That’s Delivered Podcast

When a failed anniversary trip left Gar Russell alone in a camper, he decided to turn disappointment into opportunity by listing the RV on Craigslist. That single choice ignited what would become Fireside RV Rental, a nationwide franchise with 70+ locations. In this episode, Gar shares how he built an empire from scratch, navigated bankruptcy, and discovered the freedom of mobile living while raising a family full-time in an RV. His story is about resilience, systems, and the power of persistence—offering inspiration and practical tools for truckers, entrepreneurs, and anyone searching for their next big step.

Key Takeaways: 

✅ Turning setbacks into opportunity – How a ruined camping trip sparked a multimillion-dollar RV rental business.
✅ "All work works" mindset – Why every effort leads to progress, either through success or valuable lessons.
✅ Living the mobile lifestyle – Insights from five years of full-time RV living with a family while scaling a business.
✅ From bankruptcy to breakthrough – Gar’s honest account of failure, recovery, and building sustainable success.
✅ Smart systems & leadership – Documenting processes, outsourcing weaknesses, and leveraging AI to run a business remotely.
✅ Legacy over delegation – Moving from just assigning tasks to building meaningful, lasting relationships with teams.
✅ Blueprint for truckers & entrepreneurs – How to explore side hustles, passive income, and business ownership while on the road.
✅ Breakdowns before breakthroughs – Why the hardest moments often spark the greatest clarity and growth.

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Promo code: TR104U

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Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

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In this actionable episode, CFO and operator Matt Putra, CEO of Eightx, transforms the trucking industry’s toughest financial challenges into a clear, practical playbook you can implement this month. Specializing in fractional CFO services for eCommerce, CPG, and growth-stage companies, Matt draws from his expertise in cash flow optimization, margin improvements, and team alignment to help fleets scale with more cash and less stress. From navigating cash flow gaps caused by slow AR payments to managing urgent fuel and payroll demands, he shares strategies like 12-month forecasting and 16-week cash views to keep your fleet running smoothly. With a focus on real-world solutions, he demystifies contribution margin, guides you through scenario planning for diesel spikes or expansion, and reveals how to prioritize costs and leverage AI to stay ahead. This episode is a must-listen for owner-operators ready to stop guessing and start scaling with confidence.

Key Takeaways 👇
✅ Mastering Cash Flow: Tackle the cash gap from 30–60 day AR delays against urgent fuel and payroll needs using a 12-month forecast paired with a 16-week cash view to keep trucks rolling and stress low.
✅ Contribution Margin Clarity: Matt explains contribution margin in plain English, helping you determine if each load boosts profits or erodes your bottom line.
✅ Scenario Planning for Resilience: Learn to stress-test your finances for diesel price spikes, slower growth, or new lane expansions to make informed decisions about truck purchases or subcontracting.
✅ Smart Expansion Strategies: Discover why new trucks can hurt margins, when subcontracting makes sense, and how to scale from two to ten trucks without risking your bank balance.
✅ Cost Triage Tactics: Prioritize revenue-generating roles, protect KTLO (keep the lights on) expenses, and cut non-essential costs to ensure your fleet survives and thrives.
✅ People and Tech Advantage: Hire drivers who build customer relationships for repeat business, and use AI to summarize calls, flag issues, draft outreach, and chase invoices for faster, smarter decisions.
✅ Take Action Now: Hit play to start growing intentionally, share with a fellow owner-operator, and test your first financial scenario—then let us know what money problem to tackle next.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

Promo code: TR104U

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

This episode we talk about tariffs climbing, the holiday surge is fast approaching, and every margin feels tighter. In this conversation with James Terry, Head of U.S. Revenue at Indeed Flex, we explore how logistics leaders can stay agile when freight must keep moving and teams are stretched thin. The result is a clear, actionable playbook for peak season success built on flexibility, data, and leadership that empowers rather than micromanages.

Key Takeaways

✅ Flexibility Beats Burnout
Build an adaptable workforce model that expands and contracts with demand. Combine a strong full-time core with on-demand, high-rated talent to handle peak surges efficiently.

