Has DOT Enforcement Impacted Rates? | Episode 315
Two stolen truckloads of premium tequila just exposed how deep freight fraud runs—from double brokering and GPS spoofing to carrier identity theft—plus we are seeing real DOT and ICE enforcement on the road. As non-compliant fleets vanish, rates are rising even while volumes stay nearly the same, revealing how much “ghost capacity” never belonged in […]
Freight Fraud, Dispatching, and TWIC Cards | Final Mile 114
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: ❓ Are dispatchers — especially foreign dispatchers — damaging the industry? What could be the reasons, and how can dispatchers improve to play a positive role? 📱 Could brokers require carriers to use GPS tracking and provide quick video/photo verification at pickup? How […]
Freight Collections: How to Protect Cash, Enforce Liens, and Survive Slow Pay | Episode 314
Cash flow isn’t just paperwork—it’s survival for a freight business. In this episode, attorney Cristina Belaval (Freight Collection Solutions) and consultant Janie Howerton share the habits, documents, and legal tools that actually get brokers and carriers paid. From weekly AR routines and clean invoicing to lien rights, setoffs, and collection strategies, they outline how to […]
Broker Risks, Tech Choices, and Agent Recruiting | Final Mile 113
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🔒 Broker Liability – Who really carries the risk when loads are stolen through identity theft? 💻 Tech Stack – Best TMS and accounting software for new brokers. 👥 Agent Growth – Where to find reliable broker agents and how to structure fair, […]
Fighting for Change: Inside the TIA Policy Forum | Episode 313
The trucking industry faces a major safety crisis—1 in 5 trucks shouldn’t be on the road, 97% of carriers lack safety ratings, and nearly a quarter of drivers stopped during inspections don’t even have a CDL. At the TIA Policy Forum in D.C., industry leaders pushed for long-delayed safety standards and legislation like the Household […]
The FMCSA Data Crisis (with Danielle Chaffin) | Episode 312
The FMCSA’s sudden shutdown of data feeds threw brokers, carriers, and safety officials into chaos, cutting off access to critical verification tools and exposing major vulnerabilities in the freight system. Criminals are already exploiting these gaps by hijacking FMCSA credentials, altering carrier info, and stealing loads—while the agency fails to track changes. At the same […]
Gatekeepers, False Reports, and Other Freight Broker Headaches | Final Mile 111
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚛 Tips for new freight brokers 🎓 How to get training as a freight agent 🛑 Dealing with false reports on Carrier411 Support Our Sponsors:QuikSkope – Get a Free Trial: Click HereLevity: Click HereDAT Freight & Analytics – Get 10% off your first […]
Trucking’s Death Spiral: Safety, Wages, and Foreign Labor | Episode 311
Veteran trucker Gord Magill joins the podcast to dismantle the “driver shortage” myth. He exposes how cheap labor schemes, like Nebraska recruiting Kenyan drivers, fuel exploitation while rates stay low and safety violations rise. Gord on X: https://x.com/GordMagill/ Gord’s Substack: https://autonomoustruckers.substack.com/ Support Our Sponsors:QuikSkope – Get a Free Trial: Click HereLevity: Click HereDAT Freight & Analytics – […]
Overcoming Broker Obstacles | Final Mile 110
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚚 Factoring roadblock: New broker stuck on net-30 factoring with no quick pay — is there a workaround? 📞 Building a book: How can a new broker land shippers and sharpen cold-calling strategy? 🏛️ Gov’t freight: Which business certifications actually help brokers win […]
The Scam Economy of Freight (with Justin Martin) | Episode 310
The trucking industry is being rocked by fraud schemes that threaten honest brokers, carriers, and shippers. In this episode, Justin Martin (SuperTrucker) exposes tactics like ELD tampering, stolen trailers, and “chameleon carriers” that exploit loopholes and undercut legitimate businesses. He shares red flags to spot, why rates remain depressed, and how to protect yourself in […]
Finding Trucks, Crossing Borders, and Growing Your Customer Base | Final Mile 109
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: ❓ How do I scale past $10K/month when my current customers are all small? How do I win bigger shippers, and how should my prospecting and pitch change? 🚚 I got a load from a customer — how do I find a truck […]
Uncovering the ELD Fraud Crisis (with Danielle Chaffin) | Episode 309
The ELD mandate was supposed to make highways safer, but instead it’s created one of the biggest security and safety risks in trucking. On this episode, Danielle Chaffin exposes how fraudulent ELDs fuel crashes, enable drivers to break hours-of-service rules, and leak sensitive cargo data—putting every family on the road at risk. Danielle on X: […]
