From Strategy to Scale: The ODW Logistics Approach to Growth with Phil Schmidbauer
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Release Date: 05/26/2026
How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting with Michael Rentz
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting”, and , Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight, discuss how operational-grade logistics data automatically simplifies complex carbon compliance. About Michael Rentz is the Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight. He joined the company in the Summer of 2020. Before joining Gnosis, he got his start in the industry with the South Carolina Ports Authority and Maersk. He left Maersk in 2018 to pursue his own endeavors, which eventually led him back to Charleston, SC, where he worked for Techstars in an attempt to stand up...
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The Problem First Approach to Warehouse Automation with Vinh Tran
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “The Problem First Approach to Warehouse Automation”, and , Managing Director of MyBull Intelligent Machinery USA, discuss how prioritizing a facility's specific operational challenges over standard tech products leads to successful automation. About Vinh Tran is the Managing Director of MyBull Intelligent Machinery USA, where he spearheads the company’s North and South American strategy, commercialization, and customer deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. As the company's first U.S. employee, he built the domestic...
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Private Fleets Rescue Freight Brokers in 2026 with Russ Jones
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Private Fleets Rescue Freight Brokers in 2026”, and , CEO & Co-founder of Private Fleet Net Zero, discuss how unlocking empty private backhauls provides brokers with discounted, high-quality capacity to combat fraud and skyrocketing liability. About Russ Jones co-founded Private Fleet Net Zero to help the 45% of trucks that are in Private Fleets with usually empty backhauls find loads from $50B+ of 3PL freight spend, leveraging his leadership of Cargo Chief, which enables 1,200+ 3PL buyers with $8B+ of spend to buy transportation capacity more profitably. Previously, Mr....
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Ending the 60% Waste: The Radical Shift Trucking Needs Right Now with Erik Malin
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Ending the 60% Waste: The Radical Shift Trucking Needs Right Now," and , Founder and CEO of Tetro, discuss how treating trucking as a function of time, rather than miles, is the only way to eliminate the massive inefficiencies plaguing drivers and future autonomous fleets. Time is the real commodity. About Erik Malin is the founder and CEO of Tetro, a technology company rebuilding trucking for the autonomous era. He has spent his entire career in freight, where his conviction that the industry measures the wrong thing, miles instead of time, became the thesis behind Tetro....
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The Broken Safety System Threatening Shippers and Brokers with Chris Burroughs
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "The Broken Safety System Threatening Shippers and Brokers," and , President and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), discuss the fallout from a landmark Supreme Court ruling and rising freight fraud are reshaping the logistics liability landscape. About Chris Burroughs is the President and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), a position he assumed in November 2024. With over 14 years at TIA, he previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs, overseeing legislative and regulatory efforts before Congress and federal agencies....
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The Dark Data Trap: Unlocking Logistics Documents with Tungsten Automation's Patrick Van Hull
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “The Dark Data Trap: Unlocking Logistics Documents with Tungsten Automation's Patrick Van Hull” and , Supply Chain Industry Consultant at Tungsten Automation, discuss how intelligent document processing eliminates manual data traps to drive logistics efficiency and cost savings. About Patrick Van Hull , widely recognized as the Supply Chain Storyteller, helps organizations transform complexity into clarity. A multi-time “Top 25 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Supply Chain” and Supply Chain Pro-to-Know, he focuses on supply chain digitalization and capability...
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Electrifying the Cold Chain Without Breaking the Grid with Sam Plunkett
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Electrifying the Cold Chain Without Breaking the Grid” and , CEO of Nivalis Energy Systems, discuss how self-powered, electrified trailers can drastically cut fleet costs and emissions without overwhelming the power grid. About Sam Plunkett Sam Plunkett is CEO of Nivalis Energy Systems, where he is leading the transition away from diesel-powered refrigeration in commercial transport. Under his leadership, Nivalis is developing and deploying electrified refrigerated trailer solutions that help fleets reduce operating costs, lower emissions, and improve the efficiency of...
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How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA’s Andrew Sibold
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA’s Andrew Sibold” and , Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), discuss how IANA’s new predictive Intermodal Volume Index (IVI) helps logistics leaders navigate shifting market capacity and operational friction to successfully forecast the 2026 freight recovery. About Andrew Sibold is the Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), where he leads market analysis, research, and economic forecasting...
