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In this episode of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris and Michael “The Dude” Vincent dive into the murky waters of the freight industry, from the rising tide of cargo theft and “chameleon” carriers to the impact of New York City’s congestion pricing. The duo also touches on a bizarre headline involving missing scientists and a daring $2 million Brink’s truck heist.Key Highlights:The Vanishing Act: The hosts open with a “wild” discussion about reports of ten scientists disappearing, including a researcher working on anti-gravity propulsion who vanished while hiking.The Freight Fraud Debate: Malcolm and Michael address the “heat” from recent coverage of cargo theft numbers. They debate whether industry figures ($40B–$60B) are inflated by those who “foment fear” or if the evolution of “pay heists” and fraudulent VIN numbers is truly reaching a breaking point.Diesel Benchmark Drop: A look at the largest slide in diesel prices since 2022, following a twelve-week streak of increases.Maritime Focus: Discussion on the U.S. losing its maritime focus and the funding struggles of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) despite its role in national securityFeatured GuestsSteve Vest | Owner & CEO, Nationwide Equipment Transportation Inc. Steve joins the show to discuss his 20+ year journey in freight and how a viral TikTok video catapulted his business during a market downturn.Nate Veeh | AVP of Business Development, Altitude. Nate breaks down fresh data on New York City’s congestion pricing. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Monday edition of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris explores the critical intersections of safety culture and technological innovation in the logistics industry. Opening the show, Mike Fackler from Travelers joins the conversation to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reframing distracted driving not just as a driver error, but as a symptom of leadership and organizational culture. Fackler emphasizes that true safety requires absolute accountability from the top down, noting that when leaders model poor behavior—such as taking calls while driving—it undermines the entire safety message. He argues that companies must move beyond simple awareness to consistent enforcement of clear policies to truly move the needle on road safety.We then shift the focus to the “broken” state of roadside repair with Alex Bezzubets, CEO of MyMechanic Inc.. Alex details his transition from firefighting to transportation entrepreneurship, driven by the realization that roadside assistance is currently plagued by a lack of connectivity and archaic manual processes. Through MyMechanic, He is building a digital ecosystem that aggregates service providers and provides real-time GPS visibility, allowing for a more efficient, “Uber-like” experience that leverages data to predict breakdown hotspots and reduce downtime. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the logistics industry being blinded by the “shiny object” of AI while foundational security and revenue strategies crumble? Today on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, we’re peeling back the curtain on a $287,000 “VIN hack” that exposed a massive gap in trailer identity and asset security. The 60 Minutes Fallout: We dive deep into the Super Ego defense statement following the explosive “Chameleon Carrier” segment. Is it a case of media misunderstanding, or a “My Cousin Vinny” style legal defense? Ed Burns (TruSygnal/Burns Logistics) joins us to break down why “disruption” is not a moral justification for cutting corners. The AI Death Trap: Eric Williams (Beagl Technologies) sounds the alarm on why chasing a 3% reduction in SG&A through AI is a losing game. We discuss why you should stop trying to “automate away” your staff and start focusing on “Quality of Revenue.” Plus: J.B. Hunt Q1 Reality Check: What the earnings report actually says about the state of the freight market. The 100-Year Carrier Secret: Why the most successful companies ignore the spot market noise. Freight Fraud Symposium: A preview of our upcoming event in Cleveland. GUESTS: Eric Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Beagl Technologies Ed Burns, Co-Founder and CEO of TruSygnal and Burns Logistics #Logistics #Trucking #Freight #SupplyChain #WHATTHETRUCK Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Wednesday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent dive into the high-stakes world of freight fraud, industry bankruptcies, and the evolving landscape of international trade. Industry Headlines • Market Contraction: Small trucking firms like Liberty Carriers Inc. and NAS Logistics have recently filed for bankruptcy as the industry struggles in a post-COVID down cycle. • Trade & Ports: Mexico remains the U.S.’s top trading partner, with Port Laredo handling over $29 billion in trade in February alone. Meanwhile, the Port of LA maintains consistent volume despite global economic uncertainty. • Weather Alerts: Tornado season has arrived early, with 39 tornadoes already reported in Wisconsin this year, significantly higher than the annual average. Expert Spotlight • Phil Brink (FreightWaves): Warns that over 50% of brokers and carriers are not vetting partners, leaving them vulnerable to an average cargo theft loss of $300,000 per load. • Rob Carpenter (Investigator): Fresh off his 60 Minutes appearance, Carpenter discusses the Athena Strand tragedy, emphasizing that carriers in delivery modes must implement stricter criminal background checks beyond basic regulations. