The Freight Coach Podcast

1361. #TFCP - Inside Freight Fraud: How Scammers Infiltrate Brokerages & How to Stop It!

Is freight fraud really just "part of doing business" now, or are we finally at a breaking point? And what happens when organized crime syndicates start treating the freight industry like a cash machine? Listen to John Cantera of Freight Fraud Task Force Inc. in this conversation sharing how freight fraud has evolved from basic double brokering into full-blown cargo theft fueled by international and domestic criminal networks, why broker apathy, cost-driven booking decisions, and inconsistent vetting are putting legitimate carriers at serious risk, and how rising insurance costs and market pressure are squeezing the wrong players out. John also explains how education, intelligence sharing, audits, and financial enforcement are becoming the industry's best defense as FMCSA resources lag, the potential FMCSA reforms, the idea of universal carrier and CDL recertification, and why proactive fraud prevention isn't optional anymore if brokers, carriers, and shippers want to survive the next market cycle and restore trust across the supply chain! About John Cantera, Jr. Managing Director and Fraud Prevention Consultant - Vigilant Transportation Services Co-Founder and Vice Chairman - Freight Fraud Task Force Inc. From the Task Force site (about to launch) - John is a 25-year veteran and leader in logistics and supply chain management. He prioritizes integrity, service before self, and excellence in all that he does, values instilled in him during his time as a U.S. Air Force Logistics Readiness Officer. Throughout his career, John has excelled in complex environments that require innovative thinking and the ability to operate outside the box. His experience spans various aspects of the domestic supply chain, including multi-site warehousing, port terminals, and fleet and broker operations. He gained the nickname "Double Broker Bounty Hunter" during his five-year battle against fraud. John is particularly skilled in investigations and risk management and serves as the face of the Freight Fraud Task Force, hosting their podcasts and webinars. Connect with John Website: https://www.freightfraudtaskforce.com/ / https://vigilanttransport.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freight-fraud-task-force-llc/ 📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars! To Find Out More About My Freight Services Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/ 🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/ Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/ Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr 🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/ 🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

1360. #TFCP - Weather Shock or Market Shift? Where Are Margins Headed?!

In this episode, we'll hear what can happen when brokers aren't financially prepared to weather market swings and how new regulations reshape the freight landscape with today's returning guest, Ken Adamo from DAT Freight & Analytics! We break down the new FMCSA broker financial responsibility rule, why automatic authority revocation within seven days is a necessary step toward freight market stability, stronger broker compliance, and more reliable carrier payments, the current freight market conditions—rates are moving up, but volumes and gross margins are flat, putting real pressure on broker profitability heading into early 2026, and why transparent pricing, flexible 12-month contracts, and honest shipper conversations matter more than ever! About Ken Adamo Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics and Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at DAT Freight & Analytics, leads strategy, customer engagement, and industry analysis. He played a key role in DAT's acquisition of Trucker Tools, strengthening the company's visibility solutions. A recognized expert in freight market trends, Adamo has helped customers navigate shifting conditions by translating complex data into practical insights. He has led key strategic initiatives, advanced predictive analytics, and serves as a trusted resource for industry analysts, customers, and journalists. Before DAT, he led pricing and decision science teams at FedEx, developing forecasting models to optimize decision-making and profitability. He was named a 2025 Pro to Know (Rising Stars category) by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and trade publications. Ken holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Akron and an MBA from The Ohio State University. Connect with Ken Website: https://www.dat.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-adamo-8481611a/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/dat-freight-and-analytics/ 📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars! To Find Out More About My Freight Services Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/ 🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/ Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/ Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr 🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/ 🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

1359. #TFCP - Freight Market Reality: Capacity, Rates, and Spot Market Tips!

Are freight rates really stabilizing, or are we just riding another seasonal spike, and what does tighter CDL enforcement mean for capacity in 2026? Tune in today to learn the current freight market trends using real lane data and a strong outbound Minneapolis market! We dig into why lane-specific pricing, seasonal volatility, and inverse market flows matter more than headline spot rates, how brokers can protect margins with consistent pricing strategies, and what tightening truckload capacity—down roughly 7.5% since 2023—means for carriers and brokers heading into a muted 2026 demand outlook. We also get frank about the upcoming federal CDL compliance enforcement, why a uniform national standard is long overdue, and how safety-focused regulation can level the playing field for legitimate operators while seasonal tender rejection spikes and spot rate surges normalize post-holidays! Resources / References https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dot-fmcsa-power-test-2026 https://www.joc.com/article/separating-myth-from-reality-in-dry-van-truckload-capacity-6142668 https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2025s-peak-retail-season-the-best-for-trucking-in-years 📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars! To Find Out More About My Freight Services Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/ 🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/ Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/ Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr 🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/ 🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

1358. #TFCP - Stop Punishing the Good Guys: A Tax Credit Trucking Needs Now!

How bad has freight fraud really gotten, and what's it costing the carriers who are doing things the right way? Today, we've got Pamela Polyak from Polyak Trucking back to the show to explain how fraud in trucking is escalating fast and why legitimate carriers are being forced to spend more time proving they're real than actually moving freight! She talks about the outdated carrier vetting systems, rising insurance costs, stolen loads, and the growing compliance burden crushing small trucking companies, especially one-to-ten truck operations. We get into real solutions, including government-backed tax credits for compliant carriers, modernized federal databases, real-time carrier verification, stronger enforcement with meaningful penalties, and why rewarding good actors matters just as much as punishing bad ones. If you care about freight fraud prevention, carrier compliance, trucking industry reform, and protecting legitimate carriers from being priced out by criminals, this is a straight-shooting conversation you don't want to miss! Connect with Pamela Website: https://polyaktrucking.com/ / https://polyakconsulting.com/ Email: pam@polyaktrucking.com / pam@polyakconsulting.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pampolyak/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelapolyak/?hl=en 📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars! To Find Out More About My Freight Services Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/ 🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/ Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/ Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr 🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/ 🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

1357. #TFCP - How to Start Your Health Journey When You Don't Know Where to Begin!

Are you overcomplicating fitness before you even get started, or burning out chasing results that aren't sustainable? In this episode, Robert Bain is back to explain what real, long-term fitness actually looks like—starting simple with daily movement and understanding that fitness is a personal, multi-year journey, not a 30-day transformation. We talk realistic training strategies that balance intensity and recovery, why hydration is non-negotiable for performance and muscle recovery, and how chasing social-media physiques sets most people up for frustration. Robert also shares how losing and keeping off 75 pounds came down to consistency, portion control, and habit-building—not extreme workouts or supplements—and why the mental benefits of fitness, like better focus, confidence, and productivity, often matter more than the physical results! About Robert Bain Robert Bain, more commonly known as "Bain", has been involved with the transportation and logistics industry for nearly 2 decades. He has worked in a variety of operations and sales roles, from seat level all the way to VP of operations. He has worked for Amazing organizations such as CRST, UberFreight, Shipwell, Quad, and currently consults with the team at GLCS. He resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife Nikki, 4 children and granddaughter. When not engaged with family, clients, or in thought leadership within the sector via public appearances, interviews, and podcasts, Bain is typically in the gym maintaining his title of "The Strongest Man in Logistics". He boasts personal bests in competition of a 1063 lb Squat, 610 lb bench, 705 lb deadlift, and 2300 lb total. Connect with Robert Website: https://www.globallcs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-bain-435abb2b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bain316/?hl=en Email: rbain@glcs.net 📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars! To Find Out More About My Freight Services Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/ 🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/ Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/ Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr 🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/ 🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/