arrival of the Capitol Christmas Tree.
[39:16] Tim, Jesus, Steve, and Gina shared valuable advice for new truckers, emphasizing safety, attention to detail, patience, humility, and gratitude for family support. The drivers stressed the significance of safe driving practices, including avoiding distractions like mobile phones, wearing seat belts, meticulous planning, remaining humble, and acknowledging the critical role of family in their journeys.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Frozen Freight: How Nicole Glenn of Candor Expedite is Revolutionizing the Trucking World Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Nicole Glenn, Founder and CEO of Candor Expedite.
Join them as they:

Delve into Nicole’s unexpected entrance to trucking
Discuss Nicole’s decision to found her own business
Explore the highs and lows of expedited work
Explain Nicole’s recent foray into frozen freight
And more!

Nicole has been in the haulage and logistics industry for over twenty years. Described as having logistics “in her DNA”, she is an accomplished manager and leader. She’s worked for many big Logistics companies across the US, from Chicago to Dallas Fort Worth, where she founded her own business, Candor Expedite. Nicole is also a panelist on the Ladies Leadership Coalition podcast, celebrating women in the supply chain industry.
Episode Highlights:
[04:55] Nicole didn’t find trucking; trucking found her. While working a retail job at an automotive store, Nicole served a customer who was impressed with her memory, giving her a makeshift business card and asking her to give him a call. Hedging her bets, she called him up, and he offered her $10 an hour for filing. This was her entry into the logistics world. Over time, they gradually moved from handwritten receipts to accounting software, and she moved through roles, ending up as a backhaul dispatcher before moving on to other companies, gradually rising to President of one business.
[12:09] After a decent stint as the leader of someone else’s company, Nicole made the leap to found her own. It came when she was on vacation, receiving calls about things going wrong that she needed to fix. She took a moment to reflect and realized she was ready to take on the responsibility for herself, deciding to leave the company. She didn’t leave for several months due to the busy seasons they were heading into, but she left once she could, starting up her own business. She initially didn’t love her own company as much as the old one, partially due to going from a huge team to nobody, but she’s glad she leapt.
[21:18] From working in an expediting organization at age 23 to now owning Candor Expedite, Nicole has seen both the highs and lows of the sector. The sector revolves around solving a problem for someone, but it can be tough to get customers because they need to trust you to get involved. Over time, she has built credibility through testimonials, stories, and case studies, but it was incredibly difficult to start out. Now that she is trusted, however, relationships have completely flipped. She is now tasked with the most random and often complex things a shipper could imagine.
[26:59] Nicole and her team recently stepped into frozen freight. Having served many fast food retailers and food companies, they were often asked to move frozen products but could never find refrigerated expediting equipment. It just wasn't commonly available. Nicole ended up talking to a buddy working in supply chains, and they found a wrap product that could sustain the temperature of a skid. It wasn’t good enough, so Nicole kept searching and utilizing her network, eventually finding a product used in the pharmaceutical world for products that needed to be kept cool. Putting it into practice, they have found that it can hold food at the same temperature, whether fresh or frozen, through five days of shipment. There’s even a live feed on it so that both the company and customers are aware if things go awry with the temperature maintenance and can work to fix it. If it weren’t for Nicole’s attitude towards solving problems, she wouldn’t have ever found this solution.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

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