WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

In the final What The Truck?!? episode of 2025, Malcolm Harris sits down with one of the most genuine voices at the intersection of trucking, music, and hustle, Devin Tribble, known to fans as 2Hott.This isn’t just a conversation about freight or hip-hop. It’s a real, unfiltered story about survival, faith, discipline, and how earning a CDL became an escape route from the streets and a foundation for building something bigger.2Hott opens up about his rise as an independent artist, the inspiration behind “Trucker Anthem,” balancing life over the road with life in the studio, and why consistency matters more than clout. From breakdowns and long nights behind the wheel to viral moments and personal loss, this episode captures what it really means to grind and keep going.Whether you’re a driver, an entrepreneur, an artist, or someone looking for a way forward, this episode delivers perspective you won’t forget.Special thanks to Descartes MacroPoint for supporting What The Truck?!? and helping keep freight visible, connected, and moving. Listen in and close out 2025 with one of the most authentic conversations of the year. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor 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 episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight as we head toward the end of 2025. Malcolm covers major industry headlines including the pending Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern rail merger, long-term investment at the Port of New York and New Jersey, consolidation in auto transport logistics, and a high-profile cargo theft case that underscores ongoing risk across the supply chain. The show features an in-depth conversation with Valentina Jordan, CEO and co-founder of Nauta, and Rafa Santiago, COO and co-founder, as they unveil Nauta’s AI-powered inventory optimization engine. They explain how SKU-level visibility, harmonized data, and agentic AI workflows are helping shippers reduce stockouts, improve fill rates, and create more predictable freight flows that benefit truckers, 3PLs, and brokers alike. The discussion explores real-world customer wins, faster time to value, and how better inventory planning leads to smoother routes, consistent loads, and stronger revenue across the network. Later in the episode, Malcolm is joined in studio by Virind Gujral, CEO and founder of EV Bots. Virind shares his journey from fleet operations to building autonomous robotic solutions for EV fleet charging. He explains how EV Bots is tackling one of the biggest barriers to electric fleet adoption by eliminating driver downtime, optimizing charging costs, and automating vehicle inspections and maintenance checks. The conversation dives into Chattanooga’s growing innovation ecosystem, pilot deployments, and what the future holds for electric fleets and logistics automation. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor 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 back to WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Host Malcolm Harris returns for a year-end episode packed with critical insights on freight fraud, cargo theft, trucking finance, and what the industry needs to watch heading into 2026. This episode features four powerhouse guests tackling the biggest risks and opportunities facing trucking and logistics today: DZ Patterson, Director of Investigative Services at Travelers, breaks down the realities of modern cargo theft, including strategic theft, GPS spoofing, fake breakdown scams, and how shippers, brokers, and carriers can harden their supply chains through better communication, layered security, and smarter verification. Andrey Chabanov and Trevor Hoffman from Wellspring introduce a high-yield savings platform built specifically for truck drivers and working Americans. Drawing from real-world trucking experience, they explain how drivers can protect their cash from inflation, improve liquidity, and build smarter emergency and business savings without lockups or minimums. Dale Prax, Strategic Fraud Advisor at Truckstop and Founder of FreightValidate, delivers a deep dive into freight fraud, carrier identity verification, FMCSA enforcement, and the real-world scams impacting brokers and owner-operators. He outlines where fraud is headed next, why collaboration and transparency matter, and what practical steps carriers can take today to protect themselves. The episode also covers key industry headlines, including supply chain reform efforts in Washington, ongoing layoffs impacting freight demand, and why cash discipline and operational efficiency remain critical in the current market. If you’re a driver, broker, shipper, or logistics professional, this is a must-watch conversation to close out the year informed and prepared for what’s next. 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 special festive edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris brings you a packed episode live from the 2026 Freight Market Summit. First, Malcolm sits down with Sarah Abernathy, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kenworth Truck Company. Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes story of one of trucking’s most heartwarming annual traditions: hauling the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree across the country. She discusses Kenworth’s twelve-year partnership with the project, the state-to-state community engagement, and the technology behind the Kenworth T680 that carried this year’s tree, “Silverbell,” from Nevada to Washington, D.C. Sarah also highlights the role of driver Michael Porter, the significance of the tour, and what Kenworth is looking forward to in 2026. Later in the episode, Malcolm welcomes Zane Holcomb and Luke LeMaster from TEL to talk about becoming an owner-operator in today’s freight market. They break down what drivers should expect, why now can still be a smart time to step into ownership, how TEL supports drivers throughout their leases, and the mindset needed to build a successful owner-operator business. They also discuss technology trends, equipment choices, common challenges, and the changing landscape of driver mentorship. Plus, Malcolm covers the latest industry headlines, including:  • A logistics startup founder losing an appeal on a 20-year conviction  • New tariff discussions involving the U.S. and Mexico  • Enterprise officially entering the heavy-truck space through its Hogan acquisition  • The ongoing voting for America’s Top Freight Town If you enjoy stories about trucking, leadership, equipment, market insights, and the people who make the industry run, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 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 episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris dives into a packed lineup covering the latest issues shaping freight, technology, and trucking regulation. We kick things off with Rudy Nemeth of Veloster Solutions, who breaks down how AI is transforming fleet management through predictive maintenance, smarter safety systems, and advanced route optimization following their recent acquisition of NextBillion.ai. Next, Magnus Technologies CEO Matt Cartwright joins the show to talk about the real roots of the driver shortage, why it’s a systemic issue rather than a people problem, and how empathy, communication, and integrated technology platforms can dramatically improve driver satisfaction and retention. He also shares insights from decades in the industry and why unifying data is the key to modern fleet operations. To wrap up, Andrew Poliakoff, Executive Director of CVTA, gives an inside look at the state of driver training, the federal crackdown on fraudulent training providers, and what fleets, students, and schools need to know about compliance, safety, and upcoming regulatory changes. He explains why proper training matters now more than ever and what red flags new drivers should watch for. Malcolm also covers major news across the country, including Mississippi’s crackdown on undocumented drivers, the abrupt shutdown of two Minnesota carriers affecting 200 drivers, and an Ohio logistics owner sentenced for a multimillion-dollar tax evasion scheme. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices