The Freight Coach Podcast

1376. #TFCP - W-2 to 1099: Why 2026 is the Year of the Independent Freight Agent!

Thinking about making the jump from W2 to independent freight agent, or wondering why so many agents struggle to scale and survive in the market? Erik Larson (Sage) is back on the show to break down what it really takes to succeed as an independent agent in today's freight brokerage and logistics market, starting with mindset, capital, and a realistic business plan for the 1099 transition! We talk about why revenue diversification is non-negotiable, how relying on one big shipper can put your entire operation at risk, and why your top customers should never control more than 10% of your revenue. We also cover the operational reality most people underestimate: the need for a full tech stack, proper insurance, legal counsel, and cash flow discipline to handle complex freight contracts and high-value moves. Don't miss out on hearing why partnering with a strong logistics company like SPI Logistics changed my business, reduced overhead risk, shortened sales cycles, and boosted credibility with larger shippers! Connect with Sage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SageOutcastX 📊📉 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/

1375. #TFCP - The Enterprise Gatekeeper: Why Your Lack of EDI is Killing Your Growth!

Find out if EDI is still the backbone of scalable freight operations and what happens when you stop penalizing brokers for growth in this episode with our returning guest, Brad Perling of Bitfreighter! Brad shares why their EDI-first freight technology strategy is quietly reshaping shipper integration, automated quoting, and brokerage scalability. Brad and I talk through why EDI remains the most reliable foundation for freight data integrity, how unlimited EDI messaging pricing removes one of the biggest cost barriers for growing brokerages, seamless integration through APIs and RPA across TMS platforms and load boards, and how real-time quoting analytics are driving millions in new revenue for customers. If you're a freight broker or shipper looking to scale without breaking your tech stack or your budget, this conversation lays out exactly why EDI (if done right) is still a competitive advantage in modern freight tech! About Brad Perling Brad Perling is the CEO and co-founder of Bitfreighter. With over 15 years of experience in the industry and growing 2 successful brokerages, Brad's deep understanding of logistics challenges has fueled his passion for finding better software solutions. He knew there was a need for a disruptive new model in the EDI space and was determined to create it. He has a passion for aviation and enjoys playing hockey and golf while spending time with his wife and 2 kids. Connect with Brad Website: https://www.bitfreighter.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-perling-5a101655/ 📊📉 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/

1374. #TFCP - The Hybrid Powerhouse: Human Intelligence in an AI Freight World!

Find out where the human edge and automation matter in freight brokerage in this episode with Alex Schick of Alliance Logistix, sharing how smart freight automation, carrier invoicing automation, and AI in logistics can drive efficiency without sacrificing carrier relationships or customer trust! Alex talk through why automating tedious tasks like carrier invoicing and document collection speeds payment cycles, reduces errors, and boosts carrier satisfaction, while keeping real humans front and center for load booking and relationship management, why AI should act as an assistant (not a replacement) for brokers, fleets, and driver managers, how tailored transportation technology beats bloated all-in-one systems, and why small fleets can dramatically improve profitability through better cost management, insurance shopping, and maintenance strategies. If you're a freight broker, fleet owner, or logistics leader trying to balance automation with personal service while protecting margins in a tight market, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately! About Alex Schick Alex embarked on his logistics adventure in 2007 at Intransit, which later transformed into DSV Road through several acquisitions. Starting from the bottom in tracking and tracing, he quickly climbed the ranks. By 2009, he was overseeing a small region of freight in Northern California. His responsibilities expanded significantly by 2014, when he began handling all customer bids, pricing, and rate structures for carriers. At that point, he also managed the operations side of about 40% of the branch's freight. In early 2017, he became the branch manager, overseeing the overall strategy and direction of the entire branch. From 2014 to the end of 2018, they grew from 7,000 truckloads per year to 55,000 truckloads per year as an agency. They expanded from 6 employees to 18 and from $5 million in revenue to almost $20 million. They were a bootstrapped company growing like crazy before the tech boom hit the industry. He left DSV in 2019 and joined Wilson Logistics in 2020. Together with his wife, Natalie, they started to rebuild. By the end of 2020, they had hired their first employee in their Wilson Agency. In early 2023, they departed the agent model and co-founded Alliance Logistix LLC. By late 2023, they ventured into asset-based trucking alongside their brokerage. Today, they have 12 employees in the brokerage, 7 drivers, and 2 employees at their asset company. They are currently handling volumes of more than 30,000 truckloads annually. With nearly two decades of industry experience, he's committed to fostering strong relationships, building alliances, and identifying synergies with their customers and carriers. They are focused on being a lean as possible, efficient as possible, and eliminating and/or automating repetitive and monotonous tasks with technology and automation. The most important thing is that they are keeping to their roots of the family feel for their customers, carriers, and employees alike. After all, in logistics, it's all about the journey and the company you keep! Connect with Alex Website: https://www.alliancelogistix.com/ Email: aschick@alliancelogistix.com Office Phone: 559-899-3177 📊📉 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/