✅ Ratings-Driven Labor Improves Quality
Use a five-star performance and reliability system to match the best workers to mission-critical shifts, improving fill rates and reducing no-shows.

✅ AI-Enabled Recruiting Adds Speed and Fairness
Deploy AI interview agents and automated scheduling to boost recruiter productivity, reduce bias, and connect with candidates 24/7.

✅ Instant Pay & Virtual Onboarding Increase Retention
Offering same-day pay and seamless digital onboarding attracts better talent and keeps workers engaged through the busy season.

✅ Forecast with Real Data
Leverage historical shift data and past season usage patterns to predict demand accurately and prevent costly overtime or understaffing.

✅ Know When to Fire Bad-Fit Clients
Protect throughput by dropping clients that consistently disrupt schedules or push unrealistic service levels—quality partnerships drive performance.

✅ Empower Teams, Don’t Micromanage
Train and trust your team to run operations smoothly without constant oversight. Freeing leaders from daily chaos creates time for strategy and growth.

✅ Resilience Is the Real Competitive Edge
When costs rise and labor tightens, operational discipline, flexible talent, and tech-enabled decision-making become the difference between surviving and scaling.

✅ As a bonus resource, if you want to brush up on leadership principles to apply during these high-pressure seasons, here’s a link to on: Amazon – The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

What separates a champion truck driver from the rest? For Calvin Logan, Minnesota regional champion in the sleeper truck category, the answer goes beyond technical skill—it’s about mindset. In this episode, Calvin takes us inside the world of competitive truck driving, from local contests to the high-pressure stage of the National Truck Driving Championship in Minneapolis. His story highlights not only the discipline and training required, but also the mental resilience that makes all the difference behind the wheel.

Key Takeaways
✅ State vs. Nationals — state contests felt laid back, but nationals demanded advanced backing maneuvers and razor-sharp precision
✅ Training Commitment — Calvin practiced every Monday (his only day off) for two months and took a full week off before nationals to train daily
✅ Employer Support — his company maintained his pay during competition week, easing family and financial strain
✅ Champion Mindset — success comes from staying mentally present, focusing on the immediate challenge, not the next step
✅ Life Lesson — “Don’t let the truck drive you—you drive the truck” applies to both competition and daily trucking life
✅ Blooming Onion Effect — how small setbacks can spiral if drivers don’t stay calm and in control
✅ Rookie Advice — practice every day, stay positive, and drive safe as if competing, putting your tractor and trailer exactly where you want it

Calvin Logan Links

• NTDC Information — National Truck Driving Championships https://ntdc.trucking.org/
• Minnesota Trucking Association — MTA Website https://www.mntrucking.org/

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

Promo code: TR104U

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

We break down a cooling truck market, stricter enforcement on driver English proficiency, and a high-tech cargo theft that reads like a heist film. Then we map the week ahead and tease our chat with championship driver Calvin Logan.

• market slowdown and 2026 planning
• OEM forecast cuts and rate implications
• federal enforcement on driver English proficiency
• 6,000 drivers sidelined and capacity effects
• GPS spoofing and cargo theft countermeasures
• tariffs, regional tightness, and fuel swings
• action steps for carriers, shippers, and drivers
• preview of our Road Warriors conversation with Calvin Logan

Catch it on every major podcast platform and at thatsdelivered.com

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🔗https://www.treeringdigital.com/delivered

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On this episode with Jimmy Mac, two passionate voices in trucking media explore how drivers navigate today's dynamic information landscape, blending technical evolution with human connection. Jimmy Mac from Radio Nemo, drawing on a decade of trucking radio experience, journalism, and law enforcement background, shares his unique perspective on news consumption, trust-building, and personalized listening. From defying competition norms through collaboration to maintaining unwavering commitment to truth during breaking news, the discussion highlights Radio Nemo's shift to streaming and the power of diverse voices. Jimmy offers practical advice for drivers to influence policy via local relationships, emphasizing grassroots ripples for industry change. This insightful conversation reveals why authentic voices endure amid technological shifts, offering value for drivers curating news and anyone interested in specialized communities.