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REPOST: Is Your Freight Secure: The 3 Key Vulnerabilities in Freight Operations with Michael Hane
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Is Your Freight Secure: The 3 Key Vulnerabilities in Freight Operations”, and , Director of Product Marketing for Transportation Management at Descartes Systems Group, discuss how to protect global supply chains from fragmented technology, carrier identity theft, and increasingly sophisticated cargo fraud. About Michael Hane is the Director of Product Marketing for Transportation Management at Descartes Systems Group. With more than 30 years of experience in transportation, logistics technology, and supply chain consulting, Mike helps organizations understand...
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REPOST: Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage with Zach Schuhart
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
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...
info_outlineIn “From Strategy to Scale: The ODW Logistics Approach to Growth” Joe Lynch and Phil Schmidbauer, Vice President of Solution Design at ODW Logistics, discuss how middle-market brands can scale by optimizing their entire supply chain network rather than just chasing low freight rates.
About Phil Schmidbauer
Phil Schmidbauer is the Vice President of Solution Design at ODW Logistics, where he specializes in creating optimized transportation and integrated supply chain strategies. A dynamic and innovative leader, Phil brings extensive industry experience focused on driving process efficiencies, eliminating waste, and delivering significant value to clients. Recognized as a top industry innovator—including being named a "Pros to Know" award winner—he excels at building strategic bridges across complex supply chain networks. Phil works closely with businesses to align their comprehensive logistics frameworks with overarching financial and operational goals. His expertise spans advanced supply chain analytics, cargo security, and network optimization studies, making him a trusted authority in helping growth-minded brands design custom-engineered solutions that reduce complexity and successfully position their businesses to scale.
About ODW Logistics
ODW Logistics is a top-tier, integrated third-party logistics (3PL) provider dedicated to enabling collective growth for its clients, associates, and the industry. With over 50 years of experience, ODW Logistics delivers end-to-end supply chain solutions that combine strategic warehousing, distribution, and advanced transportation management. The company serves a diverse range of industries, including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, health and beauty, and industrial manufacturing. As an approved consolidator for major retail networks, ODW specializes in retail consolidation, strategic inventory load planning, and automated workflows that control costs and improve on-time delivery. Driven by core values of respect, trust, team, and opportunity, ODW Logistics operates as a seamless extension of its customers' businesses, providing the technology, infrastructure, and continuous innovation necessary to scale operations effectively.
Key Takeaways: From Strategy to Scale: The ODW Logistics Approach to Growth
- In “From Strategy to Scale: The ODW Logistics Approach to Growth” Joe Lynch and Phil Schmidbauer, Vice President of Solution Design at ODW Logistics, discuss how middle-market brands can scale by optimizing their entire supply chain network rather than just chasing low freight rates.
- Integrated 3PL Solutions for Middle-Market Growth: ODW Logistics leverages over 50 years of experience to provide end-to-end warehousing, distribution, and managed transportation solutions, operating as a seamless extension for middle-market companies that lack the internal resources to manage complex supply chains alone.
- A Consultative, Total-Network Focus: Rather than just chasing the lowest transaction rate on a truck lane, Phil Schmidbauer emphasizes a consultative approach that designs and optimizes the entire supply chain, aligning warehousing and transportation around each other to reduce hidden costs, fines, and lead times.
- High-Frequency Retail Consolidation: ODW specializes in retail consolidation (serving major networks like Walmart and Target) by combining smaller multi-pallet shipments into full truckloads. This ensures high-frequency deliveries, which reduces lot sizes, minimizes inventory requirements, and drives better overall service.
- Mitigating the Cost of Stockouts: Keeping products on shelves is critical to brand survival. Stockouts cause severe financial penalties and permanent brand-loyalty loss when consumers switch to competitors—making consistent supply chain execution vital for sales growth.
- Managing the Hidden Costs of Excess Inventory: Influenced by his background with Toyota's world-class manufacturing processes, Schmidbauer highlights that excess inventory carries heavy hidden liabilities, including high warehousing fees, multiple touchpoints, and obsolescence or shelf-life expiration risks.
- The Power of a Dual-Node Network: ODW operates 27 facilities nationwide, utilizing a highly efficient dual-node setup between Southern California and Columbus, Ohio. This center-of-gravity strategy allows brands to easily meet next-day delivery demands for a massive portion of the U.S. population.
- Bridging the Omni-channel Divide: As retail and ecommerce models increasingly blend, ODW supports brands navigating both channels, helping companies scale and transition their operational structures from online-only to brick-and-mortar retail fulfillment seamlessly.