The Freight Agency Blueprint: Technology, Relationships, and the Origin of SPI Logistics

In this special "Best-Of" compilation,  I’ve mashed up four powerhouse conversations into one episode to give you the ultimate blueprint for building a successful freight agency.We aren't just talking theory; we are connecting the dots between the vision, the tech, the sales strategy, and the culture required to win in this market.In this episode, we break down:The Vision: How the agent model was invented to solve a specific problem.The Engine: How technology must enable—not replace—human process.The Execution: How successful agents actually win business in a tough market.The Culture: Why relationships and "soft skills" still trump automation.Whether you are thinking about making the jump from W2 to 1099, or you just want to scale your current book of business, this is the masterclass you need.Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this best-of episode of Everything is Logistics, we’re building the business case for healthy paranoia in freight. I’m pulling together clips from past conversations with Jonathan Ryan (Overhaul), Reid Clements (Highway), and Mark Funk & Shivrani Narayan (SPI Logistics), plus a breakdown with Grace Sharkey (Orderful) on the current state of cargo crime. From fake carriers and spoofed identities to food-and-beverage loads that “disappear” into the market, this is the stuff that quietly nukes margins while everyone argues over rates.This episode walks through how fraud actually happens on the ground, what the red flags look like inside your TMS and inbox, and what the best teams are doing to shut it down before a load ever hits the road.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why identity is the real battleground in freight fraud—and how a $300 fake MC can wreck your quarter.How shippers, brokers, and carriers are using data from telematics, ELDs, and IoT devices to spot sketchy activity in real time.What cargo crime looks like at the agent level: carrier vetting, distress loads, and “oh no” moments that could’ve been prevented.Why thieves are shifting hard into food, beverage, and other “easily consumed” loads—and what that means for your contracts and processes.Practical steps to tighten carrier selection, build better response playbooks, and protect both freight and drivers.If you touch freight in any way—shipper, broker, carrier, 3PL, agent—this is your reminder that trust is not a strategy. Paranoia, on the other hand, might just save your freight budget.Watch the video version of these episodes over on YouTube. Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Our sister company CargoRex has been monitoring the keywords users are anonymously searching for on the site so in this episode, we’re breaking down what those phrases are.  What You’ll LearnThis episode breaks down five months of anonymized CargoRex search data to show what logistics buyers actually look for — and where companies are failing to show up.Key PointsThe top search terms on CargoRex (visibility tools, TMS, freight audit, CDL schools, and company-specific queries).Where searches get zero clicks and what that reveals about missing listings, bad keywords, or weak profiles.How profile completeness, verification, categories, and tags determine your ranking in the directory.Why CargoRex is becoming a research destination with lists and CSV exports to use for AI-powered analysis.How this data gives companies market intelligence and a clearer path to showing up for real buyer intent.Watch this episode on YouTubeFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In today's show, we’re bringing back some of the best interviews from industry thought leaders to create a mashup you can listen to over time. That way, if you want a crash course in what shippers want out of their 3PL partnership, you can listen to one long-form episode instead of having to dig through our library. Guests are from these episodes: 00:58 What a Shipper Wants with The Produce Industry Podcast19:49 Study Reveals Marketing Ideas That Shippers Won’t Hate37:36 Shipper Explains What He Wished He Knew Before Working With a 3PL43:53 The Logistics of Calypso LemonadeFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Building a logistics search engine sounded cute… right up until I was elbows-deep in dev tickets, spam signups, and 2,000+ business listings.In this behind-the-scenes episode of Everything is Logistics, I’m breaking down what we’ve actually shipped on CargoRex over the last six months, why the site has been such a giant pain in the ass (in a good way), and what Plus and Premium members get for their money.What we cover:What CargoRex actually is: a search engine for logistics associations, tech, creators, services, and events so you stop guessing on what tools and communities deserve your time.  How the new listing manager works so your CargoRex profile can act like a one-page website for your company.  Verification badges, quarterly update reminders, and a rebuilt search engine that finally doesn’t suck.  Why we added categories like tariffs tools, CDL schools, and space logistics--and how they’re curated from drivers, practitioners, and the freight nerds already in this community.  The not-so-fun part: spam and fraud protection, email/domain verification, and keeping the data clean enough to actually trust.  A breakdown of the Free, Plus, and Premium plans, including page-level analytics, lead-gen forms, promo campaigns across Everything is Logistics, and upcoming panel spots for Premium members.  Why I kept CargoRex bootstrapped, how I’m funding it through the podcast and Digital Dispatch, and how your feedback is shaping the roadmap.Who this episode is for:Freight tech founders and marketing teams who want another distribution channel that isn’t just “yet another website rebuild.”  Associations, media, and creators who want their work found by the right logistics audience.  Buyers and operators who are tired of random LinkedIn DMs and just want a clean place to research vendors, events, and content.Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

