Let's Talk Logistics

Straight talk about freight.

A podcast and a newsletter from Rocket Shipping's CEO, Gabe Pankonin. Founders, carriers, recruiters, analysts and operators on what's really happening in LTL, home delivery and freight tech — long conversations, short news briefs, and the occasional strong opinion.

Latest episode · Interview

Michael Caney

Let's Talk Logistics with Michael Caney

May 5, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

Michael Caney, co-founder of Highway, built the identity and compliance infrastructure that the freight industry should have had a decade ago — and grew from zero to 1,200 broker customers in four years because there was simply nothing else. In this episode, he breaks down the three types of freight fraud, how organized crime has turned cargo theft into a scalable operation, and why Highway is building less like a startup and more like Visa. Plus: why AI in carrier sales is the wrong first use case, what actually moves a broker’s P&L, and why posting loads in public is intelligence leakage.

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Every episode

Long-form conversations with founders, carriers, recruiters and analysts, plus the short news briefs recorded from the desk when the market did something worth talking about.

Interview · Apr 28, 2026 · 46 min

Danielle Spinelli

Danielle Spinelli spent 8 years as a broker moving high-value freight — copper, electrical, postal — and getting hit by cargo theft enough times to make it her mission. Now Director of Partnerships at Gen Logs, she breaks down how cargo theft has evolved from smash-and-grab to sophisticated load hostages and overseas shipments, why your vetting process might be blocking good carriers while bad actors slip through, and how AI is now arming thieves faster than the industry is adapting.

Interview · Apr 21, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

Kara Brown

Kara Brown, CEO of Lead Coverage, breaks down why she’s not ready to hand her operating system to Anthropic, how press releases are now feeding LLM search results, and the intent data framework producing 40% call conversion rates for freight brokers. This episode dives into AEO, TAM building, the death of Google Cookies, and why the freight companies that figure out go-to-market right now will be the ones that stop grinding and start winning.

Interview · Apr 14, 2026 · 59 min

Shannon Breen

Shannon Breen left Knight Swift as SVP of Logistics, built FreightVana into a top-100 brokerage in four years, and has a data model that explains exactly why trucking rates have to go up — regardless of what demand does. This episode breaks down the 22-26% gap between contract rates and the real cost to serve, what the non-domiciled CDL crackdown is actually doing to capacity, and why Shannon believes 15-20% rate increases are coming whether shippers like it or not.

Interview · Apr 7, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

Jeff Dangelo

Jeff Dangelo, breaks down how RA is acquiring and scaling brokerages, using AI to automate operations, and turning tech into a real growth lever instead of just another shiny tool. This episode dives into acquisitions, freight tech, AI voice agents, and why the next winners in logistics will be the ones built to move faster with fewer people.

Interview · Sep 18, 2025 · 49 min

Tapan Chaudhari

Tapan Chaudhari, founded Bubba.ai to fix what small carriers struggle with—dispatch. A voice-first AI that books loads, negotiates, and flags the fine print, it keeps one-to-five truck fleets running without offshore help. No fluff—just AI that works while the driver’s still in the seat.

Interview · Aug 21, 2025 · 58 min

Grace Maher

Grace Maher, helped turn OTR Solutions from a five-person startup into one of freight’s leading FinTechs—without losing sight of what carriers actually need. Inside: how factoring really works, where fraud is evolving, and why consolidation plays won’t fix broken execution. From instant funding to AI-backed auditing, this is what modern back-office support should look like. No fluff—just real talk from someone who’s still in it.

Interview · Aug 14, 2025 · 56 min

Ben Tschirgi

Ben Tschirgi, spent a decade selling freight before launching Science of Sales to fix what most teams get wrong—cold outreach. Inside: hitting the inbox, writing messages that actually get replies, and out-selling bigger teams without the bloat. No fluff—just tactics that win.

Interview · Jul 29, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

Lance Healy, Scooter Sayers, Curtis Garrett

The NMFC got a major overhaul.

Interview · Jul 10, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

Ben Jackson

Ben Jackson, built Bungii to deliver big and bulky freight—then COVID wiped out 95% of their revenue overnight. Instead of folding, they cut ad spend, rebuilt the model, and turned it into a B2B delivery machine with 15,000+ drivers and zero churn. This episode covers Final Mile execution, why agent networks are broken, and how to actually scale in this market. No fluff—just one of the best pivots in freight.

