Advertise on podcast: Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast

No health routine works just because someone tells you to “exercise more”. Driver health, certainly doesn’t. Unless the advice actually fits the job. Kristi Rist, Founder of RoadFit Wellness, joins John Howland to explain why long hours behind the wheel hit the hips and lower back so hard, and what drivers can realistically do about it. Tune in for practical advice on 10-minute walks, stretching, resistance bands, food choices and building healthier habits without needing a gym membership.

Starting a trucking business is easy to explain online. Many do it. Running one sustainably is much harder. In this episode of Behind the Freight, Telly Arnold, Founder of TLA Group LLC and StraightConnect, joins John and Scott to break down the reality behind new authority restrictions, startup costs, broker relationships, driver reliability and the numbers every carrier needs to know before accepting freight. She also explains why she created StraightConnect to give carriers access to verified people, practical education and industry information they can actually use.

Once the business is no longer about you, running a fleet gets much more complicated. Jamie Hagen, Owner and President of Hell Bent Xpress, joins John and Scott to share what he has learned building a 12-truck operation while staying close to the drivers doing the work. Tune in to hear about driver retention, equipment decisions, diversification, learning to say no and why Jamie has no interest in growing simply because he can. The episode also features the monthly freight market update with FTR’s Avery Vise, including what August rates and diesel prices could tell carriers about the month ahead.

Learn expert logistics strategy and freight brokerage tips for your 3PL services and supply chain management. Xander Hassan is the founder of Hassan Transportation & Logistics, and he believes that freight should be a competitive advantage rather than a headache. He joins John and Scott to discuss his journey from hospitality and sales into the world of high-stakes logistics projects and explains how anticipating customer needs can lead to long-term partnerships. You will hear about his experience building SoFi Stadium. He also explains how he uses AI tools like Claude to find “micro-savings” that add up to a lot for e-commerce brands.

Driver retention, carrier recruiting, and fleet operations are failing because of a few common mistakes. Many companies use sign-on bonuses to solve churn. But funnily enough, these incentives often drive professional drivers away instead of keeping them. Charles Gracey explains why you must address your operational issues before spending more money on marketing. You will learn about the gap between corporate stories and the bank account reality drivers face every day. It is time to stop bailing water and start fixing the hole in your boat.

Carriers often fail at technology because they prioritize software over people. Nate shares his framework of standardizing workflows before trying to automate them to avoid "dirty data". You will learn why most fleets are actually less efficient today than they were twenty years ago despite having more tools. Nate also covers the branding problem in trucking and why the industry needs a real intervention to attract younger talent and keep trucks moving.

Marina Ivanov grew up around trucks and never thought she would lead a company in this industry. In 2012, she started Apex Transit Solutions to pay the bills, but it quickly became a mission to treat people with dignity. She talks about the reality of being a woman in a male-dominated space and why she gives fleet managers their own P&L. You will hear how to balance high service standards with profitable operations while building a culture where drivers actually want to stay.

Don Everhart from Transflo joins the show to talk about the impact of technology on trucking. Don has over twenty years of experience and started his career at Swift Transportation alongside John. He explains how carriers can use AI to handle load acquisition and back-office tasks without adding more staff. You will hear about the current state of autonomous trucks and why the biggest hurdle is regulatory. This talk focuses on using tech to improve your life and your business.

Maintenance is often an overlooked part of a carrier's bottom line. In this episode of Behind the Freight, Todd Waldron and John Howland talk with Trent Broberg, CEO of Fullbay. Trent explains why the industry is actually facing a utilization shortage rather than a driver shortage. He shares how tools like AI and predictive maintenance are changing heavy duty repair. You will learn how to manage profit for every individual truck and why communication is the secret to better relationships with your shop.

Freight fraud is a massive risk for carriers and the numbers are growing every day. The hosts talk with Dale Prax, the founder of FreightValidate who shares his experience from 34 years in the industry and his time in the Marine Corps to explain why fraud is surging. He reveals the common red flags at the dock and explains why the current vetting system is broken. You will get tips to protect your authority and stay profitable.

Most owner-operators know how to drive. The part that trips them up is running the business. Adam Wingfield, founder of Innovative Logistics Group, breaks down the gap between being a good driver and building an operation that stays profitable, covering Roadcheck Week compliance, a three-step process for using AI to find gaps in your rate negotiations, and how to prepare for the inevitable turns in the freight market cycle.

In this episode of Behind the Freight, Kevin Rutherford tells us why a lot of owner operators are working hard but still not making money. It starts with knowing your cost per mile. Without that, every load is a guess. He explains how fuel impacts your bottom line, which small changes are important and what happens when you go from one truck to two. This episode talks about how to actually stay profitable in trucking.

Freight data can feel overwhelming, but most mistakes come from how it is interpreted. In this episode of Behind the Freight, Todd Waldron and John Howland sit down with Avery Vise of FTR Transportation Intelligence to break down how to read the market. Avery shares why seasonality matters more than weekly changes, how spot market data should be used, and what small carriers often overlook. He also explains why profitability, not growth, is the real driver of long-term success in trucking.

Freight is about people, purpose, and adaptability. In this episode of Behind the Freight, Todd Waldron and John Howland speak with Brent Hutto, a longtime industry leader, about what he’s learned from three decades in trucking. Brent shares how relationships shaped his career, why carriers are the backbone of the industry, and how regulations and not just supply and demand drive market cycles. He also offers practical advice for small carriers navigating uncertainty and explains why purpose keeps people in freight for life.

The freight industry runs on miles, money, and hard-earned experience. Hosted by Todd Waldron and John Howland, this podcast brings together freight veterans, owner-operators, fleet leaders, and logistics professionals to talk about what's actually happening in the industry. Each episode covers real stories, market shifts, and the decisions that shape how freight moves. Guests bring decades of on-the-road and business experience, so the conversations stay grounded in what works and what doesn't.