WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
FreightWaves
WHAT THE TRUCK?!? is FreightWaves' irreverent award-winning podcast breaking down the biggest stories in transportation and logistics. WTT?!? is all about the people that make freight move. On the show you'll hear from founders, CEOs, VCs, truckers, brokers, and influencers. Join FreightWaves' hosts Dooner and The Dude three times a week on FreightWavesTV and podcast players everywhere.
- 1 hour 1 minute1.4 Million Truckloads at Risk?!?
Welcome to a brand new edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with your hosts Malcolm Harris and “The Dude,” Michael Vincent. In this episode, we dive deep into the massive shifts happening across the supply chain, from blockbuster rail mergers to high-stakes international trade lawsuits.
Guest Lineup:
• Tim Crawford, CEO of Tenstreet: Tim returns to the show to discuss the critical operational side of the industry. We explore the latest trends in driver hiring, retention, and how fleets are staying ahead of safety compliance and changing risks.
• Jonathan Briffa, Managing Director at Republic Partners: Jonathan joins us to break down the current Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) landscape. We talk through the trends in the 3PL space and what buyers are actually looking for in today’s market—hint: it’s all about profitable growth.Episode Highlights:
Episode Highlights:
• The Union Pacific/Southern Merger: We discuss the controversy surrounding Jim Vina’s “blockbuster” rail merger. Is this a move toward much-needed modernization, or will it cause the same service disasters seen in past consolidations?
• Nintendo vs. The U.S. Government: Why is the gaming giant filing a lawsuit over billions in tariffs? We break down the legal battle over the use of emergency authority (IEEPA) and what it means for companies importing from China and Vietnam.
• Magenta is the New Green: You might notice a color change in the studio! We’re celebrating our new supporting sponsor, T-Mobile for Business, and discussing why “magenta” is the theme for the month.Subscribe to the WTT newsletter
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11 March 2026, 6:23 pm - 50 minutes 59 secondsOperation Sideswipe: The "Slammer" Scam Killing Trucking Profits
On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Malcolm and The Dude do a deep dive into the top stories in logistics which include, Operation Side Swipe: A look into a massive fraud investigation in New Orleans involving "staged accidents" where a "slammer" would intentionally crash cars into trucks to collect insurance payouts. And Operation Cleanup: A report on Mexican authorities canceling permits for 350 steel importers due to suspicious activities and fraudulent use of duty-free incentives intended for export production.
They also talk to Mike Riccio, owner of More than Miles Consulting. Riccio is a seasoned veteran with over 35 years in the transportation industry, known for building Leonard’s Express into a $350 million logistics powerhouse. The conversation focuses on providing viewers with insights into leadership and the brokerage sector.
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9 March 2026, 7:52 pm - 50 minutes 59 secondsThe $200,000 Driver Purge That Could Make Roads More Dangerous
In this high-energy Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Malcolm and The Dude dive into the critical legal and regulatory shifts currently impacting the trucking industry. The episode features a detailed discussion on the recent Supreme Court (SCOTUS) arguments regarding broker liability and the definition of motor vehicles, highlighting the massive stakes for insurance and safety.
They also cover the recent federal crackdown on non-compliant Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), where over 20 devices were purged from the official registry, forcing carriers to find compliant alternatives within sixty days. Additionally, the show explores new legislative pushes for cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE to address CDL fraud and illegal criminal aliens. Featuring market data insights from Corey Klujsza and discussions on industry partnerships with Tom Curee, the episode provides a comprehensive look at the “shit show” of legal gymnastics and regulatory hurdles currently facing the freight market.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6 March 2026, 7:03 pm - 52 minutes 36 secondsCarrier Catch-22: Solving the Capacity Puzzle
On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Malcolm and The Dude dive deep into the current state of the supply chain with two industry heavyweights.
First, John Howland joins the desk to break down the shifting dynamics of the freight market and what carriers need to do to stay profitable in a volatile landscape. Then, we pivot to the tech side of the house with Phillip Brink, exploring how data-driven decisions are transforming the way we move goods from port to porch.Subscribe to the WTT newsletter
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4 March 2026, 8:02 pm - 45 minutes 26 secondsCommitment Over Price: How Shippers and Carriers Build Long-Term Success
In this live edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? from the “Queen City” of Charlotte, NC, host Malcolm Harris sits down with industry experts to dissect a freight market at a major turning point. Malcolm is first joined by Brian Reilly, VP of Enterprise Sales at RXO, who shares on-the-ground insights into why routing guides are breaking and how capacity is tightening for the first time in years. The conversation then shifts to the future of logistics operations with Alan Alberto of CloneOps, who joins the show to discuss local industry growth. Lastly, Malcom talks with Nate Jones, Enterprise Customer Success Manager at Highway, who shares his experience on what 3PLs need to be doing to have success, and the future of the freight industry in Chattanooga.