Interview · Jun 26, 2025 · 57 min

Charlie Saffro

Charlie Saffro, never set out to build a top logistics recruiting firm, but CS Recruiting became just that. This episode dives into their rise, why most companies struggle to hire top talent, and how M&A, AI, and inbound strategies are transforming freight. Must-listen for anyone in logistics looking to hire smarter.

Interview · Jun 19, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min

Kara Brown

Kara Brown, built the biggest GTM firm in freight—and she did it by staying laser-focused on what actually drives revenue. This episode covers why most brokers get ICP wrong, how to catch the 5% of buyers ready to move, and where inbound signals are hiding in plain sight. If you’re trying to grow in this market, start here.

Interview · Jun 12, 2025 · 44 min

Clay Curran

Clay Curran, co-founder of FreshX, joined the pod to talk about solving one of LTL’s hardest problems: reefer. From last mile pilots to a full-on freight brokerage pivot, he breaks down how they landed on a software solution that actually works—giving brokers instant access to reefer capacity across 80+ carriers. No transaction fees. No messy workarounds. Just real rates and real coverage.

Interview · May 29, 2025 · 50 min

Garrett Allen

Garrett Allen, built LoadPartner, the first open-source TMS for freight brokers. We talk about why most platforms slow brokers down, how AI makes it easier to build what you need, and why owning your tech stack changes everything.

Interview · May 22, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

Ken Adamo

Ken Adamo has been in data long enough to know what’s broken—and who’s just making noise. We got into freight platforms, media takes, and why he’s still the one people call when things go off the rails. No hype. Just the stuff that actually matters.

Interview · May 15, 2025 · 56 min

Steve Cox

Steve Cox, has seen every side of freight—CH Robinson, Access America, Coyote, and now Steam. We get into what it takes to build a $600M logistics company, how to survive the downcycle, and why the real risk is waiting too long. Worth the listen.

Interview · May 8, 2025 · 51 min

Chris Brewer

Chris Brewer built River City Logistics from the ground up—no VC, no shortcuts, just grit. We get into what it takes to scale a brokerage with assets and warehousing, why he still trains every new hire, and the moment he knew he had to fire a top performer. Freight built for the long haul. Worth the listen.

Interview · May 1, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

Sam Tibbs

Sam Tibbs, built Trochi.AI to change how rate products work for brokers—giving them real control over their data and a piece of the upside. This episode breaks down why the old model fell apart, how better data shifts the market, and why broker ownership could change everything. A sharp look at where freight tech is heading. Worth the listen.

News brief · Apr 28, 2025 · 15 min

English Now Required For Truck Drivers?

A new executive order could take truckers off the road if they can't speak English — and it’s already sparking a fight. We break down what’s actually changing, why it matters for road safety, jobs, and immigration, and where the real friction points are. Forget the headlines — here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes.

Interview · Apr 24, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

Matt Silver

Matt Silver, built Forager, sold it, and is back with Cargado. This one gets into cross-border freight, near shoring, and what it actually takes to build freight tech. Sharp, honest, and worth a listen.

News brief · Apr 22, 2025 · 12 min

Shopify and Chat GPT Shopping Integration?

​ChatGPT is getting a shopping cart. Leaked code points to a possible Shopify integration, letting users browse and buy products directly in the chat. No official confirmation yet, but the implications for e-commerce, logistics, and AI-driven retail are massive. We break down the clues, the stakes, and what it means if your go-to AI assistant starts selling.

Interview · Apr 17, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson, from JOC stopped by to talk about freight, media, and what happens when AI starts doing everyone’s job—including journalists. We got into the chaos around tariffs, why broker CEOs stay quiet, and where SaaS in freight tech might be heading. A little spicy, a lot relevant. Worth the listen. Key Chapters:

News brief · Apr 15, 2025 · 13 min

2025 Freight Rankings and What They Really Reveal

The 2025 3PL rankings are out, and the picture isn’t exactly pretty. Slower growth, shifting positions, and trade pressure are forcing even the biggest names to rethink their playbook.

Interview · Apr 10, 2025 · 49 min

Jesse Buckingham

Jesse Buckingham, helped sell Trucker Tools and ran private equity-backed freight tech—now he’s building AI agents to kill the busywork in brokerage. We get into why scaling with headcount is dead, how mid-size brokers can punch above their weight, and what AI actually means for freight. Key Chapters: (0:00) Introduction and Background (1:02) Founding and Early Days of Vooma

Interview · Apr 3, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

Bharath Krishnamoorthy

Bharath Krishnamoorthy, left law to fix how money moves in freight. We get into why brokers struggle with cash flow, how Denim is leveling the playing field, and why automation—not headcount—is the path to growth.

Interview · Mar 27, 2025 · 55 min

Pat Martin

Pat Martin, has helped turn Estes into the largest privately held LTL carrier in North America. Now he’s behind V53, a freight-focused VC fund backing software that actually gets used. This episode breaks down how Estes weathered Yellow’s collapse and a cyberattack in the same year, what most venture firms miss about selling to shippers and carriers, and why follow-through—not funding—is what separates the real players.

News brief · Mar 25, 2025 · 11 min

USPS Power Shift: DeJoy Out, Commerce In

DeJoy’s out. Commerce is circling. The USPS reorg just got a plot twist—and now a Wall Street exec wants to run your mail. Is this the start of privatization or just another political flex? Let’s get into it.

Interview · Mar 20, 2025 · 51 min

Reed Loustalot

Reed Loustalot, went from ship posting to running marketing for one of the fastest-growing marketplaces in freight. Now, as CMO of Truck Parking Club, he’s tackling one of trucking’s biggest pain points—finding a place to park. We get into brand-building, distribution, and why attention is everything in logistics.

Interview · Mar 13, 2025 · 57 min

Dawn Favier

Dawn Favier, built GreenScreens.ai into a powerhouse in freight tech, and now Triumph Financial is acquiring it. We get into why GreenScreens wasn’t for sale, what made Triumph the right buyer, and how they built the industry’s most accurate AI-powered pricing.

News brief · Mar 10, 2025 · 14 min

TQL vs. Pink Cheetah: The $9B Broker Transparency Battle

One ice cream load just blew the lid off broker transparency. A small carrier vs. TQL, a 44% broker margin, and a lawsuit that could rewrite the rules of freight. Is this the moment brokers finally get checked—or just another industry power play? Let’s get into it.

Interview · Mar 6, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

Brent Orsuga

Brent Orsuga, has spent 16 years placing top freight talent and watching 3PLs finally ditch mediocrity. We break down why companies are upgrading instead of expanding, how AI only works if your team is already elite, and what top brokerages are doing to stay ahead.

News brief · Mar 3, 2025 · 9 min

Greenscreens.ai Acquired by Triumph Financial—and are Tariffs Back?

Freight tech just landed a $160M win with Greenscreens.ai’s acquisition, but Trump’s fresh tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China might throw a curveball. Can AI rise above the trade chaos—or is this a meltdown in the making? Here’s the breakdown.

News brief · Feb 24, 2025 · 13 min

Dejoy's Exit and the Privatization of USPS

DeJoy is out, Trump is eyeing control, and privatizing USPS is back on the table. Is this shift a political power play for the White House…or the beginning of the end for the Postal Service as we know it?

Interview · Feb 20, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

Will Jenkins

Will Jenkins, built and sold a billion-dollar brokerage, ditched the corporate playbook, and launched Journey to fix how brokers hire and train. We get into his exit, why AI is the future of sales training, and what’s actually working in freight right now.

News brief · Feb 17, 2025 · 10 min

SNAP, RFK Jr., and the Future of CPG Logistics

RFK Jr. wants to flip SNAP on its head—less junk food, more fresh produce, and a total shake-up for the food industry. Big brands will have to adapt, logistics will get messy, and prices? They’re not staying put. Smart reform or a supply chain disaster? Let’s get into it.

Interview · Feb 13, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

Will Nitze

Will Nitze took IQBAR from his kitchen to 10,000+ retail doors—without wasting cash or losing control. Kickstarter, Amazon, and scaling a CPG brand the smart way. No fluff, just what actually works.

News brief · Feb 10, 2025 · 15 min

MyCarrier vs. Project44: The Fight Over Freight Data

A 700% price hike. An ulterior motive to cut ties. A lawsuit that exposed everything. MyCarrierTMS and Project44 went from partners to courtroom rivals—and it's escalating fast. Listen to hear about how it all went down.

Interview · Feb 6, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min

Krystian Gebis

Krystian Gebis, co-founder of FreightCaviar and ShipperCRM, went from self-driving trucks to fixing how brokers find shippers. He breaks down turning a meme page into a business, using AI to clean up prospecting, and what’s actually working in freight sales.

News brief · Feb 3, 2025 · 15 min

Trump Tariffs and the De Minimis Exemption

The rules of trade are shifting fast—Section 321 started as a paperwork fix, but now it’s a global trade cheat code. Billions in duty-free imports, enforcement cracks, and Congress finally paying attention. Is it a free-market win or a policy failure? Let’s get into it.

Interview · Jan 30, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

Gero Keil

Gero Keil , shares how Levity is using AI to solve real logistics challenges. From DeepSeek's game-changing potential to automating the email chaos in freight, this episode explores smarter strategies for scaling in the freight world. If you’re not thinking about AI yet, this is your wake-up call.

News brief · Jan 27, 2025 · 15 min

The AI 'Sputnik Moment'

The rules of AI are shifting fast—DeepSeek’s R1 AI model is breaking new ground with open-source innovation, low-cost training, and global implications. What does this mean for the future of tech?

News brief · Jan 20, 2025 · 19 min

ZYN, J.B. Hunt, and the 2025 Inauguration

The rules are changing fast—whether it’s the FDA shocking the nicotine industry with the news about ZYN, Mexico's overhauling trade policies with the 321 Rule, or this historic 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration adapting to last-minute chaos.

Interview · Jan 9, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

Tim Higham

Tim Higham, founder of Ascend TMS, shares his journey from bootstrapping a brokerage to building a game-changing TMS platform. Hear how he disrupted the freight tech space with a no-nonsense approach to profitability, employee retention, and AI-driven innovation. Discover what’s driving real change in freight technology.

Interview · Jan 2, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

Eric Krueger

Eric Krueger shares how Navix is shaking up LTL freight audit and payment with a tech-first approach. Learn how automation and transparency are helping brokerages optimize cash flow and streamline operations.

Interview · Dec 19, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min

Matthew Leffler

Matthew Leffler, the Armchair Attorney, dives into freight’s legal chaos, broken agency models, and the rise of AI in logistics. Discover what’s reshaping the industry and how shippers can stay ahead of the curve.

Interview · Dec 12, 2024 · 1 hr 2 min

Cameron Robertson

Cameron Robertson shares his journey leading 3PL Systems, tackling challenges like COVID, non-competes, and embracing AI in logistics. Hear how he’s shaping the future of 3PL, making tough calls, and building lasting relationships in the industry.

Interview · Dec 5, 2024 · 55 min

Chris Jolly

Chris Jolly dives into the highs and lows of building a freight business in today’s market. Hear how he’s growing with grit, tackling drayage, and redefining what it means to lead in logistics with real-world expertise.

Interview · Nov 27, 2024 · 1 hr 5 min

Chadd Olesen

Chadd Olesen talks about the challenges and successes of building, pivoting, and innovating in freight tech. Find out how AVRL is leading the way with creative automation and fresh strategies to tackle real industry challenges.

Interview · Nov 21, 2024 · 55 min

Jonathan Salama

Jonathan Salama shares what it’s really like to build and transform a company with freight tech. His company Transfix shifted from brokerage to tech, empowering brokers with tools to thrive in today’s market using the right tools. Here’s why.

Interview · Nov 14, 2024 · 1 hr 18 min

Lance Healy

As the founder of FreightFacts.io , Lance Healy gets real about what it takes to build, grow, and pivot in the logistics industry. Watch more to hear why he’s not afraid to keep innovating and how he's shaking things up with accountability and performance metrics shippers can actually use.

Interview · Nov 7, 2024 · 1 hr 36 min

Todd Fain

Todd Fain has seen the industry’s worst inefficiencies firsthand – and he’s not holding back. Tune in to find out how freight’s forgotten problems are holding shippers back, and why it’s costing more than you’d think.

Hosted by Gabe Pankonin, CEO of Rocket Shipping.

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