WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

On today’s WHAT THE TRUCK?!?!, host Malcolm Harris takes a wide-angle look at the forces reshaping freight in 2026, from autonomous trucking and fleet safety to regulation, compliance, and ongoing market volatility. The episode blends breaking industry headlines with two in-depth conversations that explore where trucking is headed and what fleets need to be thinking about right now. The show kicks off with a global freight and logistics roundup, including federal compliance cost cuts for fuel haulers, Allegiant’s move into air cargo with Amazon freight, expanding CDL compliance crackdowns in Tennessee, and Louisiana’s growing staged truck accident investigation. Malcolm also highlights Purdue University’s successful wireless charging test for a heavy-duty truck at highway speeds, Southeastern Freight Lines’ expansion into Mexico, and what these developments signal for capacity, safety, and future freight operations. The first featured guest is Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak, who joins the show to break down how autonomous trucking has officially moved beyond the demo phase. Don explains how Kodiak’s AI-powered trucks are operating in real, driverless commercial service today and why the industry conversation has shifted from if autonomy works to how fast it can scale. The discussion covers Kodiak’s partnership with Bosch, the importance of manufacturing-grade hardware, redundancy, and system reliability, as well as how trust is built with fleets, regulators, and the public. Don also offers a realistic perspective on what autonomous trucking solves today, what challenges remain, and how fleets should think about autonomy in a tight and uncertain freight market. Later in the episode, Cyndi Brandt, VP of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, brings a fleet-side view of safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. Cyndi explains why safety risks often begin long before a truck ever hits the road, highlighting the role of planning, dispatch, and unrealistic schedules in creating stress and unsafe driving behaviors. She dives into how congestion, tight delivery windows, and poor route planning show up in real-time fleet data, and why stress is one of the most measurable — and overlooked — safety risks in trucking today. The conversation also explores how telematics, routing tools, and execution data can be used proactively to reduce risk rather than simply monitor compliance. Watch on YouTube Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest headlines shaping the freight and supply chain world—and then sits down with three industry leaders to unpack what 2026 is already throwing at transportation professionals. Andrew Wimer, VP of Strategic Operations at Descartes, kicks things off with a deep dive into freight tech, operational resilience, and why trust with carriers and drivers is more important than ever. He also shares how AI and automation are being used to fix visibility gaps without creating more friction on the road. Lida Zurabashvili, Founder of Freight Freedom, joins the show to share her journey from truck driver to brokerage owner. She talks transparently about building a carrier-first brokerage, fighting fraud and scams in today’s market, and why long-term relationships—not quick wins—are the key to sustainable success. Rounding out the episode in studio is Sebastian Waters, Director of Maintenance Services at PLM Fleet. With nearly two decades of experience, Sebastian delivers practical winter maintenance advice for fleets, covering everything from preventive maintenance and reefer reliability to diesel, batteries, and cold-weather readiness. From market pressures and layoffs to freight tech, fleet operations, and broker-carrier trust, this episode is packed with real-world insight for anyone moving freight today. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Watch on YouTube Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight right now — from layoffs and carrier consolidation to aggressive DOT enforcement and tightening compliance standards — before diving into two powerhouse conversations that deliver a true blueprint for brokerage success. First up: Malcolm is joined by Trent Tulloh, CEO & Founder of Forever Freight Broker, for a no-nonsense discussion on: Why relationships (not AI) are the future of brokerage How to build trust with carriers and shippers Training brokers the right way Why paying carriers fairly drives long-term growth What new brokers are getting wrong — and how to fix it Then Malcolm sits down in-studio with Seth Shaver, EVP of Sales at Steam Logistics, for a candid conversation on: Grit, resilience, and longevity in freight sales Building winning teams and culture in tough markets Leadership lessons from scaling through multiple market cycles What young brokers must understand to survive and thrive This episode is packed with real talk, practical insight, and hard-earned lessons from leaders who’ve lived the freight grind — not just talked about it. Watch on YouTube 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 kicks off 2026 with a deep, perspective-driven conversation on what’s really happening across the freight and logistics industry beyond the headlines. The show opens with FreightWaves cross-border reporter Noi Mahoney breaking down major policy and trade developments, including tariff delays, shifting duties, and why U.S.–Mexico freight could emerge as one of the biggest stabilizers for trucking in 2026. Noi shares insights on nearshoring, cross-border truckload demand, warehouse implications, Class 8 truck orders, and the risks that could disrupt current momentum. Next, supply chain veteran Mike Eischer, CEO of One World Supply Chain Consulting, joins the show to unpack where inefficiencies hide inside organizations, how companies should think about disruption as the new norm, and where technology is actually making a real-world impact. Mike offers practical guidance on operational discipline, balancing efficiency with reliability, the limits of automation, and why people remain the most important part of any supply chain. The episode wraps with Chase Osborne of First Star Logistics, who dives into the realities of agent recruiting, marketing, and trust in a tight freight market. Chase discusses what agents are really looking for in 2026, how compensation, culture, and back-office support factor into decision-making, and why transparency and infrastructure matter more than flashy commission offers. This episode is packed with actionable insights for carriers, brokers, shippers, and logistics leaders navigating a complex and evolving freight landscape in 2026. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the first episode of 2026 on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Host Malcolm Harris kicks off the new year with an in-depth, no-nonsense conversation with Charles Gracey, often referred to as the “Dr. Phil of trucking,” to break down the biggest issues shaping the freight and trucking industry right now. This episode covers major developments that will impact drivers, carriers, brokers, and industry leaders in 2026, including the federal appeals court ruling against Amazon and what joint-employer accountability could mean for last-mile delivery models. Malcolm and Charles discuss whether this ruling signals a broader shift in labor law, risk allocation, and long-term sustainability for delivery service partners. They dive into why large carrier mergers and acquisitions largely stalled in 2025, exploring indecision, market uncertainty, valuations, and leadership hesitation, and what that means for consolidation in 2026. The conversation also examines leverage in today’s freight market, capacity pressures, driver pay, and why the power balance still isn’t in drivers’ favor. Autonomous trucking takes center stage as California moves closer to allowing testing and deployment of heavy-duty driverless trucks. The discussion addresses safety, cybersecurity, liability, regulatory gaps, and the often-ignored human cost of automation, including what happens to drivers if jobs are displaced. Other key topics include:- Peak season performance and why “best in recent memory” may not mean much- Sudden carrier shutdowns during the holidays and what they reveal about leadership, diversification, and planning- The lack of meaningful protections for drivers when companies collapse- Why 2026 may become a relationship-driven year for freight rather than a transactional one- Barriers to entry, industry integrity, and the need for higher standards without killing opportunity- How executives can avoid being disconnected from day-to-day operations- Why innovation fails when drivers and frontline workers aren’t truly involved This episode is a candid, wide-ranging look at where trucking has been, where it’s heading, and what needs to change for the industry to rebuild trust, stability, and integrity in 2026. Watch on YouTube Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices