ThinkFreight

In this episode of the ThinkFreight podcast, Thomas Werdine sits down with Eric Williams, co-founder and CEO of Beagl, to explore his unique journey from financial markets to freight brokerage. They dive into the challenges faced by brokers versus shippers, the importance of understanding the shipper’s perspective, and how to optimize freight operations. 

Eric shares valuable insights on the role of contracts and how to foster successful partnerships in logistics. They also discuss the importance of specificity in brokerage services and building strategic relationships between brokers and shippers. 

Then, Eric introduces Beagl, a cutting-edge tool that transforms the RFP process using data and automation. Plus, hear about feedback from early Beagl users and what the future of freight sales looks like as technology continues to evolve.

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⚫️ Rose Rocket and TMS.ai are transforming the freight industry with seamless transportation management solutions. Improve your operations, streamline communication, and gain real-time visibility—all in one powerful platform. Try RoseRocket and TMS.ai today!

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ Purple Squirrel is enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent. Check out Purple Squirrel now!

In this episode, I sit down with Andrey Yakimchuk, founder and CEO of Hawk Logistics. Andrey shares his inspiring journey from immigrant truck driver to building a successful trucking company. He discusses the early struggles of becoming an owner-operator, how he navigated challenges like high-interest loans and finding good drivers, and the evolution of Hawk Logistics as it grew into a fleet of 70 trucks.

The conversation dives into Andrey’s leadership philosophy, focusing on empowering people, building strong relationships, and fostering a positive company culture. As Hawk Logistics continues to grow, Andrey shares his vision for the future, including expanding into direct shipper relationships and setting ambitious goals for the coming years.

📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Talento is not just a nearshoring solution – it’s a partner in building and scaling a thriving logistics business. Focused entirely on freight, supply chain, and logistics, Talento offers more than just talent—it provides an entire ecosystem designed to support and optimize growth.

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ Purple Squirrel is enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent. Check out Purple Squirrel now!

In this episode, Jesse Taylor from Parade returns to the podcast to discuss the rapidly advancing role of AI in the freight brokerage industry. He introduces Parade's new AI-driven tool, Co-Driver, which automates carrier inquiries and enhances communication, helping brokers build stronger relationships with carriers while optimizing operations. 

The conversation also covers the importance of leveraging data intelligence to stay competitive, improve carrier recommendations, and measure AI's impact through key performance indicators. 

Finally, Jesse explores the potential future innovations that AI could bring to the logistics space, emphasizing how AI is poised to transform freight brokerage operations.

📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Talento is not just a nearshoring solution – it’s a partner in building and scaling a thriving logistics business. Focused entirely on freight, supply chain, and logistics, Talento offers more than just talent—it provides an entire ecosystem designed to support and optimize growth.

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ Purple Squirrel is enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent. Check out Purple Squirrel now!

Redefining nearshoring in the freight industry, Talento is focused on more than just labor—it’s about building an ecosystem of technology, partnerships, and smarter processes to help companies scale efficiently.

In this episode, Mia Mazal, co-founder of Talento, explains what happened with Sworkz and why she chose to launch her own company, how she’s addressing talent challenges in Latin America, and why a one-size-fits-all staffing solution doesn’t work in logistics. 

She also discusses the cultural nuances of hiring in Latin America, the importance of retention over rapid hiring, and how companies can rethink their approach to global talent.

Nick Klingensmith, founder of Stride Motivation, has faced more adversity than most—four-time cancer survivor, type 1 diabetic, and a survivor of two rollover car accidents. But instead of letting life's challenges define him, he turned them into fuel.

In this episode, Nick shares how he went from a high-stakes sales career in logistics to completing over 100 Spartan races, marathons, and endurance events—proving that the mind is the ultimate battleground. He dives into overcoming limiting beliefs, the power of controlled adversity, and why sales professionals need to embrace discomfort to succeed.

Nick also unpacks the importance of networking in logistics, the mental endurance required for long-term success, and why patience and relentless action are key to crushing your goals. If you're in sales, logistics, or just need a push to break through your own barriers, this episode is a must-listen.

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📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ The Freight Talent Advocates at Purple Squirrel are enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent. Check out Purple Squirrel now!

In this episode, Zach Meese, Business Development Manager at Airfreight Express Global, unpacks the dynamic world of air freight logistics—from life-or-death medical shipments to navigating complex international cargo moves.

Zach dives into the flexibility of air freight, debunking myths that it's always cost-prohibitive and showing how businesses can use tailored solutions to avoid costly delays. He shares eye-opening stories, including organizing charter flights for organ transplants and leveraging strategic air routes to optimize global supply chains.

He also explores the growing potential of air freight in emerging markets like Colombia and Africa, where infrastructure challenges make it a game-changer for transporting raw materials.

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📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ The Freight Talent Advocates at Purple Squirrel are enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent. Check out Purple Squirrel now!

In this episode, Evan Shelley, CEO of Truck Parking Club, discusses the platform's explosive growth—from just a few hundred locations to over 1,400 across the U.S.—and how it's helping tens of thousands of drivers find safe parking every day. 

Evan breaks down the challenges of a truck parking shortage, the heated debate around transitioning from free to paid parking, and how innovative tech solutions are streamlining the process. 

He also tackles the misinformation swirling on social media and shares his thoughts on how private sector solutions are shaping the future of truck parking in a rebounding industry. 

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📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ The Freight Talent Advocates at Purple Squirrel are enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent.

In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, Alex Winston, founder of Reefer Van Network, goes all-in on revolutionizing refrigerated small truckload shipping. Once juggling Expedite All and Reefer Van Network, Alex explains what sparked his shift to focus solely on the reefer niche and how he's tackling the “unicorn” challenge of growing a network of refrigerated Sprinter vans.

Alex details how his team is scaling capacity by buying and building state-of-the-art equipment for on-demand, temperature-controlled freight. He dives into the gaps in the reefer market, the unique hurdles of refrigerated logistics, and the role of technology—and even AI—in automating processes and optimizing efficiency.

Tune in to discover how Reefer Van Network is transforming a niche market into a game-changing opportunity for shippers and carriers alike.

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📍Massive thanks to our podcast sponsors:

⚫️ Salesdash CRM is built specifically for freight brokers & 3PLs. Organize your sales outreach, notes, follow-ups, and lane profiles for your shippers and carriers. All for an affordable price. Try Salesdash free for 14 days with no credit card required.

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

⚫️ The Freight Talent Advocates at Purple Squirrel are enriching careers in logistics. Representing freight agents, brokers, and forwarders, they secure multiple winning offers tailored for today’s top freight talent.

In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, I’m joined once again by Pam Simon from Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain and Logistics, an industry-leading event set for February 10–12, 2025, at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Pam reflects on last year’s Manifest, highlighting standout moments and the feedback that has informed an even bigger, bolder 2025 event. 

She gives us a glimpse into how the agenda has evolved, with sessions and speakers covering emerging technologies, innovative case studies, and practical insights for shippers, carriers, and supply chain professionals.

We discuss what sets Manifest apart in the events landscape, from its focus on actionable innovation to the diverse ecosystem of attendees—ranging from startups to major enterprises like Mattel, Microsoft, and Alibaba. 

Pam shares how Manifest has rapidly grown into a premier venue for networking and collaboration, explaining how participants can engage with investors, explore new partnerships, and stay at the forefront of industry trends.

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🌎 Find Pam Simon and Manifest:

Pam Simon - LinkedIn

Sign up for Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics

In this episode of the ThinkFreight Podcast, I sit down with Jesse Griffin, West Region Sales Manager at Crete Carrier Corporation, to explore his journey through some of the industry’s most well-known players—JB Hunt, Knight Transportation, FreightVana, and now Crete. 

Jesse shares how his diverse background, moving from operations into sales, has shaped his approach to leadership, customer relationships, and team management.

We dive into Jesse’s current role at Crete Carrier, one of the nation’s largest asset-based trucking companies encompassing Crete Carrier, Shaffer Trucking, and Hunt Transportation. 

Jesse explains the differences between operating regionally and managing dedicated fleets, as well as how Crete strikes a balance between contract and spot freight. We discuss the unique challenges of selling in a down market and why driver retention matters to shippers.

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📍Massive thanks to our sponsor:

⚫️ Vendorflow assists dispatch teams and drivers in overcoming typical communication challenges and enhances safety by reducing distractions, including preventing message delivery while drivers are in transit. Check out Vendorflow today!

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🌎 Find Jesse online:

Jesse Griffin - LinkedIn

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