Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage with Zach Schuhart
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Release Date: 01/06/2026
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Beyond TMS: McLeod's Open Ecosystem and Automation”, and , Vice President of Growth and Special Projects at McLeod Software, discuss the strategic pivot toward an open, automated ecosystem that redefines modern supply chain management. About Doug Schrier , Vice President of Growth and Special Projects at McLeod Software, is a driving force behind the company's strategic expansion while upholding a customer-centric philosophy. With a comprehensive background encompassing over two decades of operations and strategic leadership, Doug has dedicated the past 15 years to the...
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In “Vanity Metrics Don’t Move Freight: Building Real Pipeline in Freight-Tech”, and , Fractional CMO and Founder of FreightTech (marketing), discuss how marketing must shift from a tactical cost center to a strategic operating system that drives real revenue. About Jim Waters is a Boston-based B2B marketing executive with a proven track record of building robust sales pipelines. His passion lies in driving meaningful conversations, understanding customer pain points, and creating compelling content that generates active pipeline velocity. A results-driven innovator, Jim was an early...
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In “Beyond the Rate: Why Accuracy, Transparency and Context Matter”, and , President, Intelligence, at Triumph, discuss how accuracy, transparency, and network connectivity are the new drivers for precision and confidence in the logistics industry. About Dawn Favier serves as President, Intelligence, at Triumph following the acquisition of Greenscreens.ai in May 2025. She brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in transportation management and logistics technology. Prior to joining Triumph, Ms. Salvucci-Favier served as Chief Executive...
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In “Building the Connected Transportation Ecosystem: A Conversation with Trimble's Michael Kornhauser”, and , Vice President of Trimble, discuss how integrated data and precision mapping create a more secure, efficient, and connected transportation ecosystem. About Michael Kornhauser is sector vice president of Trimble, leading Transportation & Logistics in North America. With more than 20 years in various leadership roles, Michael has proven to be an astute and dynamic leader with deep industry understanding and passion for delivering superior customer value. Kornhauser, along with...
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In “The Optym Advantage: Smarter Routing, Planning, and Decision Making”, and , Deputy CEO of Optym, discuss how applied AI and optimization maximize fleet utilization and driver profitability. About Shaman Ahuja is currently serving as the Deputy CEO of Optym, a company specializing in prepackaged software solutions. With a robust background in technology and product management, he has held various leadership positions within Optym, showcasing his ability to drive innovation and efficiency. He began his professional journey as an intern and has progressively climbed the ranks,...
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In “Smart Routes, Safer Stops: How Mapping Tech is Transforming Trucking”, and , VP, Product and Engineering at Trimble, discuss how integrated mapping technology optimizes routes, ensures driver safety, and drives profitability through a connected data ecosystem. Rishi Mehra As VP, Product and Engineering, is primarily responsible for overseeing the company’s technology, products and engineering in North America. Mehra has been with Trimble since 2014, and previously served as a senior product manager and director of web products for ALK Technologies (now a part of the Trimble...
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In “Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage”, and , Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability. Zach Schuchart is the Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics. He has over 20 years of experience in the North American and European transportation industries, including roles at UPS, CHAINalytics, and XPO, he brings deep expertise and leadership to the Optimal Dynamics team. As Head of...
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In “The Fulfillment Playbook: ShipStation's Strategy for Building an Unbreakable Shipping Network”, and , Chief Strategy Officer at Auctane, discuss how to turn complex global logistics into a seamless competitive advantage. About Josh Steinitz serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Auctane, a leading global company empowering businesses with intelligent mailing and shipping solutions through trusted products like ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, and Packlink. In his role, Steinitz leads corporate development, strategic partnerships, carrier relationships and strategy, and cross-border...
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In “The Road Ahead: What Trimble Innovations Mean for Transportation”, and , Chief Product and Technology Officer at Trimble, discuss Trimble's open, scalable platform that connects every aspect of the supply chain—from trucks and drivers to the back office—by serving as a reliable "system of record" that integrates practical AI innovation to help fleets maximize performance, visibility, and safety. About Jonah McIntire is Chief Product and Technology Officer at Trimble. He joined Transporeon in June 2021 and quickly led a succession of larger product organisations...
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In “Beyond FBA: Unlocking Amazon's Fulfillment for Retailers”, and , the General Manager and Director for Amazon’s externalized fulfillment services, including Buy with Prime and Multichannel Fulfillment, discuss how retailers can scale their brands by leveraging Amazon's global logistics and the Prime badge to drive multi-channel growth. About Wainwright Yu currently serves as General Manager and Director of the Multichannel Commerce and Fulfillment business at Amazon, where he leads the organization's business and go-to-market functions. In this role, he oversees strategic...
info_outlineIn “Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage”, Joe Lynch and Zach Schuchart, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability.
Zach Schuchart
Zach Schuchart is the Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics. He has over 20 years of experience in the North American and European transportation industries, including roles at UPS, CHAINalytics, and XPO, he brings deep expertise and leadership to the Optimal Dynamics team. As Head of Sales, he oversees a talented group of Account Executives and Solutions Engineers, guiding prospective customers through the evaluation of advanced optimization solutions that drive operational success.
About Optimal Dynamics
Optimal Dynamics provides the decision intelligence layer that powers logistics transformation. Born out of 40 years of research at Princeton University, Optimal Dynamics leverages proprietary artificial intelligence technology to automate, optimize, and radically improve decision-making across trucking and transportation operations. Headquartered in New York City, Optimal Dynamics is backed by marquee investors including Koch Disruptive Technologies, Bessemer Venture Partners, The Westly Group, and Activate Capital. Learn more at www.optimaldynamics.com.
Key Takeaways: Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage
- In “Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage”, Joe Lynch and Zach Schuchart, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability.
- From Research to Reality: The Princeton Pedigree. Optimal Dynamics isn't just another tech startup; it is built on 40 years of academic research from Princeton University. This provides a level of scientific rigor and proprietary AI that differentiates their solutions from standard off-the-shelf logistics software.
- The Power of "Decision Intelligence”. While many platforms focus on data visibility (showing you what is happening), Zach highlights the shift toward Decision Intelligence. This layer automates and optimizes the choice itself, helping carriers move from reactive management to proactive, data-driven execution.
- Bridging the Gap Between Planning and Execution. Leveraging Zach’s 20+ years of experience at giants like UPS and XPO, the episode explores how traditional planning often fails when it hits the "real world." Optimal Dynamics focuses on creating dynamic plans that account for the inherent volatility in trucking operations.
- Leveraging High-Dimensional Artificial Intelligence. The core technology focuses on solving "high-dimensional" problems. Instead of looking at simple variables, the platform uses AI to process thousands of data points simultaneously—such as driver hours, fuel costs, and lane profitability—to find the "Optimal" solution.
- Automating the Complexities of Trucking. Automation isn't just about replacing manual tasks; it’s about augmenting human capability. Zach discusses how their solutions allow sales and operations teams to evaluate complex scenarios in minutes rather than days, drastically reducing the "evaluation-to-action" cycle.
- Maximizing Profitability in Volatile Markets. In an industry with razor-thin margins, "Optimal Dynamics" means finding the most profitable way to move freight despite fluctuating market conditions. The platform helps fleets identify which loads to accept and how to route them to ensure maximum fleet utilization.
- Strategic Backing for Long-Term Transformation. The company’s growth is fueled by marquee investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Koch Disruptive Technologies. This level of backing underscores the industry's belief that Optimal Dynamics is a foundational player in the future of global logistics infrastructure.