WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Welcome back to another high-octane episode of What the Truck?!? with your host, Malcolm Harris, and the man with the plan, Michael Vincent. We’re diving deep into the headlines shaping the supply chain and sitting down with industry heavyweights to talk strategy and technology.In This Episode: The Utah Nuclear Verdict: We break down the record-breaking $81 million verdict in Utah following a tragic 2018 accident. We discuss the details of the retrial, the driver’s questionable background, and what this “nuclear verdict” means for the future of trucking insurance and case law.   The GLP-1 Effect: Are weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy shrinking freight volumes? We examine a study suggesting that nearly 851,000 truckloads have been removed from the food and beverage market due to shifting consumer habits.   FedEx & the MD-11: FedEx is preparing to reactivate its MD-11 fleet to reclaim lost capacity. We debate whether the pressure to save millions during peak season is leading to a rush past safety protocols.   The Freight FBI: A CDL driver goes MIA with a hauler full of vehicles from the Port of Brunswick. We look at the ongoing search for Gonzalez and the missing cargo. Matt joins us to talk about navigating the “preseason” of the market. He emphasizes that while the freight recession may be easing, the winners will be those who hunker down on strategy rather than chasing volume at any margin. He also shares why his “why” always comes back to the way organizations treat their people.   The “Iceman” himself breaks down the digitalization of the cold chain. We discuss how real-time telematics and predictive insights are allowing fleets to know two weeks in advance if a reefer unit might fail—saving those precious avocados and temperature-sensitive GLP-1 medications before they ever hit the road. Guests:Matthew Darnell Caine | Caine Strategic AdvisorsDominic Hand | Thermo King Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Monday edition of What the Truck, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael “The Dude” Vincent dive into the latest headlines shaking up the supply chain world, starting with the legal showdown between New York’s Attorney General and the federal government over CDL funding. The duo breaks down the sophisticated new “Trojan Driver” cargo theft scam and discusses the recent wave of trucking bankruptcies, debating whether these failures stem from a poor economy or irresponsible growth. They also explore the shifting landscape of marijuana scheduling and its complex implications for mandatory drug testing in safety-sensitive transportation roles. Later in the show, the hosts are joined by Loki Cheema (Founder and CEO) and Alex Krutchten (Chief Growth Officer) of Hemut. Cheema shares his incredible journey from homelessness to industry leader, explaining how his gritty background inspired a technology firm dedicated to empowering truckers. The Hemut team discusses their hands-on approach to implementing AI and automation, emphasizing that technology should serve as a tool to help human operators succeed rather than a means to replace them. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a Friday edition of What the Truck, and host Malcolm Harris is riding “solo dolo” to break down a massive week in freight, from the 2026 NFL draft excitement to the front lines of cargo security.The Battle Against Freight Fraud: Dale Prax, Strategic Fraud Advisor at Truckstop and founder of FreightValidate, joins the studio to discuss a landmark shift in industry collaboration. Five months after Dale called for vetting platforms to stop operating in silos, he’s heading to the USDOT headquarters to meet with FMCSA leadershipInventory Agility for SMBs: Barry Kukkuk, CTO and co-founder of Netstock, breaks down why small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the economy, yet often struggle with “dusty boxes”—having too much of what doesn’t sell and too little of what does.The First National Portable Cold Storage Platform: James Armstrong, SVP of Emerging Business at Seacube Container Leasing, discusses their recent acquisition of Martin Container. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris and Michael “The Dude” Vincent dive into the murky waters of the freight industry, from the rising tide of cargo theft and “chameleon” carriers to the impact of New York City’s congestion pricing. The duo also touches on a bizarre headline involving missing scientists and a daring $2 million Brink’s truck heist.Key Highlights:The Vanishing Act: The hosts open with a “wild” discussion about reports of ten scientists disappearing, including a researcher working on anti-gravity propulsion who vanished while hiking.The Freight Fraud Debate: Malcolm and Michael address the “heat” from recent coverage of cargo theft numbers. They debate whether industry figures ($40B–$60B) are inflated by those who “foment fear” or if the evolution of “pay heists” and fraudulent VIN numbers is truly reaching a breaking point.Diesel Benchmark Drop: A look at the largest slide in diesel prices since 2022, following a twelve-week streak of increases.Maritime Focus: Discussion on the U.S. losing its maritime focus and the funding struggles of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) despite its role in national securityFeatured GuestsSteve Vest | Owner & CEO, Nationwide Equipment Transportation Inc. Steve joins the show to discuss his 20+ year journey in freight and how a viral TikTok video catapulted his business during a market downturn.Nate Veeh | AVP of Business Development, Altitude. Nate breaks down fresh data on New York City’s congestion pricing. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Monday edition of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris explores the critical intersections of safety culture and technological innovation in the logistics industry. Opening the show, Mike Fackler from Travelers joins the conversation to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reframing distracted driving not just as a driver error, but as a symptom of leadership and organizational culture. Fackler emphasizes that true safety requires absolute accountability from the top down, noting that when leaders model poor behavior—such as taking calls while driving—it undermines the entire safety message. He argues that companies must move beyond simple awareness to consistent enforcement of clear policies to truly move the needle on road safety.We then shift the focus to the “broken” state of roadside repair with Alex Bezzubets, CEO of MyMechanic Inc.. Alex details his transition from firefighting to transportation entrepreneurship, driven by the realization that roadside assistance is currently plagued by a lack of connectivity and archaic manual processes. Through MyMechanic, He is building a digital ecosystem that aggregates service providers and provides real-time GPS visibility, allowing for a more efficient, “Uber-like” experience that leverages data to predict breakdown hotspots and reduce downtime. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices