Freight Famous

From an idea to a $300 million data product in the transportation sector. In this episode of Freight Famous, host Justin Bailie sits down with Craig Fuller, the founder of FreightWaves, Sonar, and Firecrown, to discuss the evolution of his businesses. Craig shares insights on how he built a successful media company, the role of Sonar in the industry, and the vision for Firecrown. They delve into the challenges and successes of scaling a media business, the importance of infrastructure, and the impact of data in the transportation industry. Join the conversation to learn about the journey from idea to a $300 million data product and the future of media in the transportation sector. Don't miss this insightful discussion with a trailblazer in the industry.

What were you doing at 17 years old? In this inspiring episode of Freight Famous, we had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew J Gomez, the young, but very wise owner of AJG Transport. Andrew's story is nothing short of remarkable, having started his trucking company at the age of 17. Now, at 26, he oversees a fleet of 106 trucks and has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience that exceeds his years. Andrew's story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome. His journey is a source of motivation for anyone in the trucking industry or any entrepreneur looking to make their mark. Andrew is a true embodiment of what it means to be Freight Famous, and his insights are sure to resonate with our listeners.

Are electric vehicles the future of trucking? In this episode of Freight Famous, host and Co-founder Justin Bailie sits down with Shayna Rector, Co-founder and VP of 7Gen to discuss the age-old question. Shayna shares insights into how their company helps businesses transition to electric vehicles, focusing on medium and heavy-duty fleets. From financing to infrastructure support, Shayna explains the process of integrating electric vehicles into existing fleets. Tune in to learn more about the future of electrification in the trucking industry and how 7 Gen is leading the way in making this transition easier for businesses. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion on the potential of clean energy in transportation.

How much money did you make your first year out of high school? In this episode of Freight Famous, host and Co-founder Justin Bailie sits down with Lindsey Trent, Co-founder of Next Generation Trucking Association and highlights truck driving as a potential career for young adults. The association introduces high school students to the industry and provides them with training. Lindsay shares success stories and discusses challenges in changing perceptions. Join them to support the next generation of drivers.

What’s the secret to the success of any business? In this bonus episode of Freight Famous, host and Co-founder of Rose Rocket, Justin Bailie is interviewed by Winnie Chen, Director of Marketing at Rose Rocket, about what he has learned in business and transportation in the past year. They discuss topics such as why the TMS is dead, Rose Rocket embracing the opportunity to adapt and innovate, ketamine therapy, and the secret to a business’s success. Tune in to gain insights from Justin's experiences and reflections in this candid conversation.

Did you know that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world, and that it affects millions of people globally? In our latest episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Heather Fry, Director of Industry Training at Truckers Against Trafficking. They delved into a critical and sobering topic: human trafficking. Heather enlightened us on the grim realities of human trafficking, a pervasive issue that affects all 50 states and every Canadian province. She shared that over 50 million people are currently enslaved, generating over $150 billion in profits for traffickers. They discuss how truckers can play a vital role in preventing it by being the eyes and ears on the road. This episode was a powerful reminder that human trafficking is not just an abstract issue—it's happening in our backyards, and we all have a role to play in stopping it. Let's take action and support organizations like Truckers Against Trafficking. Thank you for tuning in, and please reach out to Heather Frye at h.fry@truckersagainsttrafficking.org to learn more about how you can help. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

Happy New Year, everyone! We’re excited to kick off 2024 with another episode of Freight Famous. In this week’s episode, host Justin Bailie had the honor of hosting Tim Dooner, the voice behind the gold standard of freight podcasts, What The Truck?!?. Tim's journey is nothing short of inspiring. From his early days in the music industry to his accidental stumble into the world of freight, he has navigated through various roles, including sales and marketing, before finding his true calling in podcasting. Tim's insights on the market and his predictions, drawn from countless conversations with industry experts, are invaluable. His candid discussion about the evolution of personal branding in freight and the power of social media in shaping investment opportunities is a must-listen for anyone in the industry.

That’s a wrap on our second season of Freight Famous 🎧 This season, we dived deeper into topics like resilience in transportation, embracing technology, and adapting to what was a tough year for the freight economy. Our final episode is our once a year special that recaps all of our episodes. If you missed any, the drive to your family during the holidays may just be the right time to catch up.

Growing a transportation business from $32M to $100M in revenue is no easy feat. CEO Kristy Knichel did it with grace and wants to empower other women to be leaders in the industry. In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Kristy Knichel, CEO of Knichel Logistics. She shares her story of how she went from working in a pizza shop to taking the reins at her father’s company. After some tough business decisions, Kristy is proud to lead a team that boasts a 70% female workforce. She’s even expanded the business to include LTL & OTR. Kristy emphasizes the importance of supporting and mentoring women in the transportation industry. Plus, she shares some tips on how men can better support and work alongside other women in the workforce.

Did you know, truck drivers have a life expectancy 16 years less than the average population? In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Dr. Mark Manera, Founder of Supply Chain Fitness (SCF). They discuss how Mark was inspired to apply his background in physical therapy to helping transportational professionals live healthier lifestyles. The two discuss how businesses can support wellness for their employees in an industry that puts a lot of strain on physical wellbeing.

How do you create a data strategy in order to digitalize your transportation business? In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Thomas Deakins, Director of the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee. They discuss how to embrace the digital supply chain, refining & applying data to improve your business process, and the rise of the importance of visibility.

Electric vehicle manufacturers have some clear frontrunners leading the way. But, Chace Barber is trying to disrupt the norm – he crowdfunded $1.5M to build his own EV. In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Chace Barber, CEO of Edison Motors. They discuss Chace’s journey of building an electric truck from scratch, using battery power in logging and how his social media followers crowdfunded $1.5M to make this all possible.

As a CEO, do you know the difference between working on your business vs. in your business? In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Royce Neubauer, CEO & President of SFL companies & founder of Auto Hauler Exchange. The two discuss knowing when to go from being in the day-to-day operations of the business to getting outside of the business, creating a strategy around technology, and knowing when to ask for help.

What if there was a way to track your tiredness levels as a driver to increase your performance? In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Steven Kastelic, CEO of BlyncSync Technologies, to discuss a wearable technology that could help drivers regulate their alertness levels. They discuss ways to mitigate driver surveillance while also talking about how data from wearables could be leveraged in a way to empower drivers.

Businesses aren’t just looking for a TMS. They’re looking for a transformation. In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with TIm Hopkins, VP of Enterprise at Rose Rocket to discuss tackling the beast of replacing a TMS. Tim shares his insights on when exactly a new TMS makes sense for your business, how to justify a change to stakeholders, and what realistic timelines look like for the entire process.

What happens if your transportation business gets hacked? In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Ian Penney, IT & security leader to discuss cybersecurity. With over 22 years of experience, Ian breaks down the things that make your business a real target for a security attack. He shares what to do if your business gets hacked and tips for how to improve your company’s security – from having an IT policy to training your staff in best practices.

If you’re looking to start your own brokerage, there are five golden rules you need to follow In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Mike Riccio of More than Miles Consulting. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Mike discusses the five rules you need to follow if you’re looking to open your own brokerage. From a strategic business plan to investing in technology, both Justin and Mike share their insights for what steps can help you towards success.

The average trucker takes about 15 minutes to find a parking spot. The truck parking crisis is evident, and one company has taken their shot at solving it. In this week’s Freight Famous episode, host Justin Bailie sits down with Evan Shelley, CEO of Truck Parking Club – a network of instantly reservable parking spots for trucks across the country. Evan talks about how truck parking came to be such a problem in the industry and why he mainly hires drivers to be a part of his support staff. Evan shares the logistics behind his business model and how product management has been a big role for him to play in the business. Both Justin and Evan get honest about the embarrassment that comes with trying your first business and how investors can play a role in your success.

Being a successful entrepreneur in the trucking industry starts with one key step – an entrepreneurial mindset. This week, Freight Famous host Justin Bailie sits down with Rahmel Wattley, CEO & founder of well-known media company Truck n’ Hustle. Rahmel shares his story on being inspired to educate people in transportation & logistics and the growth of his company. Justin & Rahmel speak candidly on being vulnerable about failure as an entrepreneur and why your mindset towards success is holding you back.

What could be the solution for the trucking mental health epidemic? Movement. This week, Freight Famous host Justin Bailie sits down with Hope Zvara, CEO & founder of Mother Trucker Yoga. Hope talks about how she went from yoga to teaching trucking fitness and using her business to connect with drivers on the road. She shares her toolkit to encourage moving more as well as the 1% rule to help you elevate your lifestyle on the road.