In this episode, we'll discuss flatbed market trends where seasonal rate stability continues with predictable spikes tied to construction demand and higher weekend freight rates caused by carrier shortages, the FMCSA CDL training crackdown targeting hundreds of non-compliant schools, and why overall trucking capacity remains high with excess trucks still in the market despite enforcement efforts.

I also address the rising broker fraud risks, including lessons from the AGX Freight situation, why stronger vetting and accountability are critical for protecting carriers and shippers, the new non-domiciled CDL compliance rules, and what brokers and carriers must do now to stay compliant and competitive!

Resources / References

• https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dot-targets-550-cdl-schools
• https://www.overdriveonline.com/business/article/15817385/agx-freight-goes-bust-stiffs-carriers-starts-new-mc
• https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-issues-mandatory-non-domiciled-cdl-directive

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

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💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Are you building carrier relationships strong enough to handle a tightening freight market? Are you locking in stable freight lanes before rates move?

Today, let's break down why the Atlanta to Des Moines reefer lane continues to deliver stable pricing, showing a $120 year-over-year increase and proving that core power lanes remain predictable despite market volatility and weather-driven capacity disruptions, how unseasonable Southeast snow impacted nationwide driver availability, why brokers shouldn't overreact to short-term rate swings, and how consistently pre-booking trusted carriers reduces risk, improves efficiency, and limits reliance on load boards.

With increased industry enforcement expected to reduce carrier capacity, transparency, honest communication, and strong broker-carrier partnerships will determine who maintains profitability. The brokers who prioritize trust, pass through accessorial pay fairly, and focus on long-term carrier relationships will secure capacity, protect customer service, and position themselves to win in the next freight market cycle!

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

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🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

In this episode, David Abell of AM Transport Services shares why mindset, disciplined sales activity, and owning your customer relationships are the real drivers of success in freight brokerage, regardless of market conditions!

We talk about committing to 20 cold calls a day for 90 days, refining your freight sales process before hiring, and using a CRM system like Sales Dash to manage prospects, track buying windows, and build a consistent sales pipeline.

Dave shares why CEOs must own key shipper relationships, ask direct questions to prevent customer churn, and focus on controllable fundamentals like sales outreach, operational discipline, and service execution.

We also dive into leadership development through the Freight Leadership Lab with the Transportation Intermediaries Association, designed to build next-level freight broker leadership skills through live training and real-world application!

About David Abell

David Abell is the President and CEO of AM Transport Services, a 35-year-old freight brokerage headquartered in Olney, Illinois. With almost two decades of experience in transportation and logistics, David focuses on driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and innovative solutions for shippers across North America. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), where he advocates for industry best practices, fraud prevention, and stronger collaboration across the supply chain. David is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and is passionate about leadership development, community impact, and building high-performing teams.

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

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🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Today, we'll hear Sarah Miller of Ally Logistics breaking down what actually drives successful freight technology adoption inside a modern brokerage!

Sarah discusses why vendor selection must prioritize high uptime, responsive customer support, mandatory pilot programs before signing contracts, and smart automation strategy in logistics, focusing on back-office tasks like freight audit and bill pay to increase efficiency while protecting the human relationships that win freight.

The bottom line of the episode? Lean brokerage operations powered by the right technology can cut costs and allow smaller teams to compete at scale. If you want practical insights on freight tech, brokerage automation, vendor evaluation, and building real competitive advantage, this one delivers!

About Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller is the Director of Business Solutions at Ally Logistics. In her time with Ally, she has supported the rapid growth of their tech stack from building out their new TMS Revenova, to agentic workflow automation with Sola. Alongside her role at Ally, she is also a member of the TIA technology committee. She is passionate about technology and the cultural shifts it takes to implement it.

Connect with Sarah

• Website: https://allylogistics.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmadisonofficial/

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Listen to this week's first guest, Ed Stockman of Optimus, talking about how consistent pricing builds long-term shipper relationships, reduces customer churn, and creates predictable freight brokerage revenue instead of chasing volatile spot market rates!

Ed also covers why new freight brokers must own their local market first and focus on known shippers and commodities before expanding, data-driven freight sales using real shipment data and tools like Optimus AI to identify active shippers, sharpen targeting, and eliminate wasted calls.

If you want stronger freight sales execution, smarter prospecting, and scalable brokerage growth, this episode lays out the playbook!

Connect with Ed

Website: https://www.getoptimus.ai/

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Are floral freight rates the first warning sign of a tightening reefer market? Is Florida enforcement reshaping capacity faster than most carriers expected? Are you positioned for the Southeast produce surge before the peak season hits?

Dean Croke of DAT Freight & Analytics is back to break down how Valentine's Day floral demand funneled through Miami pushed outbound freight rates up, why immigration scale house enforcement is cutting reefer capacity, and how the upcoming produce season will impact national trucking rates, refrigerated freight trends, and contract negotiations.

We also dig into DAT freight data showing national rates higher year over year despite soft volumes, explain how seasonal demand shifts, tender rejection rates, and regulatory changes are driving spot market opportunities, and talk honestly about enforcement challenges affecting minority drivers while emphasizing compliance, industry integrity, and long-term freight market stability as capacity tightens and the trucking industry moves toward a more predictable recovery through 2026 for carriers, brokers, and shippers who stay informed and adaptable!

About Dean Croke

Dean is the Prinicpal Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, the leader in market and pricing intelligence and operates the largest truckload freight marketplace in North America. He is a Global Supply Chain and Logistics Executive specializing in freight market analytics, multi-modal freight flows, thought leadership, and the application of business intelligence using digital technologies.

Connect with Dean

• Website: https://www.dat.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deancroke/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@datfreight
• DAT iQ Help Center: https://iq.support.dat.com/

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/

Are reefer rates finally stabilizing, or are short-term market spikes still catching brokers off guard? What does the FMCSA crackdown, rising broker liability risks, and labor disputes mean for your freight strategy right now?

We talk real freight market analysis, customer relationship strategy during tight capacity, even when servicing loads at a loss, along with how FMCSA enforcement removing 2,000+ non-compliant carriers is tightening trucking capacity and forcing brokers and shippers to double down on carrier vetting, compliance checks, and risk management ahead of a major Supreme Court broker liability ruling.

I also dive into chameleon carriers, insurance scrutiny, and why proactive carrier audits are non-negotiable, then wrap it up with a frank look at Teamsters vs. UPS labor tensions and what it signals for transportation costs, trucking market trends, and long-term supply chain strategy, so you can stay sharp, stay compliant, and make smarter freight decisions in today's volatile logistics environment.

Resources / References

• https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dot-fmcsa-sweep-jan-2026
• https://www.overdriveonline.com/regulations/article/15816683/fmcsa-investigating-chameleon-carrier-network-after-deadly-indiana-crash
• https://www.freightwaves.com/news/teamsters-union-sues-ups-to-block-buyout-offer-to-delivery-drivers

📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎

🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!

To Find Out More About My Freight Services

Visit https://freightcoachlogistics.com/

🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇

• SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/
• Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/
• NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/
• DAT Freight & Analytics | https://www.dat.com/

Donate to support Stacy and her family: https://tinyurl.com/36xmxcmr

🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw

📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/

🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/