Nate Graham started his career loading UPS trucks to pay for college. Seven years later, he walked away from a full-time operations management role with no plan, and landed at Fifth Wheel Freight. Now, three years in, he's leading his own team, just closed on his first house, and hasn't looked back.

In this episode, Nate breaks down what it's really like to build a career in freight sales: the misconceptions about working with carriers and customers, the biggest rookie mistake he thinks new brokers make, and what he believes it actually takes to make serious money in logistics.

We also dig into what surprised him most about commission culture, why freight sales deserves a seat at the table next to tech and medical sales, and the one piece of advice he'd give every new rep starting out.

Whether you're early in your career, considering a jump into sales, or just curious about what life inside a 3PL actually looks like, this one's worth the listen.

What does it actually take to run one of lululemon's largest U.S. distribution centers? 

 In this episode of Inside Freight, we hear from Los Mejia, Director of Distribution Operations at lululemon's Columbus, Ohio Distribution Center, to talk carrier strategy, peak season realities, and why culture might be the most underrated competitive advantage in logistics.

 We cover how Columbus handles retail, e-commerce, and wholesale freight (and why each mode requires a different approach), what lululemon looks for in a carrier partner, the story behind 144,000 units picked in a single day, last-mile complexity in dense markets like New York City, and how Los has built a people-first operation serving a workforce from 32 different countries.

What freight market data should brokers actually be paying attention to, and what's just noise? 

In this episode, FWF Director of Analytics Matthew "Shooter" McGavin walks through the freight market indicators that brokers should be tracking daily, weekly, and monthly. He explains how to translate that data into meaningful conversations with shippers and carriers and shares his personal favorite underrated indicator. Matthew also covers why two brokers can look at the same data and walk away with completely different takeaways. 

If you're a newer broker trying to make sense of freight data, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

Inside Freight is produced by Fifth Wheel Freight, a third-party logistics provider based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering truckload, LTL, drayage, rail, over-dimensional, and expedited freight services across the US and Canada. Learn more at fwf.com.  

What causes freight market cycles, and why are rate shifts so "surprising" even when everyone sees them coming? In this episode, FWF Director of Analytics Matthew "Shooter" McGavin answers both. 

We cover how supply and demand interact with fuel costs, federal policy, and interest rates to move the market, why the freight cycle can't really be reliably predicted until it's already happening, and what newer brokers should focus on to avoid misreading macro trends at the lane level.

Inside Freight is produced by Fifth Wheel Freight, a third-party logistics provider based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering truckload, LTL, drayage, rail, over-dimensional, and expedited freight services across the US and Canada. Learn more at fwf.com.  

What does it take to manage global logistics for one of the most recognizable names in beauty? What do shippers really think about their broker partnerships?

In this episode, we sit down with Cherylann Welch-Frazer, Senior Global Logistics Manager at Tarte Cosmetics, to talk through the realities of freight in the beauty and cosmetics industry, from ocean and air to OTR, customs compliance, and everything in between.

With over 25 years of experience in international logistics spanning fine art, luxury goods, fashion, tech, and e-commerce, Cherylann brings a rare mix of operational depth and compliance expertise to the conversation. 

We cover what makes cosmetics uniquely challenging to ship, how viral social media moments create real supply chain pressure, and what shippers wish their broker partners understood. Whether you're a broker, carrier, or logistics professional, you'll walk away with a sharper view of what great shipper relationships actually look like.

In this episode: shipper-broker relationships, beauty industry supply chain, customs and trade compliance, international logistics, social commerce and TikTok Shop logistics, building a compliance team, servant leadership in supply chain

Inside Freight is produced by Fifth Wheel Freight, a third-party logistics provider based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering truckload, LTL, drayage, rail, over-dimensional, and expedited freight services across the US and Canada. Learn more at fwf.com.  

What does it actually take to stay relevant as AI reshapes the workforce? In this episode of Inside Freight by Fifth Wheel Freight, we explore a simple but critical mindset shift: you won't be replaced by AI, but you may be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI well.

Nick Beukema, VP of Technology at Fifth Wheel Freight, breaks down how professionals across freight, logistics, and beyond can stop fighting AI and start directing it. He discusses how to identify which parts of your job are at risk of automation, practical first steps for getting comfortable with AI tools, why creativity will become the competitive bottleneck, and more.

Whether you're a broker, shipper, carrier, or logistics professional, this episode gives you an honest, practical take on working with AI rather than against it.

Inside Freight is produced by Fifth Wheel Freight, a third-party logistics provider based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering truckload, LTL, drayage, rail, over-dimensional, and expedited freight services across the US and Canada. Learn more at fwf.com.  

What does basketball have to do with a freight brokerage? More than you'd think.

In this episode, we sit down with Isaac, a nine-year veteran Sales Rep at Fifth Wheel Freight, who went from walking on at Grand Valley State University's basketball program to becoming a top freight broker...without ever planning to work in logistics. Isaac breaks down how the lessons he learned on the court like handling rejection, staying adaptable, and competing in a crowded field directly translate to success in one of the most competitive industries out there.

We dig into what separates the brokers who thrive from the ones who wash out, why over-communication is his secret weapon, and why he'd rather have a customer yell at him than ghost him any day.

Whether you're an athlete exploring a career in sales, a logistics pro looking for some fresh perspective, or just curious what the freight world actually looks like from the inside, this one's for you.

In this episode of Inside Freight, Fifth Wheel Freight’s VP of Technology, Nick Beukema, shares his perspective on how AI is widening the gap between average and great brokerages. Not necessarily through bigger budgets, but through better implementation, creativity, and operational agility.

We also dive into the future of freight technology, including cheaper SaaS tools, AI voice, workflow automation, self-driving trucks, and the mindset shift professionals need to stay relevant as AI becomes more embedded in daily work.

Automation is changing freight brokerage...but not everything should be automated.

In this episode of Inside Freight, VP of Technology Nick Beukema breaks down where AI and automation can make the biggest impact in logistics, from back-office processes to document processing and operational efficiency. He also explains the areas that he believes should remain human.

We explore how freight companies can use technology to eliminate repetitive work while protecting the human relationships that power the industry. If you’re curious about AI in logistics, automation in freight brokerage, and the future of freight tech, this episode dives into what’s possible, and what may benefit from staying human.

In this episode of Inside Freight, Fifth Wheel Freight’s VP of Technology, Nick Beukema, shares how technology is transforming the modern freight brokerage. From building proprietary software inside a brokerage to navigating the rapid rise of AI, Nick discusses how logistics companies can stay ahead of the technology curve.

We cover the role of internal tech teams, how brokerages are approaching automation and data infrastructure, and what it takes to implement meaningful tech in a fast-moving logistics environment. If you’re interested in freight tech, logistics innovation, and the future of brokerage technology, this episode is a must-listen.