1374. #TFCP - The Hybrid Powerhouse: Human Intelligence in an AI Freight World!
Release Date: 01/27/2026
The Freight Coach Podcast
Find out where the human edge and automation matter in freight brokerage in this episode with Alex Schick of Alliance Logistix, sharing how smart freight automation, carrier invoicing automation, and AI in logistics can drive efficiency without sacrificing carrier relationships or customer trust! Alex talk through why automating tedious tasks like carrier invoicing and document collection speeds payment cycles, reduces errors, and boosts carrier satisfaction, while keeping real humans front and center for load booking and relationship management, why AI should act as an assistant (not a...
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Are you confident your compliance program would hold up under an FMCSA audit, and are you scaling your fleet without scaling your safety and risk management? Rob Carpenter from Trucksafe is back to discuss why organized compliance, defensible training, and real accountability are no longer optional in trucking! We explore how poor paperwork and weak policies can turn routine inspections into costly enforcement actions, why nearly 80% of driving skills are learned on the job (and how this creates serious legal exposure), and the growing accountability gap where drivers face severe penalties...
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What happens when sales slip, costs explode, and the market stays tough longer than anyone expected? How do you scale a freight brokerage without burning cash or losing focus? In this episode, our returning guest from Thrivemodal, Kyle Wilson, is back to explain why founders must stay relentlessly focused on business development and how outsourcing operations to the Philippines cuts monthly costs while improving scalability and service quality. Kyle also shares a grounded outlook on the 2026 freight market, infrastructure-driven demand, global workforce integration through cloud...
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Todayโs episode with John Pemberton from Pemberton Truck Lines is all about creating staying power in the trucking industry through strong company culture, uncompromising standards, and leadership accountability! Stay tuned as we dive into why building long-term customer relationships beats short-term rate chasing, how fleet standardization and preventive maintenance control costs and reduce breakdowns, and why fuel management, driver training, and outward-facing cameras are no longer optional for safety, liability reduction, and insurance control. John also shares how staying focused on...
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What happens if you donโt verify your SCAC? Is this the beginning of the end for freight fraud in non-Class 8 carriers? Joe Ohr and Holly Taylor are back on the show to discuss the launch of SCAC Verify on February 26, 2026, NMFTAโs new mandatory identity and address verification program designed to close a major security gap impacting sprinters, box trucks, hotshots, and other non-Class 8 carriers! We talk about how the fast 1โ3 minute verification process works using government ID, biometric selfie matching, and DMV checks across 42 states, why failure to comply could mean losing your...
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Today, letโs talk straight about why firm quotes matter, how cash flow mismanagement (not lack of freight) kills brokers, and why securing contracts early beats chasing top-line revenue! Listen as I share more about the use of smart freight technology, focusing on automating what already works instead of wasting money on shiny tools, the real power of strong transportation networks when problems arise, and why niche specialization like flatbed and open-deck freight shortens sales cycles fast. Finally, I highlight the rising insurance and regulatory costs and why tight expense audits...
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Are Midwest reefer lanes really more stable than the headlines say, and where are the real profit opportunities hiding right now? In this episode, we break down the following topics: Why long-term freight market stability still exists in key Midwest reefer lanes Why predictable, Monday-through-Thursday lane pricing beats chasing volatile spot spikes and regional freight lanes are outperforming national averages How accepting short-term losses can build long-term carrier and customer trust The new FMCSA broker bond rule requiring a $75,000 bond with a strict seven-day compliance window and its...
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The "Black Box" of freight brokerage is under fire. On this episode of #TheFreightCoach, we break down the explosive petition calling for the FMCSA to suspend TQL's authority over broker transparency waivers. Is the era of contracting out of 49 CFR ยง 371.3 finally coming to an end? Weโre diving deep into the 2026 Regulatory Purge: FMCSA vs. TQL: Why carrier advocacy groups are pushing for a total suspension of authority and what it means for your right to see the records. The ELD Blacklist: The FMCSA isn't slowing down. We discuss the latest hardware revocations and the March 15th deadline...
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Change how you look at unsold inventory in this episode with Amrita Bhasin of Sotira, joining the show to break down how poor inventory forecasting is crushing CPG brands, why nearly a quarter of all retail and e-commerce inventory never sells, and how excess inventory liquidation has become one of the biggest supply chain challenges today! We dive deeper into how Sotira is using AI to power a tech-driven reverse logistics marketplace that connects sellers, buyers, and donation partners while protecting brand equity, enforcing expiration and regional compliance laws, and improving recovery...
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Are you relying on COIs and assuming youโre covered, or could one denied cargo claim put your brokerage at serious risk? Today, William (Billy) Worthington from Falvey Insurance Group explains why certificates of insurance can be misleading, how hidden exclusions and sublimits create massive exposure for freight brokers, and why understanding the actual insurance policy matters! We talk through the complex risk profile brokers carry when managing multiple carriers under one policy, why broker cargo liability insurance and all-risk cargo coverage are no longer optional, and how inflation has...
info_outlineFind out where the human edge and automation matter in freight brokerage in this episode with Alex Schick of Alliance Logistix, sharing how smart freight automation, carrier invoicing automation, and AI in logistics can drive efficiency without sacrificing carrier relationships or customer trust!
Alex talk through why automating tedious tasks like carrier invoicing and document collection speeds payment cycles, reduces errors, and boosts carrier satisfaction, while keeping real humans front and center for load booking and relationship management, why AI should act as an assistant (not a replacement) for brokers, fleets, and driver managers, how tailored transportation technology beats bloated all-in-one systems, and why small fleets can dramatically improve profitability through better cost management, insurance shopping, and maintenance strategies.
If youโre a freight broker, fleet owner, or logistics leader trying to balance automation with personal service while protecting margins in a tight market, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately!
About Alex Schick
Alex embarked on his logistics adventure in 2007 at Intransit, which later transformed into DSV Road through several acquisitions. Starting from the bottom in tracking and tracing, he quickly climbed the ranks. By 2009, he was overseeing a small region of freight in Northern California. His responsibilities expanded significantly by 2014, when he began handling all customer bids, pricing, and rate structures for carriers. At that point, he also managed the operations side of about 40% of the branch's freight.
In early 2017, he became the branch manager, overseeing the overall strategy and direction of the entire branch. From 2014 to the end of 2018, they grew from 7,000 truckloads per year to 55,000 truckloads per year as an agency. They expanded from 6 employees to 18 and from $5 million in revenue to almost $20 million. They were a bootstrapped company growing like crazy before the tech boom hit the industry.
He left DSV in 2019 and joined Wilson Logistics in 2020. Together with his wife, Natalie, they started to rebuild. By the end of 2020, they had hired their first employee in their Wilson Agency. In early 2023, they departed the agent model and co-founded Alliance Logistix LLC. By late 2023, they ventured into asset-based trucking alongside their brokerage. Today, they have 12 employees in the brokerage, 7 drivers, and 2 employees at their asset company. They are currently handling volumes of more than 30,000 truckloads annually.
With nearly two decades of industry experience, heโs committed to fostering strong relationships, building alliances, and identifying synergies with their customers and carriers. They are focused on being a lean as possible, efficient as possible, and eliminating and/or automating repetitive and monotonous tasks with technology and automation. The most important thing is that they are keeping to their roots of the family feel for their customers, carriers, and employees alike. After all, in logistics, it's all about the journey and the company you keep!
Connect with Alex
- Website: https://www.alliancelogistix.com/
- Email: aschick@alliancelogistix.com
- Office Phone: 559-899-3177
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