Professionalism in Trucking: Lessons from LaShawn Brown on Success and Growth
Release Date: 10/28/2024
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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, I had the pleasure of welcoming LaShawn Brown, an independent freight agent. LaShawn shared his journey from corporate America to the trucking industry, highlighting his experiences as a driver trainer and his passion for helping new CDL drivers succeed.
We discussed the challenges new drivers face when starting their careers, including the importance of professionalism and the need for effective communication between drivers, brokers, and shippers. LaShawn emphasized the significance of empathy in our interactions, especially when dealing with the stresses of the road.
Throughout our conversation, we touched on the misconceptions that drivers often have about brokers, particularly the belief that brokers are pocketing all the money. LaShawn shared his insights on the realities of the industry, including the importance of transparency and fairness in our dealings with both drivers and customers.
We also explored the complexities of load tracking, detention times, and the need for brokers to maintain strong relationships with carriers while ensuring customer satisfaction. LaShawn's experiences and advice provided valuable perspectives on navigating the logistics landscape, making this episode a must-listen for anyone in the trucking and logistics industry.
As we approach the busy holiday season, we hope our listeners take away the importance of communication, professionalism, and understanding in fostering better relationships within the industry. Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful discussions in future episodes!