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Coming off a masterful weekend in Chattanooga, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent are back to break down the biggest headlines in freight, from the "sexiness" of cargo theft stats to the reality of Amazon’s drone ambitions. While headlines are buzzing with $1,000,000 Lego heists and stolen Kit Kats, the guys look at the actual math. Statistically, freight fraud and theft account for only 0.0036% of freight moved in North America. We discuss why this "sexy" topic gets so much airtime and how technology from companies like Highway is driving necessary trust factors in the industry. Amazon is ramping up Prime Air, aiming to deliver 500 million packages annually by the end of the decade. Michael Vincent isn't buying the hype, questioning the efficiency and safety of "dropping a fragile vase 20 feet out of the ass of a drone" just to satisfy consumer demand for faster delivery Anna Falcon, VP of Customer Experience at MCA Connect, joins the show to discuss why manufacturers must move beyond "boring widgets" to holistic customer strategy. David Long, VP of Product Management at Fleetworthy, pulls back the curtain on the "illusion of data". Many fleets think they have a handle on accidents, but fragmented spreadsheets won't stand up in court. David introduces Legal Lock, a feature that creates an immutable, time-stamped record of an accident to protect a fleet's credibility during litigation. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s packed episode of What the Truck?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent are bringing you the highest-signal news and interviews in the freight industry. The Headlines A massive $1M stolen Lego heist gets stopped in its tracks. Mexican truckers end their strike following clashes with authorities. The troubled USPS moves to raise stamp prices to conserve cash as it faces a “financial blackhole”. project44 acquires LunaPath.ai to accelerate AI agent orchestration. A deep dive into freight fraud: how a load booked completely right still went wrong. Jake Papa (Co-Founder & CRO, Carrier1): Jake pitches “Vault,” a new product built to replace broken email tendering with database-to-database connectivity to protect brokers from fraud. Stefan Heck (CEO, Nauto): Stefan explains how Nauto’s AI safety technology predicts and prevents collisions before they happen using data from billions of real-world driving miles. Chase Osborne (Demand Generation Lead, Cargado): Chase shares his experience at the Freight Caviar documentary watch party and discusses the realities of cross-border freight and nearshoring. Join the Freight Fraud Symposium this May in Cleveland, Ohio, to debate threat intelligence and establish the new gold standard for transaction security. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up for a massive Wednesday edition of What The Truck?!? with your hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent, MD (The Dude). We’re diving deep into the geopolitical ripples affecting oil, the ongoing crackdown on non-domiciled CDLs, and the future of medium-duty electrification.Description On Today’s Show:• Geopolitics & Oil Speculation: We break down the latest 4 PM deadline involving President Trump and Iran. Despite a two-week buffer for peace talks, we discuss why oil prices are moving 20% on “sentiment, fear, and tweets” rather than just infrastructure.• The CDL Crackdown: Jason McArthur from Lone Cypress Logistics joins us to discuss the “slow bleed” of driver capacity. With approximately 13,000 to 14,000 licenses already canceled in California and a potential 194,000 more at risk, we explore how this is driving up driver pay and straining produce season capacity.• A Shipbuilding Revival: President Trump’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget includes a 242% increase in naval shipbuilding. We look at the $65.8 billion set for battleships and submarines—and why only a fraction is trickling down to commercial port development.• The Future of Work Trucks: Fred DePerez, SVP at Harbinger, introduces the HC Series Cab. Learn how this “best-in-class” electric platform is taking on diesel competitors with better turning radius, payload, and price parity.• Oil Trading Insights: Baron Idriss Lamarre brings three decades of experience with Shell and ExxonMobil to explain why we should “separate the noise from the fundamental” in today’s energy market. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of What the Truck?!?, Malcolm and “The Dude” break down a wild weekend in freight, from high-speed chocolate heists in Europe to massive cargo busts in Los Angeles. We also dive deep into how real-world data is beating simulations in the race for autonomous vehicle safety.Inside This Episode:• The $1M SKIMS & Alo Bust: Authorities in LA just uncovered a massive theft ring moving over 50 pallets of high-end apparel through resale channels before the shippers even knew it was gone.