Driving Forward Podcast

GLCS, INC.

Driving Forward is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest trucking trends and delivering innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. Driving Forward aims to be the go-to destination for carriers, brokers, trucking executives, fleet owners and professional drivers, seeking valuable insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies. The podcast promises a fresh and dynamic perspective on the ever-evolving landscape of transportation.

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24 episodes
Avg 1 hr 3 min
English

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September 21 · 1 hr 4 min
From the Driver’s Seat: The Voices Behind the Trucking Industry
What does trucking look like from the driver’s seat? Over the years, Driving Forward has had the opportunity to hear directly from professional drivers as they've shared their experiences with our host, Nate Johnson. This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we’re bringing some of those conversations back together. In this special Driver Edition of Driving Forward, we’ve compiled moments from previous episodes featuring drivers who have shared what life behind the wheel has taught them, the opportunities this profession has created, and the realities that come with a career on the road. Their experiences touch on everything from safety and mentorship to operating costs, time away from family, career growth, and the pride that comes with moving freight. We wanted to bring these perspectives together not only to recognize the professional drivers who keep this industry moving, but also to give those of us working throughout transportation a better understanding and appreciation of the profession. Because decisions made throughout the industry eventually reach the driver’s seat. 🎙️ Join us this week for a special Driver Edition of Driving Forward, featuring highlights from past conversations with Germany Williams (Covenant Trucking), Chris Thomas (Autumn Transport), and Ingrid Brown (Blackjack Express LLC).
September 14 · 1 hr 11 min
The Business of Trucking: Lessons from 22 Years in the Industry
What does 22 years in trucking teach you about building a business? Tristan Bordallo has experienced the industry from several sides: entrepreneur, asset-based fleet owner, founder, advisor, investor... He’s also been open about one of the hardest chapters of that journey: shutting down the trucking company he spent eight years building. Each chapter has given him a different perspective on what it takes to build, adapt, and find opportunity in an industry that rarely stands still. Tristan joins Nate Johnson on an upcoming episode of Driving Forward to talk trucking, entrepreneurship, leadership, and the lessons that come from more than two decades of building businesses in and around freight. For transportation leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone thinking about where the industry goes next, this should be a conversation you tune into.
September 4 · 1 hr 4 min
From CTPAT to TSA: What's Changing in Freight Compliance
The paperwork says you're compliant, but can your operations prove it? 👉 Who are you trusting to move freight? 👉 How are those partners being vetted? 👉 Can you demonstrate your cybersecurity practices? 👉 Are your compliance programs prepared for greater scrutiny? Those questions are becoming harder to ignore as regulations change, freight fraud continues to expose weaknesses across the supply chain, and programs like CTPAT and TSA place greater emphasis on how companies manage risk. Paul Barsamian from Veroot, joins Nate Johnson to discuss what these changes could mean for carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other companies moving freight across the supply chain. Because the cost of getting it wrong isn't always a fine. It can be a shipment held at the border, freight that doesn't arrive when expected, a customer you can no longer serve, or an opportunity that goes to a competitor who was better prepared.
August 31 · 1 hr
Building A Better Trucking Tech Stack: Where Do You Start?
Was your tech stack carefully built, or accumulated? A TMS selected years ago. Systems that don’t communicate the way they should. Spreadsheets filling gaps they were never designed to fill. Software still being paid for but barely used. And now, an explosion of AI tools promising another layer of efficiency. The question isn’t simply “What technology should we buy next?” It’s “What problem are we actually trying to solve?” In this episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson is joined by Mike Solarz, Michael Demers, and Robert Bain to unpack what they heard directly from trucking and logistics leaders at the GLCS Tech Summit. They dig into why AI adoption may be moving slower than the headlines suggest, the ongoing frustration around TMS integrations, cybersecurity and freight fraud, lessons learned from technology implementations, and why building a practical technology roadmap starts with understanding your processes before adding another tool. For transportation leaders deciding what belongs in their tech stack, what needs to change, and where to invest next, this episode offers insight to the technology conversations happening across trucking today.
