$13B Halloween Supply Chains, China’s Rare-Earth Grip, and Should You Even Start a Podcast?

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.

When freight gets tough, the toughest lean into resilience. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, Krystina Booker, Founder of Booker Transport Solutions, shares her journey from launching her own brokerage to navigating challenges with grit, creativity, and purpose. Her perspective blends business savvy with a personal mission to make the industry more sustainable for brokers, carriers, and shippers alike.Key takeaways:Why resilience is a critical skill for building a freight businessHow Booker Transport Solutions approaches broker-carrier relationshipsLessons learned from starting a brokerage in a volatile marketThe role of trust, transparency, and adaptability in long-term growthLINKS: Krystina's LinkedInBooker Transport Solution's Website WATCH 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.

When a truck breaks down, time isn’t just money. It’s survival. Fleets lose thousands for every day a vehicle is sidelined, while drivers are left frustrated and in the dark. That’s the reality Alex Bezzubets, Founder and CEO of myMechanic, set out to fix.In this episode, Alex shares how myMechanic is tackling the technician shortage, cutting wasted calls, and giving fleets, drivers, and service providers the real-time coordination they’ve been missing.Key takeaways:Roadside downtime can cost fleets thousands per day, making response speed critical.myMechanic eliminates up to 90% of the phone calls typically required during a breakdown.Fleets, drivers, and mechanics see the same updates, photos, and approvals in real time.The platform is agnostic, connecting providers and fleets without bias or ownership conflicts.Connectivity, not just technician supply, is the real bottleneck in roadside repairs.LINKS:Alex's LinkedInmyMechanic's 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.

What happens when a trucking kid grows up to become the industry’s “Armchair Attorney”? Matthew Leffler is a third-generation trucking professional turned lawyer who has made it his mission to explain freight’s most complicated legal battles in plain English. From nuclear verdicts to AB5 fallout, broker transparency fights to chassis choice rulings—he translates court cases into actionable strategies carriers and brokers can actually use. If you’ve ever felt lost in the legal jargon but know your business depends on getting it right, this conversation is for you.Key takeaways:Broker transparency debates will reshape contracts, workflows, and margins.Carriers can mitigate nuclear verdict risks by controlling safety and documentation.AB5 compliance requires pragmatic playbooks for carriers and owner-operators.Chassis choice rulings are a rare legal win, lowering costs for motor carriers.Non-compete clauses often stifle careers more than they protect brokerages.LINKS:Matthew's LinkedInLord of the Rings Logistics with Matthew Leffler Armchair AttorneyWATCH 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 AI agents that negotiate contracts to the surprising world of private-label branding, this month’s Freight Friends covers the big shifts shaping logistics right now. Blythe and Grace Sharkey break down Grace’s experience at the Change event, the rise of HappyRobot and other AI-driven workflows, the state of reverse logistics, and how private-label strategies are influencing everything from Costco to Meghan Markle’s failed brand.Key takeaways:Supply chain executives at the Change event are prioritizing education and AI readiness.AI adoption is slowing in some areas, but practical agents like HappyRobot are gaining traction.Reverse logistics is becoming a bigger operational challenge for retailers and manufacturers.Private label strategies separate brand failures from retail giants like Costco.Marketing plays, community spotlights, and Source-to-Porch stories keep freight creative and human.LINKS:Grace’s LinkTreeReturns Category on CargoRexDidero AINRF and Happy Returns ReportMichael Gessen’s Direct Mail Marketing EffortsReachdesk WebsiteHappyRobot 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.

Anne Reinke didn’t plan on leaving the Transportation Intermediaries Association, but when the longtime IANA leader retired after more than two decades, she received an offer she couldn’t refuse. With a lifelong passion for rail and deep experience at CSX and TIA, Anne stepped into the role of President and CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America.In this episode of Everything is Logistics, Anne shares how she hit the ground running with a listening tour of IANA’s membership, her vision for elevating the association’s profile, and the key policy issues she’s prioritizing in Washington. She also breaks down the often-overlooked benefits of intermodal and why it deserves more attention from shippers and policymakers alike.Key takeaways:Anne’s career path from CSX to TIA prepared her to lead IANA.A nationwide listening tour is shaping IANA’s strategy and member priorities.Intermodal’s complexity often hides its cost and sustainability advantages.Advocacy efforts focus on labor, infrastructure, and independent contractor protections.IANA is working to boost awareness and build trust in intermodal.LINKS:Anne's LinkedInIntermodal Association of North America 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.

Jason Murray—CEO & co-founder of Shipium and 19-year Amazon vet—joins Everything Is Logistics to unpack what really moves the needle for shippers: accurate delivery promises, multi-carrier execution, and where AI agents add real value today. We get into the “coordination layer” most retailers are missing across OMS/WMS/TMS, building a digital twin of your network, and why faster can actually be cheaper when your method mix and lanes are modeled correctly. Favorite line: Shipium’s role is a “super-sophisticated calculator” for decisions the human brain (and spreadsheets) simply can’t keep up with.Key takeawaysThe coordination gap is costly. Most enterprises make siloed decisions in OMS/WMS; the win is a horizontal optimizer that weighs transportation, inventory, and cost together. Promise precision beats blanket speed. Customers want confidence in “by Thursday,” not generic “2-day.” Model ship dates and probability of arrival—and constantly backtest your predictions. Digital twins drive smarter choices. Shipium models lanes, cutoffs, and costs in real time to choose carrier/method, where to ship from, and what to promise. AI agents = productivity multipliers. Early wins: a “what happened to this shipment?” chat workflow, and agents watching network signals (the old Amazon “little red button”) to trigger reroutes. Money on the table. Method optimization and delivery-promise installs have driven multi-million-dollar annual savings for large retailers. LINKS:Shipium's WebsiteJason's LinkedInWATCH 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.