Talking a deep dive into the spot and contract truckload markets with DAT's Dean Croke

Talking a deep dive into the spot and contract truckload markets with DAT's Dean Croke

GUEST: Dean Croke, Principal Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics Topics covered in this podcast included: the current state of the spot and contract truckload markets, including rates and pricing and capacity; how key economic indicators are impacting the market; federal government impact on capacity reduction initiatives; trade and tariffs; and Peak Season, among other topics. Dean Croke is DAT Freight & Analytics’ principal industry analyst, with more than 35 years in commercial transportation, data science, and risk management. A CDL holder and DAT analyst since 2020, Dean is one of the industry’s leading voices and shares market updates weekly at dat.com [http://dat.com/] and on DAT’s YouTube channel.

Examining the AI-focused supply chain with Chris Wyndham, President and CEO, Revenova, at SMC3 Connections 2026

GUEST: Chris Wyndham, President and CEO, Revenova In this podcast, which was recorded in an on-stage session at the SMC3 Connections conference in Palm Beach, Fla., Chris Wyndham, President and CEO, at Chicago-based Revenova, a cloud application provider of transportation management solutions for freight brokers, third-party logistics (3PL) companies, carriers, and shippers, provided a detailed overview of ways in which AI can serve as a competitive advantage and what steps companies need to take to differentiate themselves from the competition.  Topics covered in this podecast included: AI supply chain and logistics best practices; things to consider when starting to implement AI into your logistics and supply chain decision-making processes; and real-world examples of AI at work in freight transportation, among others.  Wyndham joined Revenova in February. He has extensive leadership experience across vertical SaaS organizations, including the retail sectors of automotive, powersports, marine, heavy equipment, and recreation. He has built a reputation for scaling high-growth technology companies while maintaining strong operational discipline and customer focus.

Transportation infrastructure update with Randy Mullett

GUEST: Randy Mullett, transportation lobbyist Topics covered in this podcast included: the current state of transportation infrastructure at the national and federal level; the United States Department of Transportation's 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan; the BUILD America 250 Act; and the ASCE's 2025 infrastructure report card, among others.  Randy Mullett is a retired member of Con-way’s executive leadership team and long-time D.C.-based transportation lobbyist. His time inside the Beltway included: testifying several times before Congress and the White House Council of Economic Advisors; being named a member of the National Freight Advisory Committee; and serving as Vice-Chair of National Cooperative Freight Research Program of the National Academies of Science. After leaving Con-way, he had his own lobby practice in D.C,, representing Clients ranging from Fortune 50 Transportation Companies to Tech start-ups. Today, Randy is a Senior Partner at Venture 53, a venture fund focused on early stage supply chain tech companies. He also advises several tech start-ups and serves on several company boards. He and his wife now live in Charlottesville, VA.

Examining the Supreme Court's Montgomery v. Caribe Transport ruling with Carrier Assure's Cassandra Gaines

GUEST: Cassandra Gaines, Founder & CEO, Carrier Assure In this podcast, LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman interviewed Cassandra Gaines, Founder & CEO of Carrier Assure, a transportation risk management platform she built to help brokers and shippers identify carriers that may meet modern industry vetting standards, using safety, fraud, and operational data. Topics covered included: the recent Supreme Court on broker liability, regarding whether freight brokers can be under state negligence law for hiring unsafe trucking companies and its impact on carriers, shippers, and brokers; lessons learned from the ruling; and how the ruling could impact carrier selection. Cassandra Gaines is the Founder & CEO of Carrier Assure, a transportation risk management platform she built to help brokers and shippers identify carriers that may meet modern industry vetting standards using safety, fraud, and operational data. She is also a nationally recognized transportation attorney and expert witness specializing in broker liability, carrier vetting, and transportation risk management. She advises brokers, shippers, insurers, and law firms on negligent selection exposure, FMCSA safety data, cargo theft prevention, and defensible carrier selection practices. Gaines previously held legal and leadership roles at large brokerages and trucking companies and has become a leading voice on transportation safety analytics and broker standard of care issues. She has spoken at more than 100 industry conferences nationwide and was named one of Business Insider’s “100 People Transforming Business in North America.”

Sizing up current freight railroad and intermodal market conditions with Tony Hatch

GUEST: Tony Hatch, principal, at ABH Consulting In this podcast, LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman interviewed Tony Hatch, principal, at New York-based ABH Consulting on various topics, including: freight railroad and intermodal volumes and service, rates and pricing, and the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, among others.  A nationally-known freight railroad and intermodal expert, Hatch also examined the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the freight railroad and intermodal sectors, railroad policy issues, and service and operations, among other topics. Tony Hatch has nearly three decades of experience in the freight railroad and transportation sectors, primarily as an analyst. As principal of New York-based ABH Consulting, Hatch has been focused on the freight transportation segment, particularly surface transportation. And he is well-known for his knowledge of the intermodal area, where the various modes of freight transport converge, on which he has held several dozen specialized conferences. Prior to launching ABH Consulting, Hatch was an analyst for Salomon brothers; proceeding to Argus, Painewebber, and most recently at NatWest Markets (USA) prior to starting his independent analyst/consultancy in 1999.