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4 March 2026, 6:59 pm - 45 minutes 32 secondsVibe Shift in the Market: Why Freight Rates are Staying Higher for Longer
In this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Thomas Wasson dives deep into the major geopolitical events impacting global supply chains, specifically focusing on recent attacks in the Persian Gulf and the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The show analyzes the ripple effects of these events on energy markets and maritime routes, highlighting how supply chains have become central to modern geopolitical calculus.
The episode also covers a significant legal development in the parcel industry: class-action lawsuits against FedEx and UPS following the Supreme Court’s rollback of Trump-era emergency tariffs. In the market update segment, Wasson uses Sonar data to explore why tender rejection rates and spot market rates—particularly in the flatbed segment—are defying seasonal norms and staying “higher for longer”. Finally, the show wraps up with “Thomas Wasson’s Random Musings,” a look at emerging trucking technology and industry trends.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 March 2026, 7:34 pm - 55 minutes 30 secondsThe 42% Rejection Rate: Why Flatbedders are Naming Their Price
In this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent wrap up the month of February 2026 with a deep dive into industrial trends, autonomous infrastructure, and AI-driven safety.
Industrial Rebound and Broker Liability
JP Hampstead joins the show to discuss the “re-industrialization” of the American Midwest. He shares insights on:
• Industrial Production: U.S. industrial production has finally reached pre-pandemic levels, hitting its highest point since 2019.
• Flatbed Volatility: A staggering 42.5% of flatbed loads are currently being rejected, signaling intense demand in construction and energy sectors.
• Supreme Court Battles: A preview of next week’s oral arguments regarding broker liability in the TQL and C.H. Robinson cases.
The Future of the Mailbox
Dan O’Toole, CEO of Arrive AI, discusses the evolution of autonomous delivery infrastructure. He explains:
• Mailbox 2.0: Moving beyond the drone itself to create the necessary “smart” landing and securement infrastructure for robotic deliveries.
• Safety Innovation: How Arrive points can assist first responders using emergency strobe features.
• Economic Impact: The potential for autonomous delivery to remove thousands of trucks from congested roads
Cutting Through the Noise with Insurevision.ai
Mark Miller, founder of Insurevision.ai, joins from London to explain why “risk is visual”. Key takeaways include:
• Context over Telematics: Why traditional data like “hard braking” lacks the context needed to truly predict crashes.
• End-to-End Models: Using Tesla-style machine learning to analyze dashcam footage and identify true risk in milliseconds.
• Fair Underwriting: How AI allows insurance companies to score fleets based on current safety performance rather than five-year-old loss runs.Subscribe to the WTT newsletter
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27 February 2026, 7:04 pm - 50 minutes 32 secondsThe “Dead Horse” of Logistics: Why No One is Vetting Your Carriers
In this episode of the podcast WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent engage in a fast-paced discussion on current events impacting the freight and transportation industry.
The episode covers several key industry and political topics:
• Safety and Regulations: The hosts discuss a significant article by Rob Carpenter regarding a driver involved in a major Alabama crash who returned to business despite safety concerns. This leads to a broader debate on “barriers to entry” in the trucking industry and the importance of maintaining high standards for CDL holders.
• Political Developments: They touch upon the recent State of the Union address and its implications for cleaning up industry issues.
• Trade and Tariffs: There is a detailed analysis of FedEx’s legal fight for refunds following Supreme Court rulings on the mechanisms used for recent tariffs.
• Language Requirements: The hosts debate a new rule mentioned by Sean Duffy to implement an “English only” proficiency requirement for skills tests in California, which currently allows tests in up to 20 different languages.
Guest Highlights:
• Rush Feldhacker: The Senior Director of Sales at Tabi Connect and an industry veteran well-known in the Chattanooga “Freight Alley” area.