August 21 · 1 hr 2 min
Selling, Succeeding & Staying Independent: Doug Grawe of The Grawe Group
You know what your trucks, equipment, and customers are worth. But is the rest of your business ready for someone to look under the hood?Growth, profitability, legal exposure, technology, customer expectations, and changing regulations all compete for attention. The decisions made in one area often create consequences somewhere else in the business.This week on Driving Forward, Nate Johnson sits down with Doug Grawe, Owner & CEO of The Grawe Group and former General Counsel at Dart Transit — one of the nation's largest owner-operator fleets.Doug has spent two decades helping family-owned trucking companies navigate the legal decisions that make or break them, and he's opening up the playbook:🔷 How to get your company ready for a sale (and what kills deals in diligence)🔷How to bring the next generation into the family business without blowing it up🔷What the DOL's latest independent contractor rule changes mean for owner-operator programs🔷The contract clauses carriers should never sign blind🔷Why those dusty bylaws and operating agreements might be the most important papers in your buildingFor transportation owners and executives thinking about growth, transition, risk, or long-term business value, tune in for a look at how the decisions made today can shape what comes next.
July 31 · 1 hr 5 min
TMS Go-Live Without The Chaos: How Implementations Actually Succeed
Choosing a TMS is a major decision. But once the contract is signed, the real work begins.A TMS implementation can shape how your business operates for years. Go-live is a major milestone, but getting there without losing momentum, blowing the budget, or overwhelming the team takes more than a solid project plan.This week on Driving Forward, Nate Johnson leads a conversation about what it takes to implement and support an enterprise TMS with two people who have seen these projects from very different sides.Brandon Hodges, EVP at Mastery Logistics Systems, brings more than 20 years of experience helping companies navigate TMS implementations from the vendor side. Steve Harder, VP of Technology at Crane Worldwide Logistics, has spent 30 years managing the operational and technology realities that come after the contract is signed, including nearly two decades leading IT at DHL Supply Chain.They talk about phased rollouts versus big bang go-lives, the small wins that build momentum, why internal champions and executive support matter, and how to manage the integration web that can quickly turn a complex project into an even bigger one.If a TMS is on your roadmap in the next 12 months, this is the conversation to hear before timelines tighten, integrations multiply, and go-live gets real.
July 28 · 1 hr 24 min
Fleet-Saving Decisions: Leadership Insights from TCA 2026
What did the last 4 years in this market teach us that we can't afford to forget? Recorded at TCA Refrigerated, Nate Johnson sits down with several respected trucking leaders who have spent decades building successful fleets through good markets and bad. Randy Marten | CEO & Chairman of Marten Transport Pam Wiers | CFO of Dutch Maid Logistics Ken Johnson | Executive Chairman of Leonard's Express Ashley Kordish | CEO of Ralph Moyle, Inc. Luke Subler| President of Classic Carriers & Immediate Past Chairman of TCA Refrigerated Division The conversations are honest, practical, and shaped by experience. They discuss why protecting margins sometimes means saying no to freight, why knowing your costs has never been more important, how strong customer relationships outperform short-term pricing decisions, and why many fleets still have a long road ahead even as rates begin to improve. Whether you lead a fleet, manage operations, oversee finance, or make strategic decisions for a transportation company, this episode is a valuable perspective from leaders who have weathered decades of industry cycles and aren't afraid to share what worked, what didn't, and what comes next.
July 17 · 1 hr 2 min
Beyond the Load | Kyle Kottke: Leading Through Freight Market Changes
When the freight market gets interesting, experience matters. On this episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson is joined by Kyle Kottke, General Manager at Kottke Trucking, Inc., for a conversation on what it takes to lead through change in trucking. From navigating market volatility and payment pressure to protecting temperature-sensitive freight when conditions are anything but predictable, Kyle brings insight shaped by years in operations, negotiation, freight management, and financial strategy. We’ll talk about reliability when it counts, the difference between a carrier and a true partner, and the leadership lessons that come from building teams, serving drivers, and staying grounded when the industry keeps shifting. Tune in for a conversation grounded in real freight experience — from cold chain reliability and carrier partnerships to what it takes to lead through market volatility, protect shipper trust, and keep supply chains moving when conditions get complicated.