Key Takeaways 👇

✅ Evolution of Driver Media: Jimmy Mac brings trucking radio expertise to discuss how drivers access news, build trust, and create personalized experiences, transitioning from traditional radio to streaming platforms like Radio Nemo.
✅ Collaborative Content Philosophy: Defying competition, Jimmy stresses self-improvement over rivalry—"the only thing we compete with is ourselves"—fostering shows that introduce diverse industry voices.
✅ Trust as Media Currency: Hosts emphasize resisting incomplete reporting on trucking incidents, with Jimmy's mantra "Don't lie to people" underscoring truth's role in building long-term listener credibility.
✅ Grassroots Advocacy Advice: Drivers can shape conversations by connecting with local officials as transportation experts, creating ripples for change: "Each one of us is a little stone that you throw in the water."
✅ Beyond the Cab Insights: Tune in for strategies on curating reliable news sources and understanding information flow in trucking communities, proving authentic voices irreplaceable amid tech evolution.
✅ Community Connection: Subscribe for more episodes delivering insights, stories, and connections that inform and unite America's trucking community.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

Promo code: TR104U

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

Regulations tighten, freight stays soft, and theft gets smarter while carriers weigh emissions timelines, tech investments, and survival strategies. We map the near-term outlook, the lanes to watch, and the moves that protect yield without burning drivers or customers.

• non‑domicile CDL oversight and state compliance shifts
• tariff delay on medium and heavy‑duty trucks to 1 November
• California rollback of zero‑emission truck mandate
• soft freight volumes and $2.05 national van spot rates
• regional tightening west to southeast lanes
• organized cargo theft and GPS spoofing risks
• call for a unified national cargo theft database
• driver shortages and 44% drop in Class VIII orders
• flat rates near‑term with holiday lane tightening
• FMCSA rule delays and CDL enforcement pressures
• EPA 2027 emissions targets and cost balance
• investment in GPS, cyber security, and telematics
• autonomous middle‑mile pilots and relay models
• strategy on disciplined rates, capacity, retention, training

And coming up next on that's delivered podcast, trucking media insights with Jimmy Mac from Radio Nemo. We'll dig into the role of media in trucking, storytelling from the road, and what's next for trucking radio in the digital age.

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🔗https://www.treeringdigital.com/delivered

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In this captivating episode, Richard Savoie, founder of Adiona, takes listeners on a deep dive into the world of AI-powered logistics, sharing how his innovative platform is reshaping the trucking and delivery industry. From solving personal commuting challenges to revolutionizing global delivery networks, Rich’s journey as an engineer and patent holder highlights the transformative potential of humanistic AI. With compelling stories, like enabling a driver to finally take a vacation after three years, and groundbreaking concepts like "radius routing," this episode reveals how technology can prioritize both efficiency and human needs while paving the way for sustainable practices like electric vehicle adoption.

Key Takeaways 👇

✅ Revolutionizing Logistics with AI: Richard Savoie, engineer, patent holder, and founder of Adiona, dives into how humanistic algorithms are transforming the trucking industry, from semi-trucks to e-bikes, optimizing delivery routes with a human-centered approach.
✅ From Personal Problem to Industry Solution: What started as a solution to his sister's inefficient commute grew into a platform that slashed Coca-Cola's delivery distances by 48%, showcasing the power of practical AI applications.
✅ Empowering Drivers: A compelling story of a driver unable to take vacation for three years due to a complex route, solved by Adiona’s AI, which simplified the route enough for any casual driver to cover, highlighting the human impact of technology.
✅ Radius Routing Innovation: Adiona’s AI uses "radius routing" to cluster deliveries around optimal parking spots, mimicking real-world courier behavior for practical, frustration-free routes that maintain efficiency.
✅ Electric Vehicle Integration: Rich explains how commercial EV routing differs from diesel, accounting for payload weight, road grade, and temperature, enabling confident transitions to greener fleets with significant emissions reduction potential.
✅ Global Expansion and Industry Trends: Fresh off winning the Australian Startup World Cup, Adiona is adapting its AI for global markets, addressing cultural and geographic nuances while identifying opportunities like specialized EV maintenance networks at industry conferences.
✅ Try It Yourself: Visit https://www.adionatech.com/ for a free trial to compare your current routes with Adiona’s optimized alternatives and experience the future of delivery logistics.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

