WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

By FreightWavesNews News Commentary Daily News Business News

WHAT THE TRUCK?!? episodes

August 05 The 72-Hour Supply Chain Hack Driving TikTok's Viral Sales Spikes
In this hump day edition, Malcolm and The Dude dive into football playbook contests, fast-moving retail trends, new LTL technology, and sustainable supply chain tracking solutions.
Jing Jing Chen (VP of Growth, Basic 3PL): Breaks down how e-commerce and viral social media trends are rewriting the traditional retail calendar. She explains how modern fulfillment centers and flexible warehousing adapt to handle sudden, viral demand surges—moving inventory in 72 hours instead of 72 days.
Patrick Sugar (EVP of Operations, Saia LTL Freight): Discusses Saia's national expansion and the launch of Rev. Patrick shares operational insights into meeting changing customer expectations around speed, real-time visibility, reliability, and expanded last-mile capabilities.
Dr. Brantly Fulton (CEO & Co-founder, Lamar Global): Takes us under the hood of single-use supply chain tracking. He shares how Lamar Global uses flexible electronics, roll-to-roll printing, and eco-friendly zinc batteries to solve complex reverse logistics and provide real-time temperature, humidity, and condition monitoring for cold chain and life sciences.
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56 min
August 03How Fake CDLs Are Passing Gate Inspection
Welcome to a Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with your hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent! We are officially kicking off August with a wild ride through the latest freight news and diving into the future of logistics tech with two incredible guests.
Malcolm and Mike run through a mind-boggling roundup of recent freight crime and poor decisions:
$20M Smuggling Bust: Customs officers at the Calexico Port of Entry seized 1,002 pounds of cocaine hidden under the wooden floorboards of a flatbed hauling rebar.

Discount Store Heist: The California Highway Patrol recovered more than $500,000 in stolen cargo merchandise from a discount retail store in Rialto.

Million-Dollar Truck Theft Ring: Two men were arrested in South Carolina after stealing 13 semi-trucks and 3 trailers over the course of three years.

Bud Light Bumper Cars: A driver in a 2022 Freightliner crashed into nine stopped vehicles in Erie, PA, and allegedly fled the scene on foot while carrying a case of Bud Light.

USPS Lottery Theft: A Florida mail carrier was arrested for stealing a resident's mail and cashing their $2,600 winning lottery ticket.

Louisiana CDL Bribery: A massive bribery scheme was uncovered where over 120 people paid around $5,000 each to obtain fraudulent CDLs with the help of corrupt DMV employees
The Innovators: AI in Logistics
Paul Singer (Co-founder & CEO, FleetWorks): Coming hot off being named a Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startup, Paul joins the show to discuss how FleetWorks is revolutionizing the industry. Leveraging his experience at Uber Freight, Paul explains how their AI agents (Chet and Sophia) help brokers and carriers automatically match freight, negotiate rates, and handle unstructured communications via phone, email, or text.

Amir Haas (Founder & CEO, Eagle): Amir breaks down how Eagle is digitizing and securing manual freight yards. By automating gate check-ins with AI, they are stopping fake licenses, catching damaged or empty trailers, reducing dwell time, and saving facilities an average of $500,000 a year on labor costs.
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1 hr 2 min
July 31The $60M Lawyer Convicted in a Murder-Linked Trucking Scam
Welcome to the fastest 45 minutes in freight! On this end-of-July edition of What the Truck?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the latest industry headlines and sit down with top leaders in supply chain technology and fleet operations.
In this episode:
Headlines & Legal Dramas: A breakdown of the latest updates surrounding the Louisiana staged-accident scam and attorney Vanessa Motta’s denied request for a new trial. Plus, a look at the fallout from high-profile broker liability cases and nuclear verdicts.

Reinventing Freight with Tech & EVs: Sami Khan, Co-Founder and CEO of Novoia, joins the show to discuss how AI, electrification, and autonomous hub-and-spoke models are reshaping over-the-road freight. He shares real-world performance data on their Tesla Semis and explains how AI is freeing up dispatchers to focus on high-value tasks.