July 10 · 1 hr 1 min
Better Freight Decisions with Todd Waldron: AI, Trailers & the Future of Freight Operations
The freight market is improving. But better rates don’t solve old problems. After years of fighting through one of the toughest freight cycles, carriers and brokers are facing a different challenge: deciding how to grow without making the same mistakes. Todd Waldron joins Nate Johnson to discuss what they're hearing across the industry, why operational flexibility matters more than ever, where technology is creating real value, and how strong customer relationships continue to separate companies that react from those that prepare. The market may be changing, but sustainable growth still comes down to the same fundamentals. Whether you're leading a fleet, brokerage, logistics operation, or transportation technology company, this conversation offers insights on navigating the next stage of the freight market while building an operation that's prepared for whatever comes after.
July 6 · 54 min
AI, Learning & the Future of Training in Logistics | Dr. Gina Anderson
Technology only creates value when people know how to use it. Driving Forward revisits a conversation between Nate Johnson and Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO of Luma Brighter Learning and Learning Scientist. Long before AI became the center of every conversation, Dr. Gina Anderson was helping transportation companies rethink how people learn, adapt, and embrace change. As a learning scientist and CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, Gina believes the strongest organizations don't just train their people. They build cultures where learning becomes part of the job. With the upcoming launch of her new book, Powered by People: Building Culture That Outlasts the Founder, this conversation feels even more relevant today than when it was first recorded. As transportation continues to evolve, success depends on more than adopting new technology. It depends on helping people adapt alongside it. From AI and onboarding to safety culture, leadership, change management, and continuous learning, the conversation explores ideas that resonate across nearly every corner of a transportation organization.
June 26 · 1 hr 4 min
It Runs in the Family: Trucking, Legacy, and the Lessons That Last
Pam has earned Carrier of the Year honors and worked with over 3,000 customers. But what sets her apart is turning her hardest lessons into a roadmap for the next generation of operators. 🚛 She survived her first year of asset ownership during COVID and leads 6 businesses with a mission to teach others. Welcome back Pam Polyak — 3rd generation trucking owner, primary owner of Polyak Trucking, Logistics & Consulting, and a force in this industry for over 20 years. Pam joins host Nate Johnson for a conversation that every owner-operator and fleet owner needs to hear. Here's a glimpse of what they're getting into: 📋 Accountability & Continued Education for Owners 🤖 Use of AI in Small Businesses 👨‍👩‍👧 The Human Side of Running a Family-Owned Trucking Company This is an episode for our owner-operators and small fleet owners looking to run smarter, grow stronger, and scale with confidence. We’ll see you there!
June 22 · 55 min
Freight Market Shifts: What Logistics Leaders Need to Fix Now
The freight market is moving again, but that does not mean the pressure is gone. Rates are shifting. Capacity is tightening in some areas. Costs remain high. Carriers, brokers, and freight tech companies are still feeling the effects of a long, difficult market. Nate Johnson and Robert Bain discuss what they're hearing from transportation and logistics companies right now, including freight market conditions, sales strategy, technology adoption, operational efficiency, leadership decisions, and preparing for the next market cycle. As the market begins to shift, many leaders are asking the same questions: Are we improving fast enough? Is our pipeline strong enough? Are the right people in the right roles? Is our technology creating leverage or adding complexity? Are we prepared for what comes next? The companies that come out stronger won't be the ones waiting for conditions to improve. They'll be the ones strengthening customer relationships, improving operations, evaluating technology, and making the hard decisions that position them for what's next. The market may be getting better, but better doesn't mean easy. This is the time to clean up what's inefficient, strengthen what's working, and make sure your business is ready for the next cycle. And yes, Nate's new glasses give him a slight comic book villain energy in this one, so consider that a bonus.
