Logistics Leadership and Growth with Kristy Knichel | A Trucking Podcast

What if the biggest barriers to scaling your logistics business aren’t external, but the mindset and processes you carry today?

In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, we sit down with Kristy Knichel, CEO and Co-Founder of Knichel Logistics, who draws on 28 years of industry experience to share how she built a thriving carrier from the ground up, and how you can avoid the common pitfalls that trip up new fleet owners. Kristy walks us through her origin story (yes it involves a pizza shop!), the power of mentorship (both giving and receiving), and why “just taking action” will always beat perfect planning.

You’ll learn:

• How to leverage mistakes into momentum and resilience

• Why picking the right customers makes, or breaks, your bottom line

• Practical ways to tweak processes on the fly without derailing operations

• The mentorship habits every logistics leader should cultivate

If you’re ready to turn growing pains into growth fuel, hit play, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with the next generation of freight leaders!

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🎧 Episode Timestamps

• 📍 00:00:00 Welcome to Miles and Mentors + episode overview

• 📍 00:00:48 Kristy’s “good problems”, navigating growth pains in real time

• 📍 00:01:09 From working for Dad to building her own carrier: a 28-year journey

• 📍 00:02:08 The pizza shop epiphany, why she “fell into” logistics

• 📍 00:03:00 Launching Knichel Logistics in 2003, the very first steps

• 📍 00:04:30 Tackling early challenges, culture, compliance, and cash flow

• 📍 00:06:15 Company culture and core values, setting a firm foundation

• 📍 00:08:00 Mentorship matters, learning from peers and paying it forward

• 📍 00:10:20 Embracing mistakes, why resilience trumps perfectionism

• 📍 00:12:00 Action over analysis, “You don’t realize how much time gets wasted by not taking action.”

• 📍 00:14:30 Choosing customers wisely, “Some customers, just because you get the business doesn’t mean it’s good business.”

• 📍 00:16:22 Continuous learning, “Stay course, ask questions, stay humble.”

• 📍 00:17:40 Process tweaks and tech adoption, go with it and adjust as you go

• 📍 00:19:05 Scaling strategies, navigating growing pains with intention

• 📍 00:21:30 Final advice and key takeaways for new logistics leaders

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🎙 About Our Guest

Kristy Knichel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Knichel Logistics (est. 2003), a full-service freight carrier built on the principles of people-first culture, operational excellence, and strategic customer selection. Over her 28-year career, Kristy has led Knichel from a two-truck startup to a regional powerhouse, mentors up-and-coming freight professionals, and sits on several industry advisory boards. When she’s not fine-tuning processes or coaching new owners, you’ll find her exploring new tech solutions or sharing her insights on the value of resilience in trucking.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyknichel/

• Business Website: https://www.knichellogistics.com/

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Miles and Mentors is more than a podcast, it’s a movement of real stories, tactical advice, and mentorship for tomorrow’s freight leaders.

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