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 issue

Skill, Portfolio, or Physics

Sep 7, 2026 · 11 min read

I promised to tell you which final-mile provider was winning on execution. Then I pulled the quarterly filings and found something worse: all three raised the price of a stop, and all three lost margin anyway.

Read the issueSubscribe on LinkedIn

Every issue

Sep 7, 2026 · 11 min read

Skill, Portfolio, or Physics

I promised to tell you which final-mile provider was winning on execution. Then I pulled the quarterly filings and found something worse: all three raised the price of a stop, and all three lost margin anyway.

Read the issue →

Aug 31, 2026 · 11 min read

I Was Half Right

Six months ago I said the AI labs would set freight's pace. Here's the scoreboard, what I got wrong, and what this newsletter is going to be from here on out.

Read the issue →

Mar 6, 2026 · 7 min read

It’s So Easy a Freight Broker Can Do It

5 AI plays you can run without a TMS, a dev, or an IT ticket.

Read the issue →

Feb 24, 2026 · 11 min read

Sauron's Gaze: AI is Reshaping Logistics

A no-fluff read on the Algorhythm Holdings stock shock, and why the big AI labs, not the brokers or the shippers, will set the pace of change in freight.

Read the issue →

Jul 22, 2025 · 7 min read

LTL Shipping Insights: Navigating the Landmark 2025 NMFC Changes

In the fast-paced world of supply chain and logistics, few updates carry as much weight as the recent overhaul of the NMFC system by the NMFTA.

Read the issue →

Apr 25, 2025 · 10 min read

LTL Curbside Delivery is Broken

The hidden costs, operational strain, customer fallout and returns headaches of LTL curbside delivery for big and bulky items, and what comes next.

Read the issue →

Apr 17, 2025 · 9 min read

The Top 100 3PL’s List is Here: It Confirms a Continued Freight Recession

The Transport Topics Top 100 Logistics Companies list for 2025 lays bare a sobering truth for the third-party logistics (3PL) industry: the era of relentless growth has slammed into a wall.

Read the issue →

Apr 9, 2025 · 8 min read

What the ‘Limited Access’?

Limited access delivery fees for LTL shipments typically range from $75 to $150 per shipment, though this can vary by carrier.

Read the issue →

Apr 4, 2025 · 5 min read

The End of the De Minimus Exemption and Its Impact on America

The Trump administration will terminate the De Minimus exemption for goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025, likely raising costs for consumers and hitting e-commerce giants like TEMU and Shein hard.

Read the issue →

Feb 28, 2025 · 5 min read

Q4 2024 Earnings Report

The Q4 2024 earnings reports for publicly traded LTL carriers is intriguing to say the least.

Read the issue →

Feb 21, 2025 · 4 min read

Incoming NMFTA Classification Changes in 2025

On July 19, 2025, the NMFTA is rolling out a major overhaul to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system, impacting how freight is classified and priced.

Read the issue →

Feb 7, 2025 · 3 min read

The De Minimis Exemption: A Backdoor That’s Being Slammed Shut

The De Minimis exemption lets goods valued under $800 enter the U.S. without paying import duties or going through standard customs processes.

Read the issue →

Jan 31, 2025 · 4 min read

The AI 'Sputnik Moment'

America’s dominance in artificial intelligence is teetering on the edge—and nowhere is that more relevant than in the logistics industry.

Read the issue →

Jan 24, 2025 · 6 min read

The VC Mirage: Why Bootstrapped Logistics Wins in the Long Run

Have you ever wondered why some of the loudest new freight startups suddenly disappear—despite raising a boatload of Venture Capital?

Read the issue →

Jan 17, 2025 · 4 min read

Freight Tech FOMO: When New Tools Cost You More Than They Help

Here’s a scenario you might recognize: your competitors just announced they’ve adopted the latest TMS, CRM, AI-powered load-matching algorithm, you name it.

Read the issue →

Jan 10, 2025 · 4 min read

East Coast Port Strike Averted—What It Means for Your Supply Chain

A major disruption to East and Gulf Coast ports was narrowly avoided this week.

Read the issue →

Jan 3, 2025 · 3 min read

Cash Flow: The Quiet Engine of Brokerage Dominance

In brokerage, there’s no shortage of focus on revenue growth and tech investments—but cash flow is the strategic advantage we don’t talk about enough.

Read the issue →

Dec 20, 2024 · 4 min read

From Offshore to AI: Freight Brokerage is Getting Disrupted

For an industry built on the movement of goods, logistics has historically been slow to move on innovation.

Read the issue →

Showing 18 of 68 issues

Join the 6,000+ subscribers who stay a step ahead

Every issue on LTL and home delivery, straight from the desk — carrier earnings, NMFC changes, pricing and the rest of it.

Subscribe on LinkedIn

Enough listening. Let's talk about your freight.

15 minutes with people who ship sofas, pergolas and squat racks for a living. Bring your worst lane — we'll bring ideas.

Book a meetingListen to the podcast