Building Relationships in Logistics: A Broker's Perspective with Thomas Werdine
Release Date: 08/19/2024
Faith and Fortitude: How Dana Gardner Built His Trucking Business
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we open with an important announcement about the future of the podcast. We then had the pleasure of speaking with Dana Gardner, the CEO of Dana Gardner Trucking. Dana's journey in the trucking industry is truly inspiring, starting with a modest $9,500 investment in a 1999 International truck. Over the years, he has successfully grown his business to operate a fleet of five trucks, specializing in liquid bulk transportation out of Southern Louisiana. As we delved into Dana's story, he shared the challenges he faced along the way,...
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Navigating the Complex World of Insurance and Cargo Claims with Claudia Catlett
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of insurance and cargo claims with our guest, Claudia Catlett, the insurance claims and fraud manager at General Transportation, Inc. Claudia shares her unique journey into the logistics industry, which began unexpectedly when she was hired from a bar after being discovered on LinkedIn. With a background as a Marine Corps veteran and a marketing graduate, she brings a wealth of experience and passion for risk management. We discuss the complexities of cargo claims, emphasizing the importance...
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Double Broker Bounty Hunter: John Cantera's Mission to Clean Up Logistics
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we had the pleasure of speaking with John Cantera, a seasoned logistics and supply chain management professional with 25 years of experience. Known as the "double broker bounty hunter," John is on a mission to bring integrity to the broker-dispatcher world and combat fraud in the industry. We kicked off the episode with a light-hearted discussion about a recent heist involving 400 kegs of Guinness stolen from a delivery truck in the UK, which led us to reflect on the challenges of dealing with stolen freight in logistics. John shared his journey...
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Building a Successful Logistics Company: Lessons from Kristy Knichel's Experience
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode we kick off 2025 with an inspiring conversation with Kristy Knichel, the President and CEO of Knichel Logistics. Kristy shares her remarkable journey in the logistics industry, starting from her early days working for her father to becoming a leading figure in the field. We delve into the dynamics of running a family business, the challenges she faced, and the tough decisions she had to make to ensure the company's growth and success.
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Recapping 2024 in the Trucking Industry
Trucking for Millennials
Welcome back to the Trucking For Millennials Podcast, this week we are going back to some our most popular episodes of the year, including our interviews with Matt Perkins, LaShawn Brown, Brandon Wiseman, and Trevor Cowley. We hope you enjoy going through this recap as much as we did! Happy New Years Trucking For Millennials listeners, here is to a great 2025!
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Navigating the Holiday Hustle: Logistics Insights with Matthew Chapa
Trucking for Millennials
In this special Christmas week episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we dive into the holiday hustle of the logistics world and explore how the Christmas season impacts supply chains. Our guest, Matthew Chapa, Transportation Manager at Crunchyroll, shares his insights on navigating international logistics and building strong global relationships. We kick off the episode with some fascinating Christmas statistics, highlighting the immense logistics involved in the holiday season, from the 35 million Christmas trees harvested annually to the staggering $9.36 billion Americans spend...
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Balancing Regulations and ROI: The Future of Transportation with Apoorva Mathur
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we had the pleasure of speaking with Apoorva Mathur from Daimler Truck North America. Apoorva, who holds the roles of ESG Program Manager and Zero Emissions Transformation Group Support Manager, shared her extensive background in logistics and sustainability. We kicked off the conversation with some light-hearted banter about the holiday season, sports, and Apoorva's journey from Pennsylvania to Oregon. Apoorva's career path is impressive, having worked with industry giants like General Motors and Boeing before joining Daimler. Her passion for the...
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Preparing for 2025: Strategies for Success in the Logistics Industry with Trevor Cowley
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we dive into the world of logistics and operations with our special guest, Trevor Cowley, Executive Vice President at BYB Solutions. Trevor brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career, which spans from the baseball field to the boardroom. We explore his journey from working in chemical distribution to becoming a key player in the logistics industry. Trevor shares insights on the importance of proactive communication and treating every client interaction as if it's with a million-dollar client. He emphasizes the significance of service in...
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Navigating the Future of Trucking: Insights from Marty Emale
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we had the pleasure of welcoming Marty Emale, co-founder of BidSpot and founder of IntelliShip. We dove deep into the current state of the trucking industry, particularly focusing on the grain sector, and discussed the challenges and opportunities that owner-operators face as we approach 2025. Marty shared his journey from struggling in the box truck space to finding success in grain hauling. He emphasized the importance of resilience and the ability to pivot when things aren't working out. We explored the cyclical nature of the...
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The Dynamic Duo of Trucking Insurance: Insights from Jessica Howington and Natasha Ammons
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming the dynamic insurance duo, Jessica Howington and Natasha Ammons, from United Commercial Insurance. As we dive into the often complex world of trucking insurance, we discuss the critical importance of understanding your coverage and the nuances that can significantly impact your business. We kick off the conversation by acknowledging the challenges truckers face when dealing with insurance—often feeling like they're just being handed bad news. Jessica and Natasha emphasize that it's essential for agents...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we dive deep into the world of logistics and freight brokerage with our special guest, Thomas Werdine from ThinkFreight.io. Thomas shares his extensive experience in the industry, providing valuable insights for both brokers and carriers.
Key Highlights:
Understanding Broker-Carrier Relationships
Thomas emphasizes that not all brokers are bad and many genuinely care about their carriers, sometimes even more than their shipper relationships. He explains the importance of treating carriers well, paying fair detention rates, and maintaining strong relationships to ensure smooth operations.
Career Journey
Thomas takes us through his career journey, starting from his early days in the automotive industry as a Corvette specialist to his transition into logistics. He shares his experiences working at TQL, a major brokerage, and later at a startup brokerage, Full Sail. His insights into the differences between large and small brokerages are particularly enlightening.
Training and Onboarding at TQL
Thomas provides an inside look at the training and onboarding process at TQL, highlighting their in-depth training modules and hands-on experience. He discusses the importance of learning from experienced brokers and the structured approach that helped him succeed in the industry.
Advice for New Brokers
For those contemplating a career in logistics, Thomas offers advice on choosing the right brokerage. He suggests looking for companies with good training programs and avoiding those with restrictive non-compete clauses.
Niche Opportunities in Freight
Thomas identifies niche opportunities in the freight industry, such as power-only and reefer LTL produce. He explains the challenges and benefits of these niches and why they present significant opportunities for brokers willing to specialize.
The Role of Social Media
Thomas underscores the importance of social media for carriers, advising them to use platforms like LinkedIn to build credibility and showcase their operations. He shares tips on how carriers can differentiate themselves and build trust with brokers.
Transition to Freight Tech
Thomas talks about his transition from traditional brokerage roles to the tech side of the industry at FreightWaves. He shares his experience selling Sonar, a tech product, and how it differed from his previous roles.
Launching ThinkFreight.io
Finally, Thomas discusses his decision to launch ThinkFreight.io, a newsletter that provides valuable insights and summaries of freight industry news. He explains the motivation behind starting the newsletter and how it aims to help industry professionals stay informed without getting overwhelmed by information.
This episode is packed with practical advice and insider knowledge, making it a must-listen for anyone in the logistics and freight industry.