Promo code: TR104U

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

Tariffs, inspections, and soft freight converge as a single pressure system influencing recruiting, equipment decisions, and margins in the trucking industry. This episode dissects the week's critical developments, from policy shocks like tighter CDL rules for non-citizens, proposed 25% tariffs on imported trucks, and California's eased zero-emission deadlines, to operational impacts from FMCSA pilots on hours-of-service and broker transparency. It analyzes declining volumes and spot rates across segments, resilient contract freight signals, and strategies using DAT and SONAR data for procurement and lane pivots. Enforcement blitzes highlight compliance needs, with a practical checklist for documentation and pre-trip routines. The episode closes with a watchlist on tariffs, driver credits, and tech previews, including AI's role in delivery optimization.

Key Takeaways 👇

✅ Policy Shocks Impacting Operations: Tighter CDL eligibility for non-citizens threatens driver supply, while a proposed 25% tariff on imported trucks could increase costs and disrupt timelines; California's eased zero-emission deadlines provide short-term relief but prolong EV investment uncertainty.
✅ FMCSA Pilots and Reforms: Explore flexibility in hours-of-service, broker transparency, and lease-purchase changes, and their implications for contracts, schedules, and driver experiences.
✅ Market Dynamics Analysis: Volumes down in dry van, reefer, and flatbed with sliding spot rates and excess capacity, but ATA's tonnage uptick signals contract freight resilience—use DAT and SONAR to identify pivots and hold strategies amid slowed truck orders.
✅ Compliance and Enforcement Focus: Recent blitzes in California and Oklahoma exposed violations; follow a checklist for tight documentation, pre-trip inspections, and fixing issues like lighting to avoid citations and downtime.
✅ Strategic Watchlist: Monitor tariff exemptions, driver tax credits, FMCSA pilots, broker rules, DAT/SONAR reports, OEM backlogs, state EV/tech updates, and upcoming AI discussions on route optimization.
✅ Protecting Margins: Stay agile with procurement, lane strategies, and conservative budgeting to navigate soft freight while preparing for market turns—share with your team to plan effectively.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

🔗https://www.treeringdigital.com/delivered

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here

Support the show

Outdated payment systems have cost trucking time, money, and sanity for decades—but that’s changing fast. Spencer Barkoff, President and Co-Founder of Relay Payments, shares how his team built a platform that eliminates the industry’s most frustrating pain points. What began with lumper payments has grown into a full-service digital network covering fuel, parking, repairs, and more for over 100,000 carriers. From fighting fraud to saving drivers hours of wasted time, Relay is transforming trucking finance with Venmo-style simplicity and enterprise-level security.

Key Takeaways

✅ Lumper Pain Solved – No more 3 AM hold times waiting for a lumper code.
✅ Big Reach – Relay now handles payments for fuel, parking, repairs, and more across 100,000+ carriers.
✅ Cost Savings – Fleets lose 8–10% of receipts annually; Relay eliminates that waste.
✅ Fraud Prevention – Stops fuel fraud rings that targeted magnetic stripe cards in 2022–2023.
✅ Time Back – Drivers avoid hours of lost HOS waiting on payment authorizations.
✅ Relay Pulse – Integrates with 100+ ELDs to enforce fueling policies and flag fraud in real time.
✅ Driver Tools – App includes free access to safe parking locations nationwide.
✅ Tech Breakthrough – Relay integrates with decades-old truck stop and service systems without disruption.
✅ Enterprise Security – SOC 2 Type 2 certified, KYC/KYB verified, with 24/7 US-based support under 30 seconds.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Click here to join the conversation!

Promo code: TR104U

Get your discount for Truck Parking Club click: here

Support the show

Need help finding the perfect truck seat? Let us find one for you! Call 269-692-5770, email: [email protected] ,or fill out form and use code TR104U.

Get your Trucking Ray merch to show that you roll with Trucking Ray and That’s Delivered Podcast!  click: here