Some brokers are generating strong organic growth despite the tepid freight environment. Expansion can come from a strong service offering, lower costs to serve and shippers’ tendency to reduce the number of providers when trucking capacity is loose. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Matt Pyatt, Arrive Logistics CEO and co-founder, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to explain how the company grew its truckload brokerage business 35% year over year in a challenging freight economy. Pyatt also discusses leaning on technology for productivity gains and driving costs per load down beyond the 40% achieved over the past 36 months. The conversation also covers consolidation, opportunities, challenges and fraud in the freight brokerage industry, as well as the importance of being relentless in business.

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The pace of the truckload-rate recovery could be driven by the Trump administration’s focus on the enforcement of English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements, its pause on trucker work visas and the strength of this year’s peak season. In this Talking Transports podcast, Derek Leathers, Werner Enterprises’ chairman and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share what could be around the corner for trucking. ELP enforcement on the state and national level might affect 5-15% of truckers, according to Leathers. He also reflects on the pending Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, EPA engine mandates, the impact of the US’ more protectionist policies on freight demand and how he opted for the open road over a job on Wall Street.

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The right pricing strategy can make or break margins on less-than-truckload shipments, especially amid weak demand. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, SMC³ President and CEO Andrew Slusher joins BI’s senior transportation and logistics analyst Lee Klaskow to explain how the company’s technology-driven tools help shippers, carriers and brokers make informed decisions on rates, costs, transit times and emissions. They discuss trends in the LTL industry — from dynamic pricing and sustainability to market uncertainty, consolidation and FedEx Freight’s planned spinoff. Slusher also shares insights on leadership, innovation, AI’s potential impact on transportation and his shift to trucking from aviation.

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Focusing on scale and productivity helps freight brokers offset weak demand and rates, protect margins and position for growth. In this Talking Transports podcast, Drew Wilkerson, chairman and CEO of RXO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share how the company is navigating the current challenging freight environment and looking ahead for when the market eventually turns. Wilkerson provides insights into the benefits and integration of the Coyote Logistics purchase from UPS in September. He expects the freight-brokerage industry to continue to consolidate from the current top nine brokers, which account for over 50% of volume. Wilkerson also touches on AI’s impact on its business, the importance of its customer-centric culture and how the broker is dealing with the uncertain times.

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Union Pacific’s $88 billion bid for Norfolk Southern could usher in a new era for the North American railroad industry if the companies can show the Surface Transportation Board that the deal will enhance competition and is in the public interest. In this Talking Transports podcast, Tony Hatch, founder and president of ABH Consulting, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the merits and challenges of a possible merger between the two large railroads. UP and NS will need to make their case to all stakeholders, which include shippers, workers, Norfolk shareholders and regulators, who could be the most difficult to persuade. The downstream effect of a deal or perceived likelihood of regulatory approval could lead to further consolidation among Class I carriers.

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Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning could become essential tools for freight brokers to fight fraud, boost productivity and enhance customer service — key steps toward easing margin pressure in a market weighed down by stagnant rates and soft demand. In this episode of Talking Transports, Armstrong Transport Group CEO Cameron Ramsdell joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst Lee Klaskow to discuss the state of third-party logistics market, how Armstrong is gaining market share, the impact of tariffs, recent transportation M&A and how his disillusionment with politics led him into the freight world.

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Uncertainty and inflationary pressures tied to the Trump administration’s tariff policies may delay the trucking market’s recovery until next year. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Dr. Jason Miller, a professor in supply chain management at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss how inflation may limit interest-rate cuts and weigh on consumer demand. Stronger demand will be key to tightening truck market conditions, especially as capacity exits remain sluggish. Miller also covers key freight indicators, chronic driver turnover, the outlook for autonomous trucking and the evolution of his mustache.

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The US’ shifting trade policies are creating challenges for shippers and contributing to a volatile freight environment. Freight forwarders that lean into technologies like artificial intelligence or machine learning can help shippers reduce costs and improve efficiency. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Ryan Petersen, the founder and CEO of Flexport, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about how they are helping their clients navigate the changing tariff landscape and boosting their productivity through tech investments. Petersen also shares views on the state of the ocean and airfreight markets, and explains how automation in freight forwarding is lowering the cost to serve — allowing the company to scale and compete more aggressively on price.

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The trucking industry is facing rising costs due to a growing number of jury awards exceeding $10 million, commonly known as nuclear verdicts. Plaintiff attorneys are seeing greater success by using more aggressive tactics, leveraging jurors’ emotions, expanding advertising and applying best practices learned from prior trials — all of which are contributing to the rise in nuclear verdicts. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Robyn Kazatsky, a partner at Lock Gordon Law Group, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share her insights about how these verdicts are affecting the industry. Kazatsky also discusses third-party litigation funding, the push for tort reform, strategies trucking companies can use to mitigate risk, and how the impact of nuclear verdicts extends well beyond the companies directly involved.

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Short-line railroads are a critical and sometimes underappreciated part of local, national and global supply chains. They provide first-mile and last-mile services to connect shippers and extend the reach of Class I rails. In this Talking Transports podcast, Michael Miller, the CEO of Genesee & Wyoming, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the evolution of the company from a consolidator to one focused on organic growth and how it benefits from being private and investing through the cycle. Miller also talks railroad demand, consolidation, regulations, technology, pricing, free cash flow, tariffs and how his wife got him into railroading.

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