1373. #TFCP - Nuclear Verdict Defense: Why Your DOT Files are a Legal Minefield!

Are you confident your compliance program would hold up under an FMCSA audit, and are you scaling your fleet without scaling your safety and risk management? Rob Carpenter from Trucksafe is back to discuss why organized compliance, defensible training, and real accountability are no longer optional in trucking! We explore how poor paperwork and weak policies can turn routine inspections into costly enforcement actions, why nearly 80% of driving skills are learned on the job (and how this creates serious legal exposure), and the growing accountability gap where drivers face severe penalties while carriers often escape consequences. We also cover FMCSA compliance reviews, ELD scrutiny, the role of technology in growing fleets, and why proactive safety training reduces accident severity and litigation risk. As regulatory scrutiny increases and bad actors face more exposure, carriers that invest in scalable compliance programs, driver training, and transparent documentation are the ones best positioned to protect their business and stay competitive in today's freight industry! Connect with Rob Website: https://www.trucksafe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carpenter-cds-cdm-e-74500977/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/robcarpenter 📊📉 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/

1372. #TFCP - Scaling Globally: How Outsourcing is Changing the 3PL Game!

What happens when sales slip, costs explode, and the market stays tough longer than anyone expected? How do you scale a freight brokerage without burning cash or losing focus? In this episode, our returning guest from Thrivemodal, Kyle Wilson, is back to explain why founders must stay relentlessly focused on business development and how outsourcing operations to the Philippines cuts monthly costs while improving scalability and service quality. Kyle also shares a grounded outlook on the 2026 freight market, infrastructure-driven demand, global workforce integration through cloud logistics technology, and why combining elite sales talent with lean operations is the real competitive advantage for modern freight brokerages! About Kyle Wilson For over a decade, I've been immersed in the dynamic worlds of strategic logistics and digital professionals, driven by an unwavering passion to help businesses thrive. As the founder of two successful companies, Thrivemodal and Yellow Diamond Logistics, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of seamless operations and a dedicated virtual workforce. At Thrivemodal, I've spearheaded the growth of a thriving virtual professional agency, connecting businesses across the US with exceptional talent from the Philippines. Our team of highly skilled global professionals seamlessly integrates into client operations, providing administrative, technical, and creative support that fuels business growth. My expertise in strategic logistics extends to Yellow Diamond Logistics, where I guide businesses in optimizing their supply chain operations. I relish the challenge of streamlining processes, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency, empowering my clients to achieve their strategic goals. Whether it's navigating the complexities of logistics or harnessing the power of global staffing, I'm committed to empowering businesses to reach their full potential. I believe in forging strong partnerships, fostering innovation, and cultivating a culture of excellence. When I'm not strategizing in the logistics landscape or steering the Thrivemodal ship, you'll find me exploring new horizons. Let's connect and explore how Yellow Diamond Logistics and Thrivemodal can contribute to the narrative of your business journey. Connect with Kyle Website: https://thrivemodal.com/ / https://www.yellowdiamondconsulting.com/ Email: kyle@thrivemodal.com 📊📉 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/