• The Great Kit Kat Heist: Danny Ramon from Overhaul joins us to discuss a “fake police” hijacking of a truckload of Formula 1-shaped Kit Kat bars in Europe.• The Missing Piece of Autonomy: Nexar CEO Zach Greenberger explains why “messy” real-world driving data is the only way to truly solve the “last mile” of autonomous trucking.• UPS & Teamsters Update: A new deal caps driver buyouts at 7,500 people, ending a weeks-long tug-of-war over labor contracts.• Fuel Relief: CH Robinson is waiving fees to help owner-operators survive rising diesel costs.• Geopolitics at the Canal: Senator Marco Rubio calls out China for “bullying” Panama-flagged ships as supply chain tensions rise. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a Good Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent. This week, we are diving into the retroactive legislation out of Indiana that just stripped 2,000 drivers of their CDLs overnight. If you’re dispatching a non-domiciled driver with a revoked license in the Hoosier state, your fleet could be staring down a brutal $50,000 fine.On the ocean side, the Strait of Hormuz closure has pushed Asia-US spot rates up a staggering 29%. Is it pure geopolitical fallout, or are carriers using the chaos to pad their bottom lines?Plus, Craig Stewart from Stord drops in to reveal the “insider secret” to beating Amazon Prime delivery speeds without paying for expensive air freight. Through intelligent order routing, mid-market brands are saving millions on parcel spend by fulfilling from the optimal node.Kris Edney (Interstate Global) also joins the desk to break down the incoming capacity crunch for moving season, the insane logistics of moving a fully operational casino, and the incredible work Interstate is doing with the Gary Sinise Foundation to move wounded veterans.Finally, we cover Mercedes-Benz’s $4B capacity injection in Alabama, NASA’s Artemis toilet disaster, and rapper Pooh Shiesty’s attempt to renegotiate a contract with Gucci Mane using an AK-47.In this episode: Intro & Good Friday reflections Sponsor Shoutout: Truckstop.com Freight Fraud Symposium in Cleveland (Promo code: WTT) Indiana revokes 2,000 CDLs overnight ($50k carrier fines) Strait of Hormuz closure spikes ocean spot rates 29% Mercedes-Benz drops $4B into Alabama plant Artemis NASA mission saved by a “Space Plumber” Culture segment: Pooh Shiesty & Gucci Mane’s armed negotiation Kris Edney (Interstate Global) on moving season & casino logistics Craig Stewart (Stord) on intelligent order routing & beating Amazon Prime Get your tickets for the Freight Fraud Symposium on May 20th at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Use promo code WTT for a discount at checkout! Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a jam-packed April Fools’ edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Hosts Malcolm and The Dude (Michael Vincent) dive into a wild mix of industry news, ranging from massive drug busts and illegal reptile smuggling to significant shifts in U.S. shipbuilding and the global oil market.Featured Guests:Daniel Powell – CEO, Optimal DynamicsDaniel joins the show to discuss the “bleeding edge” of Decision Automation. He explains the concept of “Decision Native” AI agents—systems that don’t just follow simple prompts but understand a carrier’s specific business goals to negotiate loads, manage contracts, and automate up to 80% of CSR workflows.Marina Ivanov – CEO & Co-founder, Apex Transit SolutionsA “self-made” industry leader and advocate, Marina discusses her successful fight against predatory towing in North Carolina. She provides a sobering look at why reputable carriers are facing bankruptcy, citing a multifaceted crisis of reduced rates, fraudulent “fake log” competitors, and the hidden costs of “messy middle” operations. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Tuesday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Malcom holds down the fort to navigate a wave of disruptions hitting the North American supply chain. From legal battles in the auto industry to a massive “refund event” at the U.S. border, this episode breaks down the complexities of 2026 logistics.On this episode, we dive into:• The Jeep Production Halt: FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney explains how a pricing dispute between Stellantis and a Mexican supplier has paralyzed production of Jeep Compass and Cherokee models, highlighting the extreme fragility of integrated cross-border auto networks.• The $166 Billion Tariff Tsunami: A deep dive into the recent Supreme Court decision striking down emergency tariffs, triggering what could be the largest refund event in U.S. trade history.• Secretary Duffy on Trucking Priorities: We feature an exclusive clip of Secretary Duffy discussing the administration’s efforts to remove “sham schools” and unqualified drivers from the road to improve national safety.