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Building Freight Trust Through Transparency with Ryan Suydam | A Trucking Podcast
What if the biggest competitive edge in freight isn’t rates or routes but trust?
Too many freight professionals underestimate the power of reputation until it’s too late. In a high-stakes industry plagued by fraud and fragmentation, the ones who win are those who build trust first, transactions second.
In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, Ryan Suydam, agency owner at RKC Logistics under Armstrong Transport Group, shares what it means to be known as “The Trusted Freight Guy.” With over two decades of experience, Ryan dives into building resilient broker-carrier relationships, vetting with intention, and why personal touch still trumps automation.
From launching a brokerage from scratch to integrating real-time tracking tech like MacroPoint and Tive, Ryan unpacks how integrity and innovation can power freight growth without sacrificing service.
Whether you're a new broker, a scaling carrier, or an industry vet seeking smarter connections, this episode delivers a roadmap for building a business people believe in.
Like what you hear? Be sure to like, subscribe, and share the show with others in the trucking world.
🎧 Episode Timestamps
📍 00:01:03 Ryan’s 25-year journey from C.H. Robinson to agency owner
📍 00:02:57 Why he walked away from W-2 jobs to launch independently
📍 00:04:49 W-2 vs 1099: Control, commissions, and real-world tradeoffs
📍 00:07:10 “People do business with people.” Why relationships outlast logos
📍 00:09:11 How Ryan earned the title “The Trusted Freight Guy”
📍 00:10:33 Personal transformation and professional purpose through faith
📍 00:11:31 Real-time freight visibility with MacroPoint, Samsara, and Tive
📍 00:13:54 Using geofencing and transparency to stop theft before it happens
📍 00:15:10 From phone pounding to full digital: Modernizing freight outreach
📍 00:16:57 Riverside, testimonials, and video strategy for authentic selling
📍 00:18:07 Why AI needs a human touch in customer relationships
📍 00:20:02 AI-assisted dialers that boost reach without losing trust
📍 00:21:29 Carrier fraud detection with tools like Freight Validate
📍 00:24:52 The 60-second elevator pitch that landed a long-term client
📍 00:26:50 Crumbl cookies and the value of in-person prospecting
📍 00:29:00 Small fleet strategy and treating brokers as partners
📍 00:30:52 Mentorship as a growth engine for agents and owner-ops
📍 00:33:11 “Own everything” — Why accountability matters in small business
🎙 About Our Guest
Ryan Suydam is the founder of RKC Logistics, operating as an agency under Armstrong Transport Group based in Charlotte, NC. With a career spanning 25+ years, Ryan has built a reputation as “The Trusted Freight Guy” for his hands-on, transparent approach to brokerage and carrier relationships. He’s passionate about using technology wisely, building mentorship into freight, and helping others launch with integrity in a volatile industry.
https://rkc-logistics.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansuydam/
🔗 Follow Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast
Website: https://milesandmentorspodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milesandmentors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/miles-and-mentors-podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilesandMentors
🎤 Want to be a guest or sponsor the show? Miles and Mentors is more than a podcast. It’s a movement of real stories, tactical advice, and mentorship to help the next generation of freight leaders succeed. Reach out at: [email protected]
View all episodes
By Alex PowersWhat if the biggest competitive edge in freight isn’t rates or routes but trust?
Too many freight professionals underestimate the power of reputation until it’s too late. In a high-stakes industry plagued by fraud and fragmentation, the ones who win are those who build trust first, transactions second.
In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, Ryan Suydam, agency owner at RKC Logistics under Armstrong Transport Group, shares what it means to be known as “The Trusted Freight Guy.” With over two decades of experience, Ryan dives into building resilient broker-carrier relationships, vetting with intention, and why personal touch still trumps automation.
From launching a brokerage from scratch to integrating real-time tracking tech like MacroPoint and Tive, Ryan unpacks how integrity and innovation can power freight growth without sacrificing service.
Whether you're a new broker, a scaling carrier, or an industry vet seeking smarter connections, this episode delivers a roadmap for building a business people believe in.
Like what you hear? Be sure to like, subscribe, and share the show with others in the trucking world.
🎧 Episode Timestamps
📍 00:01:03 Ryan’s 25-year journey from C.H. Robinson to agency owner
📍 00:02:57 Why he walked away from W-2 jobs to launch independently
📍 00:04:49 W-2 vs 1099: Control, commissions, and real-world tradeoffs
📍 00:07:10 “People do business with people.” Why relationships outlast logos
📍 00:09:11 How Ryan earned the title “The Trusted Freight Guy”
📍 00:10:33 Personal transformation and professional purpose through faith
📍 00:11:31 Real-time freight visibility with MacroPoint, Samsara, and Tive
📍 00:13:54 Using geofencing and transparency to stop theft before it happens
📍 00:15:10 From phone pounding to full digital: Modernizing freight outreach
📍 00:16:57 Riverside, testimonials, and video strategy for authentic selling
📍 00:18:07 Why AI needs a human touch in customer relationships
📍 00:20:02 AI-assisted dialers that boost reach without losing trust
📍 00:21:29 Carrier fraud detection with tools like Freight Validate
📍 00:24:52 The 60-second elevator pitch that landed a long-term client
📍 00:26:50 Crumbl cookies and the value of in-person prospecting
📍 00:29:00 Small fleet strategy and treating brokers as partners
📍 00:30:52 Mentorship as a growth engine for agents and owner-ops
📍 00:33:11 “Own everything” — Why accountability matters in small business
🎙 About Our Guest
Ryan Suydam is the founder of RKC Logistics, operating as an agency under Armstrong Transport Group based in Charlotte, NC. With a career spanning 25+ years, Ryan has built a reputation as “The Trusted Freight Guy” for his hands-on, transparent approach to brokerage and carrier relationships. He’s passionate about using technology wisely, building mentorship into freight, and helping others launch with integrity in a volatile industry.
https://rkc-logistics.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansuydam/
🔗 Follow Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast
Website: https://milesandmentorspodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milesandmentors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/miles-and-mentors-podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilesandMentors
🎤 Want to be a guest or sponsor the show? Miles and Mentors is more than a podcast. It’s a movement of real stories, tactical advice, and mentorship to help the next generation of freight leaders succeed. Reach out at: [email protected]