SPI Logistics CFO James Lemon joins to cut through the noise on agent and brokerage finances in a tough market. We cover the real signals your brokerage is in trouble, what healthy margins look like now, how to set up your money from day one as an agent, and where AI is actually paying off (hint: 42% of SPI invoices now auto-approve without a human).You’ll learn: — The first red flag: carriers calling about late pay—what it really means for your book of business — How slipping “days to pay” crushes carrier trust on DAT/Truckstop and pushes you back to the spot market — Today’s margin reality (8–30%), why 15–18% is harder, and what to target — W2 vs. agent life: taxes, cash-flow risk, and the simple system to avoid the “surprise” tax bill — The overlooked first-year expenses (and the bare-minimum tech setup that won’t choke under load) — Why a 30–60 day cash cushion matters when customers and vendor onboarding drag — AI that’s worth it: document imaging, scheduling, and keeping a human in the loop — What shippers now expect: real-time visibility, API/EDI ties, and proof you’re fighting fraud — Conferences and ROI: how one five-minute tool can pay for the trip — 2026 outlook: why disruption favors prepared agents who keep relationships tight and processes sharpFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In a special episode of Freight Friends, Grace and Blythe dress up in style to discuss the Halloween supply chain, conference ROI, and logistics podcasts along with diving deep into the rare earth mineral supply chain that impacts everyone, including Le Creuset cookware. Links from the show:Grace’s work at OrderfulCargorex’s creators category linkBlythe’s Podcasters GuideShip Happens Le Creuset Story Watch the live version of this episode: https://youtube.com/live/5ATXb50-FcAFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In sports merch, the clock is the boss. Fanatics SVP of Operations Wayne “Skip” Lee walks through a hot-market playbook where championship buzz turns into next-morning deliveriesWe hear about sunrise delivery in the winning city and why the first 72 hours/7 days decide the season’s biggest sales. Skip breaks down how they stage inventory, make halftime calls on what to print and where to ship, and use AI to set size curves, place inventory, and block bad customizations before they hit a press. Watch the livestream of this episode on YouTubeTakeaways:Why “speed is the product” is an operating metric, not a mottoThe hot-market window: 72 hours → 7 days that drive outsized revenueHow sunrise delivery works and when it’s worth the costNetwork design that beats distance (local presses, nearshore partners)Halftime adjustments as real-time ops: re-printing, re-routing, redeployingWhere AI actually helps: size curves, placement, and QC before printThe fate of “loser merch” and lessons for responsible excess inventoryLinks mentioned:The Logistics of the NFL Championship/Loser MerchandiseFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Hiring is one of the hardest parts of running a logistics company, and Jake Brown has built his career solving that problem. As Managing Partner at Brown & Pierce Consulting, Jake brings his experience from the Marine Corps and manufacturing recruitment to the world of freight, helping logistics companies find and retain the people who drive their business forward. Recorded live at the Florida Supply Chain Summit, this conversation covers what is really going on in the freight job market, what makes a great hire, and how recruiters are navigating the balance between authenticity and AI.Key takeaways:Why authentic human connection still wins in a world full of AI-generated job posts.The roles in logistics that are hardest to fill and where the pay is rising fastest.How federal rate cuts could signal the next hiring boom in transportation.What makes a “safe hire” versus a transformational one.Why soft skills matter as much as technical ability in leadership roles.LINKS:Jake's LinkedInFlorida Supply Chain Summit WebsiteWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

From the Keys to the coastlines, Florida’s logistics legacy runs on rails, and few know that better than Spencer Jury, Director of Domestic Intermodal at Florida East Coast Railway. In this episode, recorded live at the Florida Supply Chain Summit, Spencer shares how FEC connects Florida’s freight economy, the company’s 1800s origins with Henry Flagler, and how technology and awareness are shaping the future of intermodal shipping.He and Blythe discuss everything from hurricane-proof infrastructure to the modern rail fan community, keeping the Sunshine Express spirit alive.LINKS:Spencer's LinkedInFlorida Supply Chain Summit WebsiteWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know. -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why. CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve. Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.