The Bootstrapper's Guide to Logistics

This week on the show we hear from Liz Wayne, founder of Able Transport, as she shares her journey in the freight brokerage industry, discussing the evolution of her company, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of leadership. She reflects on her experiences in the industry, the need to reinvent the freight broker reputation, and the personal growth she has undergone as a leader. The discussion also touches on the significance of adaptability, hard work, and the values that drive success in business.

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

In this candid and insightful episode, host Nate Shutes welcomes Casey Winans, founder of Full Stride WMS, to share his entrepreneurial journey from building a high-growth consulting firm to starting over with a mission-driven focus on helping mid-sized 3PLs and distributors implement smarter warehouse management systems. Casey opens up about the emotional highs and lows of founding, exiting, and rebooting — with lessons on equity, partnership challenges, and staying mission-aligned. It’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the unglamorous truth behind logistics entrepreneurship. 

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

Nate sits down with Josh Klebanoff, Co-Founder and COO of Yolk Transport, to dive into the high-pressure, behind-the-scenes world of Event Logistics. Josh shares his journey from temp worker to entrepreneur, the adrenaline-fueled realities of moving major concerts and events, and what it takes to keep the show on the road — from late-night trucking disasters to delivering stages for world-famous artists. Full of real talk about entrepreneurship, grit, and the magic that happens before the lights come up, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about what really keeps the entertainment world moving. 

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

Jim Bramlett's 42-year journey through the logistics landscape offers a masterclass in entrepreneurship, leadership, and finding purpose beyond business success. From building businesses to authoring books and now leading peer groups for entrepreneur, Jim has done and seen it all. He's found renewed purpose in helping others avoid the mistakes he made so listen in if you'd like to avoid a few yourself!

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

On this episode of The Bootstrapper's Guide to Logistics, Khaki shares his journey from corporate operations to founding ShiftSwap, a labor sharing and planning tool for warehouse operations.

Khaki shares how his approach is built on a commitment to simplicity. "To actually create something simple is extremely complex," he explains. 

With ambitious goals to impact one million hourly workers' lives, Hisham goes deep on what it means to be a bootstrapper – finding elegant (and sometimes scrappy) solutions to overlooked problems.

Whether you manage warehouse operations or dream of building a purpose-driven business, this conversation offers invaluable insights on creating dignity through workplace flexibility.

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

What happens when you combine Philadelphia grit, Chicago hustle, and cutting-edge AI technology? You get Chris Agnew's journey to founding Freight IQ.

Growing up in a blue-collar Philadelphia neighborhood where "everything was a competition" and working in his mother's restaurant (where he nearly got fired) Chris developed resilience and people skills. After 8 years at Coyote Logistics he spent the next six at Molo. This long-term approach to understanding the business gave him unique insights into complete market cycles and the operational challenges facing brokerages during both bull and bear markets. 

The entrepreneurial spark ignited when Chris recognized how advanced AI and machine learning technology could transform these operational bottlenecks. Freight IQ was born from his vision to create software solutions that enable logistics companies to operate more efficiently while preserving what matters most - the human relationships at the heart of the industry.

What makes Chris's approach distinctive is his unwavering belief that despite technological advancement, logistics remains fundamentally a "people game." His philosophy combines domain expertise with innovative technology to address not just surface-level challenges but the complex exception management scenarios that often derail operations.

Ready to see how combining old-school values with cutting-edge technology is reshaping the logistics landscape? Listen now and discover why sometimes the most revolutionary ideas come from those willing to do the unglamorous work of fully understanding an industry before trying to transform it.

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

In an industry often dominated by venture-backed startups and high-risk entrepreneurship, Blake Collins - Founder of Armada - offers an alternative perspective on building a business the thoughtful way. As the co-founder and managing director of Armada, a specialized recruiting firm focused on supply chain talent, Blake shares his journey from CH Robinson executive to entrepreneur without sacrificing financial stability or family priorities.

Rather than following the conventional "quit your job and risk everything" startup approach, Blake and his co-founder John created a strategic partnership with longtime friends who had already built a successful staffing business. This alliance allowed them to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions while maintaining financial security—especially important as both founders were building homes and starting families.

The conversation explores how personal experiences shaped Blake's business philosophy, from overcoming health challenges to learning leadership lessons on the golf course. "How do you handle adversity?" Blake asks, drawing parallels between golf and business management. "Are you throwing your club when you hit it out of bounds, or can you maintain your composure and focus on the next shot?"

Demonstrating remarkable self-awareness about leadership development and drawing a thoughtful distinction between leadership ("building the boats") and management ("driving the boats"), his approach to surrounding himself with challenging, positive influences is a clear contributor to his early success as an entrepreneur.

Ready to rethink how you approach entrepreneurship? Listen to Blake's story and discover how building strategic partnerships might be your path to business ownership without unnecessary risk. 

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

This week on the show we hear an update from Andy Shiels, Founder of SiLo two years after we shared his original episode. Listen in as he shares how running a 'boring' business can lead to ongoing success and how he would encourage others to focus on the fundamentals.

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

This week we hear an update from Brad Forester who first shared his story with us in 2022. In this update he shares what he has learned as a leader and entrepreneur over the last 2 years including his most difficult challenge yet - leaving the country (and his business) for over a month. 

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast. 

This week we hear an update from Charlie Saffro on the time warp that the last 2 years have been in the supply chain talent industry. Charlie opens up about one of the biggest challenges she has faced yet...burnout. Listen in as she shares what she's learned about business and herself.  

Brought to you by Bitfreighter and Ballast.