June 12 · 1 hr
FreightFacts, Shipper Scores, and the Future of LTL
Technology has changed. Pricing has changed. Expectations around visibility and data have changed. But one challenge has remained the same: How do carriers, shippers, and technology providers make better decisions with better information? Lance Healy joins Nate Johnson to discuss what FreightFacts is launching, the current state of the industry, what’s changing in LTL, why better data matters, and how technology can help carriers, brokers, and shippers make smarter decisions. And because it’s Nate and Lance, there’s a good chance the conversation will also drift into boats, music, and whatever else comes up along the way. Whether you're a carrier, shipper, 3PL, technology provider, or simply interested in the future of freight, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who has spent much of his career helping move the industry forward.
June 8 · 1 hr 1 min
Built to Break the Mold: Melanie Simard's Road Through Trucking
Melanie Simard didn’t build her career from one side of the industry. She built it from nearly every angle possible.She started in brokerage, but decided early on that she wanted real experience on the asset side of trucking. So she got her Class 1 CDL and went driving long-haul reefer.When she was told women didn’t belong in flatbed, she went there too.From the cab to dispatch, operations, safety, and compliance leadership, Melanie built her career the hard way. Step by step. Learning the industry firsthand instead of from a distance.Today, as VP of Safety, Compliance & Technical Support at ISAAC Instruments, she helps fleets across North America navigate safety, compliance, technology, and operational accountability at a higher level.But this conversation with Nate Johnson goes far beyond regulations and software.🤝 It’s about earning respect.📈 Adapting through change.🔎 And what leadership actually looks like in an industry that has historically been built on toughness, independence, and pressure.This isn’t a polished corporate story. It’s a career built through experience, persistence, and proving people wrong along the way.
May 29 · 58 min
Freight Fraud Panel: Cargo Theft, Double Brokering & Cybersecurity
Freight fraud hasn’t slowed down. It’s evolved. Cargo theft, identity fraud, phishing attacks, double brokering, fake carriers… the tactics keep changing, and the companies staying ahead are the ones paying attention to both operations and cybersecurity. In this replay of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson is joined by Dale Prax of FreightValidate, Steve Vest of Nationwide Equipment Transportation, and Robert Bain of GLCS for a conversation focused on where freight fraud is heading and what trucking companies should be doing right now to reduce exposure. Together they discuss: 👉 Emerging freight fraud tactics impacting carriers and brokers 👉 Cybersecurity gaps that often lead to larger operational risks 👉 Red flags hidden in dispatching, rate confirmations, and factoring 👉 Why relying too heavily on technology without process controls creates vulnerabilities 👉 Steps companies can take to strengthen operations before fraud happens This conversation goes beyond headlines and theory. It’s a practical look at how fraud actually works inside freight operations and where companies are still getting caught off guard. Whether you’re running a fleet, managing brokerage operations, handling risk, or overseeing IT and security, this is a conversation worth revisiting.
May 26 · 1 hr 1 min
The Hard Decisions: Freight Growth, Fleet Readiness & Leadership
Growth in logistics rarely comes from shortcuts. It comes from consistency, accountability, and making the right decisions when they’re hardest to make. Chris Sonnek, Director of Operations at TEN Logistics, joins Nate Johnson on the Driving Forward Podcast for a conversation centered on the operational realities shaping trucking and logistics right now. With experience across truckload, LTL, warehousing, and final mile operations, Chris brings a perspective grounded in leadership, customer relationships, and operational discipline. Their conversation will cover: ▶️ DOT Blitz Week and fleet readiness ▶️ Spot freight vs. contract freight strategies ▶️ Balancing growth, technology, and customer service ▶️ Why doing the hard right still matters in leadership Every trucking company wants growth. Not every company is willing to handle what comes with it. If you’re involved in trucking, brokerage, fleet operations, or logistics leadership, this conversation delivers practical insight into the challenges and decisions shaping the industry today.