Tackling the Technician Shortage: Matt Trapp, VP of Operations at Cox Fleet, stops by to talk about the real challenges facing fleet maintenance. Learn how Cox Fleet is recruiting the next generation of tech-savvy mechanics—including military veterans—and why leadership is the key to technician retention.
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54 min
July 29 7 Migrants Dead in Rail Container: The Cartel’s Darkest Freight Secret
Welcome to a Wednesday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? — the fastest 45 minutes in freight! Hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the biggest news and trends across the supply chain, from high-stakes freight security to the future of electric fleet infrastructure.
On This Episode:
Tragic Rail Container Smuggling Incident: The hosts cover a disturbing story reported by FreightWaves' Phil Brink regarding seven migrants who tragically lost their lives inside a sealed rail container in Texas and the 11 defendants facing life sentences. They analyze the criminal smuggling networks, carrier liability, and differences between maritime and rail security regulations.
EV Infrastructure Realities with EV Realty: Patrick Sullivan, Co-Founder & CEO of EV Realty, joins the show to discuss what it actually takes to support commercial electric trucks. He breaks down the industrial real estate and power grid challenges facing fleet electrification, why drayage and regional routes are leading adoption, and how data drives fleet hub locations.
Tackling Freight Fraud with Cipher & Row: John Nolan, Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Systems Architect at Cipher & Row, stops by to discuss the escalating issue of freight fraud. He explains how AI-driven packet scanning, carrier vetting, and timestamped audit trails help brokers protect themselves against reincarnated carriers and compliance risks.
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55 min
July 27 Cartels Are Laundering Millions Through Banana Reefers & Freight Fronts
Welcome to another episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent! On today’s show, we’re diving into the biggest headlines shaking up supply chains, trailer leasing traps, and a complete shift in how LTL shipper performance is measured.
What we cover in this episode:
Headlines: The massive $600M nuclear verdict against C.H. Robinson, a $290M cocaine bust hidden in Ecuadoran banana shipments, cartel business fronts, and the latest biweekly logistics layoff roundup.
Trailer Leasing Realities: Ed Behnen (SVP of Sales at Premier Trailer Leasing) drops by the studio to talk about avoiding the "low rate" lease trap, fighting off Facebook Marketplace equipment scams, and leveraging telematics to protect your assets.
Flipping the LTL Scorecard: Lance Healy (Co-Founder & CEO of FreightFAX) breaks down how FreightFAX is turning the tables by scoring shippers instead of carriers on a 900-point scale, tracking dwell times, claim rates, and "freight karma."
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53 min
July 24Staging a Freight Crash Could Soon Cost You 20 Years in Prison
In this episode, Malcolm and Mike dive deep into the latest freight news, supply chain trends, and game-changing logistics technologies. Special guest Dr. Danielle Dean, Head of Engineering at Gather AI, joins the show to break down how physical AI and autonomous systems are transforming warehouse management.
Physical AI in the Warehouse: Dr. Danielle Dean joins the show to discuss Gather AI's platform, digital twins, and how autonomous drones and vision-based forklift cameras are revolutionizing inventory tracking without replacing workers.

Cracking Down on Staged Crashes: A new Senate bill proposes up to 20 years in federal prison for staging commercial truck accidents—will it actually curb fraud schemes?

Pharmaceutical Tariff Talk: Examining the potential impact of proposed tariffs on generic medicines and what shifting production back to the U.S. means for supply chains.

Housing Market vs. Heavy Delivery: How a cooling housing market is impacting the big-and-bulky last-mile freight market.

Major Cross-Border Drug Bust: Breaking down "Project Bay"—a $139M broker-style illegal smuggling operation shut down in Canada.
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47 min
July 22The "Trojan Horse" Freight Fraud Destroying Small Brokers
Host Malcolm Harris and co-host Michael Vincent kick off a packed Wednesday edition of the "fastest forty-five minutes of freight". The hosts open with lighthearted banter comparing the intense summer heat and humidity in Chattanooga versus Texas before diving into current news, industry headlines, and deep-dive discussions with two featured guests.
Industry Headlines
CDL Safety Blitz Crackdowns: The hosts discuss recent multi-state commercial vehicle inspection blitzes (in states like Arizona and Nebraska) that placed dozens of trucks and drivers out of service. Michael argues that despite these enforcement drives, statistical data shows commercial drivers remain among the safest demographics on the road, questioning the underlying motivations behind the blitzes.

In Memoriam – Alan Adler: The hosts pay tribute to award-winning journalist Alan Adler, who passed away. They reflect on his legacy as a pioneer in freight media, creator of the Truck Tech newsletter, and a dedicated humanitarian.
Featured Guests
Dave Rimkus | Head of Global Supply Chain Decarbonization, Schneider Electric (SE Advisory Services)
Supply Chain Decarbonization & Scope 1–3: Dave discusses how large multinational companies are working to decarbonize. He notes that 80–95% of a company’s emissions typically lie outside its "four walls" within upstream suppliers and logistics (Scope 3).

Addressing Choke Points & Risk: Using AI tools like "Sarah" (Resource Advisor), Dave's team tracks environmental choke points, energy grid instability, and supply chain dependencies to build resilience and avoid costly disruptions.

Practical Efficiency: Dave highlights how simple efficiency steps—such as route optimization, reducing deadhead miles, truck aerodynamics, and preventative maintenance—offer immediate cost savings and carbon reductions without requiring massive new expenditures.
Phil Brink | Head of Fraud Media, FreightWaves
Rising Cargo Theft & Fraud: Phil details the growing sophistication of organized crime in supply chains. Bad actors no longer rely solely on dockworker tips; they use AI, stolen identities, fictitious paperwork, and fraudulent carrier profiles to steal high-value loads.

Human-Level Vetting & Collaboration: Phil argues for stronger human-level carrier verification (DMV-backed ID checks, biometric links, and GPS tracking) rather than relying on surface-level documentation. He emphasizes the urgent need for better collaboration and shared tech standards between brokers and shippers to catch fraud before trucks are loaded.
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56 min
July 20Feds Crack Down On 75 Fraudulent CDL Schools
The boys are back in the building! Join Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent as they dive into the latest industry news, headlines, and expert insights on this edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
In This Episode
5 Minutes in Freight (Headlines):

A major $2.1M cocaine bust involving tractor-trailers in Florida.

ArcBest restructuring and 2% workforce/terminal door consolidation.

Military CDL skill waivers and veterans in trucking.

DHS and DOT investigating 75 CDL training schools for suspected fraud.
Special Guests
Tarek Alaruri – Co-Founder & CEO of Stuut
Tariq drops by to break down how AI and automation are transforming accounts receivable (AR) in logistics. From his background in wrestling to running tech that reduces overdue invoices by up to 40%, Tarek shares how Stuut is helping brokers and carriers get paid faster and streamline their operations.

John Scott – Operations Manager at Atlanta Container and Trailer
Calling in all the way from Turks and Caicos, John joins the show to discuss the growing demand for storage space in supply chain operations. He breaks down how flexible, month-to-month trailer and container rentals help businesses stay adaptable across different verticals—from construction to retail
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51 min
July 17The Billion-Dollar Cargo Hustle
Welcome back to another hilarious, high-energy Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? In this episode, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the wild world of logistics, cover the craziest headlines making waves in the freight industry, and dive deep into major changes hitting cross-border and summer highway infrastructure.
In This Episode:
The $1 Billion Cargo Theft Ring: We look into the shocking extradition of a Texas man from Qatar facing massive federal conspiracy charges linked to a massive five-year criminal empire.

The Counterfeit Postage Scheme: How an operation involving fraudulent labels led to tens of millions of parcels being shipped from China and a $150M revenue loss for the USPS.

Wildfires & Air Quality: How poor AQI across major hubs like Chicago affects the industry.

Logo Contest Alert! Enter the "Chubby Face Logistics" logo contest for a chance to win $1,500. Submissions close tomorrow at 12 PM Eastern! Send entries to [email protected].

Special Guests:
• Omar Kari – CEO of Logicbroker
Omar joins the show to break down the highly anticipated opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Ontario and the US. He shares vital insights on how this new artery will change dynamic routing, carrier allocation, and why companies need to digitize their systems to conquer cross-border customs before their trucks ever hit the border.
• Rob Abbott – VP of Corporate Strategy at Fleetworthy
Rob brings the heat (and an accidental air horn!) to talk about summer construction season, low-clearance bridges, and major traffic diversions like the massive freeway shutdown in Louisville. He explains how Fleetworthy is utilizing GPS and in-cab notifications to give drivers real-time, virtual sign alerts to prevent costly incidents, bridge strikes, and route navigation issues.

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56 min
July 13Where the Digital Supply Chain Goes to Die (The Yard Black Hole)
Welcome to another action-packed Monday edition of What the Truck! Hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent are back to unpack the latest supply chain news, upcoming events, and the technological revolutions hitting global logistics.
In this episode, we dive deep into the unexpected places importers are actually losing money after containers hit the port, and why the yard remains one of the least digitized aspects of the supply chain in 2026. Plus, we preview the upcoming Supply Chain AI Symposium in Chicago!
Featured guests:
Steven Dodola – CIO and Owner of Dodola Global Logistics. Steven joins the show to break down the costly handoffs at the port, navigating demurrage and detention, and how freight forwarders are utilizing tools like Claude Code and AI to streamline operations.

Jake Coppinger – CEO & Co-Founder of Yardflow by Freight Roll. Jake talks about the massive gaps in yard management digitization, the hurdles facing truck drivers, and the impending shift toward autonomous trucking.

Casey Larkin – Co-Founder of Yardflow by Freight Roll. Casey dives into standardizing workflows across fragmented carrier networks, eliminating paper dependency, and building the "digital brain" required to run the automated yard networks of the future.
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59 min

About WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

From the publisher's feed

WHAT THE TRUCK?!? is FreightWaves' irreverent award-winning podcast breaking down the biggest stories in transportation and logistics. WTT?!? is all about the people that make freight move. On the…