The Freight Coach Podcast

How do you actually build a sustainable growth and lasting sales strategy in freight? Mike Mikulik from SPI Logistics is back and live to share how they're driving real year-over-year growth by doubling down on existing customers, tightening up their cold-calling strategy, and investing heavily in tech that actually moves the needle!

We discuss how respecting people's time builds long-term trust, why agent recruitment needs to be transparent, fast, and rooted in support, and how SPI's push into international air and ocean freight is helping agents deepen their book, navigate supply chain volatility, and stay competitive in a noisy market!

About Mike Mikulik

Mike Mikulik is the Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at SPI Logistics. He is a very personable and enthusiastic person who is a collaborator and thinks out of the box. Mike has a unique background in all sides of the transportation industry from trucking to international freight forwarding and special projects. With over 25 years' experience he credits his School of Hard Knocks for his success.

You will find Mike easily engaging in conversation and his willingness to help and draw out the best in people. His positiveness is contagious and willingness to support his team grow personally and professionally.

Mike is a collaborator and think out of the box guy. He has had tremendous success in strategically enhancing the customer experience which in turn has led to new opportunities and revenue growth.

Mike lives and resides in Vancouver Canada where he has lived all his life.

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Let's see what AI adoption really looks like inside the freight industry in this episode with our returning guest, Dhruv Gupta from Drumkit!

Dhruv shares the three types of customers in the AI space, why human oversight still drives decision quality, where the best automation opportunities actually live, and why setting realistic expectations matters.

He also digs into rolling out AI without blowing up your workflows, why cultural buy-in matters just as much as the tech itself, product limitations, the future of conversational AI, and how AI will free brokers to focus on relationships and real decision-making.

At the end of the day, AI isn't about replacing people; it's about removing the tedious stuff so you can operate faster, smarter, and with a whole lot more clarity. Keep tuning in to hear more!

About Dhruv Gupta

Dhruv is the CEO of Drumkit, co-founding it in 2022. He has been passionate about logistics for as long as he can remember. After graduating from Harvard with a degree in Computer Science and Government, he founded a Y Combinator backed startup focused on micro-mobility optimization. He then co-founded Megaphone, a non-profit that helped people vote in Milwaukee and Atlanta in the 2020 General Election. He was the first BD hire at Zoba, an early stage startup that optimizes fleet operations.

Connect with Dhruv

• Website: https://www.drumkit.ai/
• Email: [email protected]

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Keep up with the real freight market in today's returning guest, Cody Koehler of A&Z Trucking, discussing how weather swings can explode spot rates overnight, why local conditions matter way more than any national "average", capacity challenges, the slow burn of driver supply adjustment, and the tightening compliance landscape that's about to weed out a huge chunk of non-compliant brokers when the new bond rules hits.

We also talk about the importance of carrier partnerships, taking short-term losses to protect long-term contracts, and why transparency keeps your customers locked in even when the market gets chaotic!

The freight market's still cyclical, still regional, and still full of opportunity if you're paying attention to the right signals and building your business the right way, so keep listening to learn more!

About Cody Koehler

Cody is a 21-year veteran in supply chain/logistics. He has done just about everything in this industry minus holding his CDL (he did drive a yard dog though). In his current role, he oversees the sales and marketing teams for A&Z trucking, a 20-year old brokerage that specializes in produce and reefer freight, as well as cold storage and cross docking.

Connect with Cody

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-koehler-1a922b162/
• Website: https://aandztrucking.com/
• Email: [email protected]

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

What's the real cost of fraud, and how do we finally shut the door on the criminals exploiting the transportation industry?

In this episode, Chris Burroughs breaks down how the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is stepping up with a new fraud hotline that connects 2,000 members directly to the FBI, helping track patterns, tighten data collection, and speed up responses to cargo crime!

We also dig into how organized crime takes advantage of weak FMCSA oversight, why boosting the broker bond matters, the push for enforcement under MAP-21, the role industry advocacy plays, why unregulated dispatch services are becoming a serious risk, the ongoing broker transparency debate, and the need for consistent standards across the board!

About Chris Burroughs

Chris Burroughs is the President and CEO for the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). He brings over 18 years of Congressional affairs experience to TIA. As the former Vice President of Government Affairs for TIA, he led the Government Relations department including the legislative, regulatory, PAC, and internal policy committee functions. Chris served as the staff liaison for the Highway Logistics Conference, the Intermodal Logistics Conference, and several other policy committees within TIA. Chris additionally served on the Board of Directors for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) as the Subcommittee Chairman of Industry Advisory Subcommittee and sole representative of the 3PL industry.

During his time on Capitol Hill, Chris gained invaluable knowledge of the legislative process. He began his career working on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in 2006 and then later the House Natural Resources Committee.

In 2009, Chris joined the Twenty-First Century Group, a bipartisan government affairs firm, as their Director of Government Affairs. In this position, Chris advocated on behalf of multiple clients involved in the transportation, telecommunications, health care, tax, and defense arenas. Additionally, he represented TIA on their issues of interest on Capitol Hill.