May 15 · 1 hr 2 min
AI Without The Hype: A Trucking Leaders Guide to What Matters
AI is showing up in every corner of trucking right now. Dispatch. Safety. Maintenance. Recruiting. Customer service. Fuel optimization. Driver communication. And for a lot of trucking company leaders, it’s becoming hard to separate what’s real from what’s just marketing noise. After months of conversations at conferences and industry events, one thing has become clear: the technology gap inside trucking is growing faster than many people realize. Some fleets are actively building operational strategies around AI and automation. Others are still trying to understand where these tools even fit into day-to-day operations. Jeff Resch of ‪@HyperscaleSystems‬ joins Nate Johnson and Robert Bain on Driving Forward to break down AI in a way that actually makes sense for trucking operations. Their conversation will cover: 👉 The difference between “AI buzzwords” and real operational impact 👉 Where fleets are already seeing practical results today 👉 How AI can support dispatch, safety, maintenance, customer service, and drivers 👉 What leaders should be paying attention to before competitors pull ahead The goal isn’t to turn trucking companies into tech experts overnight. It’s to help leaders better understand the landscape, ask smarter questions, and avoid getting left behind as AI continues reshaping the industry.
May 13 · 1 hr 2 min
Cyber Theft in Trucking: What Trucking Companies Are Missing
Fraud in freight isn’t slowing down. It’s getting smarter… and harder to spot. And more often than most realize… It doesn’t start with a stolen load. It starts with a cyber breach. Behind many instances of freight fraud today is a compromised system, a phishing attempt, or a small gap in cybersecurity that opens the door to something much bigger. A missed step. A broken process. A gap that someone knew how to exploit. Nate Johnson will be joined by Ben Wilkens and Joe Ohr of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association to break down what they’re seeing firsthand across the industry: 👉 How cyber breaches are fueling freight fraud across the industry 👉 Where fraudsters are exploiting everyday workflows 👉 What most companies overlook until it’s too late 👉 Why cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s job - it’s an operational responsibility Their discussion will also touch on a new industry resource designed to combat these threats: FreightFraudHub.com — built to help companies better understand, identify, and respond to evolving fraud tactics. If you’re running trucks, managing freight, building systems, or making decisions that impact operations - this conversation highlights what’s at risk, what’s changing, and what needs attention now.
May 1 · 54 min
Lance Healy On LTL Innovation: Shipper Scorecards, API's & Pricing
APIs changed how freight connects. So why are so many decisions still disconnected? 🚚 We’re replaying a past Driving Forward conversation with Lance Healy (Co-Founder/CEO of FreightFacts.io) and Nate Johnson - originally recorded in July 2025 - because the ideas behind today’s LTL technology, pricing, and data standards didn’t happen overnight. They were built over time. Lance has been part of that build from the beginning - starting in the early days of LTL tech and helping push forward some of the systems the industry now depends on. In this rehighlighted conversation, he walks through: 👉 How APIs evolved in logistics—and why they matter more than ever 👉 The story behind dynamic pricing and how it changed LTL decision-making 👉 Lessons learned from building and scaling multiple freight tech companies 👉 Where fuel fraud and industry risks are showing up today 👉 What Freight Facts is solving with data-driven shipper scorecards Better data doesn’t just improve efficiency. It changes how decisions get made across the entire operation. From pricing freight more accurately to understanding shipper behavior, the companies that operate with clearer data are the ones positioned to move faster—and smarter. If you’re involved in LTL, pricing, operations, or freight technology, this is a conversation worth revisiting with today’s perspective.
April 24 · 1 hr 5 min
Fuel, Parking & Pressure: What's Actually Happening to Drivers Right Now
Fuel is up. Parking is tight. Pressure is building.But what’s really happening out on the road? With 2M+ accident-free miles and more than 20 years over the road, Chris Thomas has seen the industry from all angles. From navigating day-to-day realities behind the wheel to building a growing presence online, even gaining attention overseas in Japan, his perspective reaches beyond a single lane. Nate Johnson connects with Chris to explore what life on the road really looks like right now: 👉 The impact of rising diesel prices on driver decisions👉 The current state of truck parking and where the gaps still exist👉 Unseen challenges drivers are facing today The reality of trucking isn’t built in reports…It’s built out on the road. If you’re part of this industry, whether you’re running a fleet, managing operations, or behind the wheel yourself, this is a perspective worth hearing before the next decision gets made.

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