FreightCasts

After 35 years in transportation — from helping build Leonard’s Express into a $350M logistics powerhouse to leading the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) — Michael Riccio has seen this industry from every angle.
In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Riccio to talk about leadership, growth, and what’s next for the broker-carrier relationship. They dig into how small carriers can thrive in a market dominated by 3PLs, what lessons he learned as TIA Chairman, and how his consulting firm, More Than Miles, is helping logistics companies grow responsibly.
And yes — Adam asks the tough question: where does broker transparency actually fit in, and what does “fairness” really mean in an industry built on information asymmetry?
This one’s about perspective — from someone who’s been on every side of the table.

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Welcome to The Morning Minute, your definitive source for global supply chain market intelligence. Today we break down the massive news from UPS as the company begins offering delivery drivers $150,000 voluntary buyout packages to shrink its network and reduce headcount.

We also look at major structural changes in logistics software, where cargo management maker WiseTech Global is cutting a third of its workforce in a massive artificial intelligence pivot. This two-year restructuring plan will eliminate up to 2,000 jobs as the company integrates new technologies into its customer platforms and internal operations.

Finally, we cover a controversial 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that protects the United States Postal Service from being sued over intentionally misdelivered mail. The decision reinforces a postal exception in the Federal Tort Claims Act shielding the agency from liability, despite dissenting arguments that it provides much greater protection than originally intended.

Stay tuned for our definitive analysis on how these major shifts will impact transportation industry participants. Make sure to visit FreightWaves for more unparalleled access to news, data, and commentary.

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Brake Check LIVE in Nashville | Standing With Trucking’s Boldest Voices
Brake Check went live in Nashville at Recruit & Retain by Conversion Interactive, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the boldest and brightest leaders shaping the future of trucking.
This wasn’t about buzzwords.
It wasn’t about recycled conference talking points. It was about real conversations with the people building smarter recruiting systems, stronger retention strategies, and sustainable safety cultures inside today’s fleets.
Together, we tackled the questions that matter:
Is trucking truly getting safer?
How do we recruit without creating churn?
What does meaningful retention actually look like in today’s freight cycle?
How do technology, training, and leadership align to build long-term strength?
This live episode brought carrier leaders, recruiting experts, and industry operators into one direct, forward-focused conversation about raising standards, improving outcomes, and protecting the people who keep freight moving.
Brake Check is built to elevate the discussion — not tear it down. It’s a hard stop when needed, and a platform for progress when it counts.
If you are a carrier, recruiter, executive, or decision-maker serious about improving the industry, this episode delivers insight worth your time.
This is Brake Check.
Carrier-focused. Driver-aware. Industry-forward.
Subscribe for direct conversations with the leaders moving trucking ahead.

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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.

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In today's FreightWaves Morning Minute, we cover President Trump's State of the Union address and his call for strict new regulations on commercial driver's licenses. This proposed legislation would prevent states from issuing CDLs to undocumented immigrants, which could significantly impact the industry's driver pool.

Next, we dive into a major legal challenge as a South Carolina freight forwarder files a class-action lawsuit against FedEx. Following a recent Supreme Court ruling against emergency import fees, customers are now seeking massive refunds for tariffs collected on small parcels.

Finally, we look at the future of logistics with a new partnership launching driverless autonomous freight operations in Texas. Bot Auto and Ryan Transportation are teaming up for overnight runs between Houston and Dallas, utilizing autonomous technology to bypass traditional challenges like driver fatigue and hours-of-service limits.

Be sure to tune in later today on FreightWaves TV for a brand new episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent. You can find more details on all of these developing stories by visiting freightwaves.com.

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In this episode, we dive into a solution based omnichannel approach. Our guest, Raul Villarreal, CEO at Source Logistics, breaks down the why behind being that solution provider for shippers and how partnering with experts is sometimes better than trying to do everything yourself. For more information, subscribe to ⁠Check Call the newsletter⁠ or the podcast.

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Brake Check Live, we break down three developments every carrier should be watching closely.

FMCSA has issued mandatory directives surrounding non-domiciled CDLs ... a move designed to restore licensing integrity, but one that could reshape compliance exposure overnight.

At the same time, the insurance market continues to reveal cracks in what was once considered trucking’s last failsafe. Are carriers being judged by performance ... or by association?

And finally, federal authorities have launched a multi-state sting targeting sham CDL training operations. If training has been scaled without accountability, what does that mean for sustainable safety?

Joining the panel: Rob Carpenter Brandon Wiseman Truck Safe Consulting

This is not a recap of headlines. This is a drivers lived experience, carrier-focused breakdown of risk, liability, and operational consequences.

Brake Check is the industry wake-up call.

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Welcome to today's episode of our logistics podcast, where we first discuss how AscendTMS has entered the mergers and acquisitions space with its recent purchase of LoadPilot. InMotion Global's chief executive noted that LoadPilot's operations will soon halt as its loyal user base migrates to the newly acquired system.

Next, we explore the implications of new federal guidance from the Department of Transportation regarding commercial truck parking. States must now comprehensively assess their parking capacity in their multimodal freight plans or risk losing vital National Highway Freight Program funding.

Finally, we break down the financial troubles brewing for a major truck sales and service provider after Velocity Vehicles saw its debt rating downgraded for the second time in recent months. Both Moody's and S&P Global Ratings cited the company's high debt-to-earnings ratio and a soft truck market as primary reasons for these financial cuts.

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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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In this episode of Freight Expectations, FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller and “The Armchair Attorney” Matthew Leffler dive into a historic day for the American supply chain. Following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling to overturn the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA) for revenue generation, the duo analyzes the immediate legal and economic fallout for the trucking and shipping industries.
From the potential for a massive West Coast import surge to the tactical shift toward Section 122 tariffs, Craig and Matt break down how this ruling creates a new “Black Swan” catalyst for freight demand. They also tackle the rising tide of ICE enforcement at truck stops, the legal complexities of abandoned cargo, and why the industry is finally embracing new, authentic voices over traditional associations.

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