• Jeff Jacobs: Representing TAI Software, he discusses why a Transportation Management System (TMS) should be viewed as an essential operating system rather than just a software tool.Subscribe to the WTT newsletter
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25 February 2026, 6:39 pm - 47 minutes 13 secondsWhy The $1.5 Billion Cartel War For Avocados Is Happening
In this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down a volatile week in global logistics where political shifts and cartel violence are fundamentally redrawing the map of North American trade. The discussion centers on the "green gold" wars at the border, exploring a high-stakes reality where cross-border freight has shifted from a capacity challenge to a survival mission. Following the killing of a major cartel boss, violence along U.S.-Mexico freight corridors has surged, prompting shelter-in-place orders for U.S. citizens and a spike in cargo theft. Adding to the complexity, the hosts analyze the economic ripples of President Trump’s new 10% global tariff, implemented in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that blocked emergency trade powers.
Shifting focus from the border to the facility, Justin Malone, Director of Field Safety at The Miner Corporation, joins the show to highlight why the loading dock—rather than the open highway—is often the most dangerous part of an operation. Malone breaks down the "handoff" moment where communication between drivers and facilities frequently fails, leading to life-threatening risks. He dives deep into the phenomenon of "trailer creep," explaining why this silent killer occurs and how basic safety tools like wheel chocks and dock locks are often dangerously ignored or misused.
The conversation then turns toward the financial core of logistics technology with Matthew Everson, SVP of Sales & Marketing at IntelliTrans. Everson challenges the industry’s current obsession with visibility, arguing that tracking dashboards can become "money pits" if they aren't balanced against carrier economics. He asserts that the true financial center of gravity for shippers lies in carrier performance and selection, focusing on the specific KPIs that actually drive profitability. Amidst this tech-heavy discussion, Everson also notes Nashville’s rise as a critical emerging hub for both logistics and technology.
The episode rounds out with a look at major industry headlines, starting with a judge’s approval of $150,000 UPS driver buyouts. The hosts debate whether this move signals a strategic labor reset or serves as a warning sign for the broader industry. Finally, the team covers the immediate logistical impact of a massive winter blizzard that has ground container terminals to a halt at major Northeast ports, adding further strain to an already pressured supply chain.
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23 February 2026, 6:54 pm - 45 minutes 19 secondsWhy The Supreme Court Just Nuked Global Tariffs
Happy Friday! On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris dives into the heavy-hitting topics that every fleet leader, broker, and driver needs to hear. Broadcasting live on February 20, 2026, this episode is packed with critical insights to help you understand the latest risks, tools, and strategies for keeping your fleet safe, compliant, and profitable.
In this packed episode, Cross-Border Expert Noi Mahoney joins the show to break down the massive news regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential tariff powers, discussing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and what this means for the 2026 trade outlook and cross-border freight flows.
Next, Martin Murtland, Vice President of Product at Fleetworthy, introduces Toll360—an AI-driven toll intelligence platform. He explains how fleets are quietly losing money to toll leaks, why tolling is more than just a compliance headache, and how predicting costs can drive serious operational efficiency.
Finally, Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President at OOIDA, tackles one of the biggest safety and regulatory issues in trucking today: chameleon carriers. Lewie walks us through how these carriers evade enforcement, the systemic risks highlighted by the recent Indiana crash, and the congressional actions proposed to stop these networks for good.Subscribe to the WTT newsletter
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20 February 2026, 6:40 pm - 46 minutes 2 secondsWhy Illinois Just Got Put On The FMCSA “Death Clock”
Malcolm kicks off the show with a look at current headlines, including UPS’s optimization plan to close 22 sortation centers and the FMCSA’s crackdown on CDL non-compliance in Illinois. The segment also highlights rising cargo theft data, noting that California and Texas accounted for 58% of US incidents in 2025. Headlines are followed up with two great interviews.
Robert Nathan, Co-founder and CEO of Envoy AI, shares insights from his 20-year career that began in the warehouse and led to building a top-50 freight brokerage. He emphasizes the need for a shift toward human-centric technology, specifically building “carrier copilots” that empower the individual user rather than just the enterprise. Nathan also highlights the reality of systemic margin compression, advising brokerages to prepare for a future where they must operate profitably at margins as low as 7%.
Following Nathan, Chris Torrence, Chief Strategy Officer at MapUp, brings a perspective shaped by military logistics and over 25 years in the industry. Torrence argues against the “pressure cooker” mentality of transactional sales, advocating instead for the cultivation of “reputation capital” and long-term relationships. He stresses the importance of personal branding and authenticity, noting that while technology can always be replicated, the trust built through genuine human connection remains the ultimate differentiator in a crowded market.
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18 February 2026, 6:37 pm - More Episodes? Get the App