• The CDL Crackdown: Rob Carpenter joins the show to discuss the “four problems” facing fleets today, including retroactive liability, insurance exposure, and the importance of the mid-market at events like MATS.• Energy & Freight Market Watch: A look at skyrocketing fuel surcharges and the geopolitical factors currently impacting North American motor carriers. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosted by Malcolm and The Dude, explores the landscape of risk, fleet safety, and the future of autonomous multimodal transportation.The episode features Bob O'Connell, a Strategic Account Executive from JJ Keller & Associates, who identifies major "risk blind spots" for fleet owners. O'Connell urges leaders to adopt a "merger and acquisition" mindset, suggesting that operating as if you are under constant financial and operational scrutiny forces a level of discipline that mitigates risk. He further emphasizes the necessity of strengthening regulatory expertise and maintaining "litigation-ready" record-keeping, noting that in the eyes of a plaintiff attorney, if an action wasn't written down, it effectively never happened.Closing out the show, Kevin Damoa, CEO of Glid, shares how his company is reindustrializing the first mile through "physical AI". He explains how Glid’s autonomous vehicles, like Radon and Glidrim, are designed to transition seamlessly between road and rail, allowing cargo to bypass derailments or traffic congestion by simply driving around obstructions and getting back on the track. Damoa introduces Ezra 16, a new orchestration tool aimed at balancing ground-based corridors and solving labor shortages by making underutilized rail networks more accessible for short-mile logistics. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special “Fraud Friday” edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris dives deep into the dark side of the supply chain. With losses mounting and theft schemes becoming more sophisticated, we’re joined by a triple threat of experts to break down exactly how these crimes happen and what you can do to stop them.The “Fraud Girl” Perspective: Danielle Spinelli (Director of Partnerships at Genlogs and Host of Tell Me Everything) joins the show to discuss her recent ride-along with the California Highway Patrol’s cargo theft task force. She reveals the shocking scale of rail line theft in the desert and explains how “strategic theft” has evolved since 2020.The Amazon Schemes: We break down two massive fraud cases involving Amazon, including a $10 million fake vendor invoice scheme and a $3.5 million “ghost trailer” scam where 23 fake trucking companies billed for movements that never happened.Next-Gen Defense: Noi Mahoney and Phillip Brink from FreightWaves join to discuss the latest in “ambient IoT” sensor tech that can detect theft and tampering in real-time. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this “hump day” edition of WHAT THE TRUCK, host Malcolm Harris takes the wheel solo while co-host Michael Vincent is on vacation. The episode dives deep into the “black hole” of the supply chain—the yard—and explores the evolving landscape of logistics recruiting and company culture.KEY TOPICS & SEGMENTS:• Modernizing Yard Logistics: Darin Brannan, CEO of Terminal Industries, discusses the shift from traditional Yard Management Systems (YMS) to advanced Yard Operating Systems. He explains how Terminal Industries uses AI and computer vision to eliminate paperwork and streamline processes, aiming to solve the “gate math” problem that often leads to massive traffic jams and wasted time for truckers.• The Future of Logistics Talent: Ryan Paul, President of Logitalent joins the show to discuss the past, present, and future of logistics recruiting. The conversation covers the importance of people and culture in the 3PL and brokerage space, as well as how companies are navigating a changing workforce. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm and The Dude are joined by FreightWaves Editor-at-Large John Kingston to break down the explosive conclusion of the “Operation Sideswipe” trial. The discussion centers on the federal conviction of two Louisiana attorneys who orchestrated a massive scheme involving staged tractor-trailer accidents dating back to 2011. Kingston details the dramatic scenes in the New Orleans courtroom, where the verdict led to outbursts from family members and the physical collapse of one of the defendants. The episode also explores the broader impact of this fraud on Louisiana’s soaring insurance rates and the possibility of future civil litigation against those involved.Shifting to market trends, the trio examines the curious stability of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) prices despite extreme volatility in the diesel and crude oil sectors. Kingston explains that while diesel costs have climbed steadily, retail DEF prices at major chains like Pilot Flying J and Love’s have remained flat, likely due to the nature of urea contracts. The conversation touches on the global supply shocks affecting the energy market, including the unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its long-term implications for the trucking industry. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices