Malcolm kicks off the show with a look at current headlines, including UPS’s optimization plan to close 22 sortation centers and the FMCSA’s crackdown on CDL non-compliance in Illinois. The segment also highlights rising cargo theft data, noting that California and Texas accounted for 58% of US incidents in 2025. Headlines are followed up with two great interviews.

Robert Nathan, Co-founder and CEO of Envoy AI, shares insights from his 20-year career that began in the warehouse and led to building a top-50 freight brokerage. He emphasizes the need for a shift toward human-centric technology, specifically building “carrier copilots” that empower the individual user rather than just the enterprise. Nathan also highlights the reality of systemic margin compression, advising brokerages to prepare for a future where they must operate profitably at margins as low as 7%.

Following Nathan, Chris Torrence, Chief Strategy Officer at MapUp, brings a perspective shaped by military logistics and over 25 years in the industry. Torrence argues against the “pressure cooker” mentality of transactional sales, advocating instead for the cultivation of “reputation capital” and long-term relationships. He stresses the importance of personal branding and authenticity, noting that while technology can always be replicated, the trust built through genuine human connection remains the ultimate differentiator in a crowded market.

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