Chris lives in Gainesville, Virginia with his wife Stacey and children Kelly, Christopher, and Connor. Chris earned a BS degree in Political Science from Shepherd University located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Are you watching the freight market shift beneath the holiday noise and prepared for the regulatory shakeups shaping 2026?

Listen to the real trends driving today's trucking industry, from holiday-masked rate movements and tightening December capacity to diesel prices putting pressure on operating costs.

Let's also talk about why the FMCSA's overhaul of ELD approvals and the removal of nearly 3,000 fraudulent CDL schools are raising the bar for safety, compliance, and long-term carrier competitiveness, the impact of rising tariffs, new port fees, and legal uncertainty on heavy equipment shippers, and how weather disruptions and elevated tender rejections are signaling potential rate increases heading into early 2026!

Resources / References

• https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dot-cdl-mills-crackdown
• https://www.joc.com/article/tariff-costs-data-center-demand-create-mixed-outlook-for-roro-shippers-in-2026-6127099
• https://www.freightwaves.com/news/inside-dots-new-eld-approval-overhaul-what-changed-and-why-it-matters

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Eliminate guesswork in specialized freight, protect your margins, and stop wasting time chasing the wrong carriers by listening to this conversation with Michael Naumowicz from Wize Load!

Michael explains why specialization in flatbed, open deck, and heavy haul freight is the niche for brokers who want to reduce risk and build real credibility, how Wize Load's integrated platform brings together dynamic rating, load posting, and carrier matching to simplify the complex world of permits, routing, escorts, and high-value equipment moves, what helps brokers avoid costly mistakes and deadhead miles, and how their interactive permit map, carrier filtering tools, and upcoming workflow automation will streamline everything from quoting to delivery, giving brokers a more profitable way to operate in the specialized freight market!

Connect with Michael

• Website: https://www.wizeload.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-naumowicz-04a484161/

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

What's really driving carrier success in a tough freight market? And how are factoring, automation, and fraud prevention reshaping the way trucking companies stay alive and profitable?

Listen to Grace Maher from OTR Solutions, our first guest this week, speaking about how factoring has evolved into a strategic financial tool for most small carriers.

Grace digs into how modern factoring helps carriers stay organized, invoice faster, and build stronger broker relationships through better vetting and automated fraud detection, and how OTR's instant funding puts money in carriers' accounts within seconds, even on weekends, giving small trucking businesses the stability they need to keep moving.

We also hit on the need for better broker rating systems across the industry, the role of automation in eliminating document headaches, and why clean, accurate, fast invoicing is becoming just as important as on-time delivery!

About Grace Maher

Grace is the COO of OTR Solutions, America's most trusted freight fintech company. OTR Solutions provides industry-leading technology and financial services, tools, and support to help carriers start and grow a successful operation. Trucking companies and Brokerages of all sizes turn to OTR to receive reliable financing and back-office solutions, fuel programs, up-to-date news and education, and technology and innovation to prepare them for anything and everything. Driven by a passion for building success-driven processes and products, Grace combines over fourteen years of industry experience with a relentless commitment to innovation. Her strategic approach has not only fueled business growth but also scaled operations efficiently, with a sharp focus on optimizing operational expenditures.

Connect with Grace

• Website: https://otrsolutions.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemaher/

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

In this mashup episode, Dr. James Kenny shares how disciplined targeting fuels cleaner data, stronger conversion, and smarter use of AI for outreach, appointment scheduling, and operational automation, the stuff that actually cuts costs and boosts margins, while Dean Croke brings the heat with carrier economics, showing how owner-operators with low debt can run profitably at lower rates, how rising operating costs are shaping bid strategies, and why knowing your true break-even point is non-negotiable.

Watch their full episode on YouTube

• EP1265: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksiXkRhRN_M
• EP1281: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcHhI6h826A

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

What would the freight industry look like if we all spoke the same digital language? And how much time and money could we save if billing, visibility, and documentation finally flowed in real time? Today, Keith Peterson from NMFTA shares the launch of the Digital Standards Development Council, one of the biggest steps our industry has taken in years toward unified terminology and API standardization!

Keith and I talk about eliminating confusion around basic terms, replacing paper bills of lading with real API-driven E-BOLs, cutting integration costs with one API standard, and bringing true billing transparency through real-time freight charge updates.

With new API products for E-BOL, visibility, invoicing, and claims hitting public release soon—and major players already adopting the framework—we're heading toward a future where automation, speed, and collaboration become the norm while relationships stay front and center!

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://bit.ly/3XaWOEL

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Are we really fixing the trust gap in trucking, or just talking about it? And how much of our industry's problems stem from simple accountability? Dive into this conversation with Avante Jackson of The CDL Shorty Drivers 4 Drivers (D4D)!

Avante starts with the real issues holding freight back - the carrier–broker relationship, why long-term partnerships, transparent vetting, and steady follow-up are the backbone of reliable operations, the realities of cargo theft, and why better documentation, photos, and check-ins need to become standard.

From CDL training gaps to outdated safety standards, to the importance of actual business acumen, we talk about why blaming the market or foreign drivers won't fix anything. Real progress happens when brokers and drivers understand each other, invest in education, and commit to doing things the right way!

Connect with Avante

• Website: https://cdlshorty.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avjackson28/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cdlshorty74

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/