Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚛 Tips for new freight brokers 🎓 How to get training as a freight agent 🛑 Dealing with false reports on Carrier411 Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-freight360! to get AscendTMS FREE FOR 90 DAYS! Recommended Products: Clic...
Sep 16, 2025•19 min
Veteran trucker Gord Magill joins the podcast to dismantle the “driver shortage” myth. He exposes how cheap labor schemes, like Nebraska recruiting Kenyan drivers, fuel exploitation while rates stay low and safety violations rise. Gord on X: https://x.com/GordMagill/ Gord's Substack: https://autonomoustruckers.substack.com/ Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers:...
Sep 12, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚚 Factoring roadblock: New broker stuck on net-30 factoring with no quick pay — is there a workaround? 📞 Building a book: How can a new broker land shippers and sharpen cold-calling strategy? 🏛️ Gov’t freight: Which business certifications actually help brokers win government loads? Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your f...
Sep 09, 2025•21 min
The trucking industry is being rocked by fraud schemes that threaten honest brokers, carriers, and shippers. In this episode, Justin Martin (SuperTrucker) exposes tactics like ELD tampering, stolen trailers, and “chameleon carriers” that exploit loopholes and undercut legitimate businesses. He shares red flags to spot, why rates remain depressed, and how to protect yourself in today’s high-risk freight market. Follow Justin Martin: https://x.com/supertrucker Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get...
Sep 05, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: ❓ How do I scale past $10K/month when my current customers are all small? How do I win bigger shippers, and how should my prospecting and pitch change? 🚚 I got a load from a customer — how do I find a truck now? 🇨🇦 As a broker, can I move CAN–CAN (intra-Canada) loads? 🌍 Can I move international loads? Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics ...
Sep 02, 2025•19 min
The ELD mandate was supposed to make highways safer, but instead it’s created one of the biggest security and safety risks in trucking. On this episode, Danielle Chaffin exposes how fraudulent ELDs fuel crashes, enable drivers to break hours-of-service rules, and leak sensitive cargo data—putting every family on the road at risk. Danielle on X : https://x.com/maybedanielleee Danielle on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/maybedanielleee/ Links to Danielle’s Articles ELD: https://substack.com...
Aug 29, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚫 How to address customers that ask for quotes but never award you business 🤝 Why shippers use brokers instead of going direct to carriers ⚖️ Breaking down negotiating during a hostage load situation Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use pro...
Aug 26, 2025•21 min
Top freight sales pros don’t win with flashy pitches or closing tricks—they succeed by truly listening. This episode shows how strategic questioning, genuine curiosity, and overcoming ego-driven barriers create the trust and understanding that drive lasting customer relationships. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo ...
Aug 22, 2025•56 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 💰 Bulk Tanker Profitability – Which pays more for dedicated contracts: food-grade or non-hazmat chemical tankers? We break down the pros, cons, and market factors so you can chase the best rates. 📧 Email-Only Prospects – Stuck with a shipper who only wants to email? Learn how to engage on their terms while steering the conversation toward a phone call. 🚛 MC Seasoning – Does paying for an MC and insurance withou...
Aug 19, 2025•16 min
Learn how to turn your freight brokerage into a business that thrives without you. We’ll cover the first hires you should make, how to protect and transfer customer relationships, and the smart way to structure your business for maximum value. Whether you’re selling soon or years from now, these strategies will set you up for long-term success. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Br...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚛 Is demand for freight brokers declining, and are small brokers still relevant? ❄️ Tips for finding carriers for 2–3 pallet frozen LTL loads. 🛣️ How to transition from owner-operator to freight broker. 💸 What to do if you misquote a load and face a potential loss. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One...
Aug 12, 2025•18 min
DAT’s acquisition of Convoy’s tech platform marks a major leap in freight innovation—pairing the largest load board with cutting-edge automation. Bill Driegert, EVP at DAT and co-founder of Uber Freight, explains how the platform streamlines carrier procurement, automates up to 98% of loads, and slashes brokerage costs. With DAT’s full ecosystem—load board, factoring, tracking, and now digital freight matching—the future of freight is faster, smarter, and more efficient. Connect with Bill Driege...
Aug 08, 2025•52 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚛 Customer keeps asking for quotes but never books — what to do? 📈 How to find new shippers and grow beyond one customer. 🚨 Carrier holding freight hostage — who do you report it to? Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-freig...
Aug 05, 2025•21 min
How can freight brokerages stay profitable in the toughest market in modern history? In this episode, we break down real strategies—like cross-training staff and maintaining a growth mindset—that help companies survive downturns and stay competitive when margins shrink. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-fre...
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 💰 Walmart Bid : New broker asks if bidding 94.75% of Walmart’s RPM is a smart strategy. 🤬 Broker Backlash : Trucker calls brokers “legal scammers” and slams their role in the industry. 🎁 Gifts & Content : Best/worst customer gifts and best/worst social media posts for leads Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first ...
Jul 29, 2025•20 min
AI isn’t the future—it’s already transforming freight. In this episode, we chat with Thilo from Levity AI about how tools like ChatGPT and Levity are automating quoting, tracking, and sales insights to boost broker productivity and eliminate soul-crushing tasks. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-freight360!...
Jul 25, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: Broker vs Dispatcher: We break down the differences between a freight broker and a dispatcher, and whether one person can legally and effectively perform both roles. Fraudulent Carrier Scenario: A listener shares a case where a broker paid a fraudulent carrier and now refuses to pay the real trucking companies who actually moved the freight. We discuss legal and ethical options to resolve the situation. Insurance ...
Jul 22, 2025•17 min
Today’s freight thieves are no longer just hijackers—they're hackers, posing as carriers by infiltrating email accounts and exploiting weak verification processes. In this episode, we break down a real theft case where criminals redirected a shipment using a hacked carrier profile, exposing the failure of standard vetting methods. We reveal how these theft rings operate like corporations, and why software alone isn’t enough to stop them. Learn practical, low-cost strategies—like enhanced FMCSA c...
Jul 18, 2025•59 min
In this episode, Ben Kowalski and Mike Fullam break down current freight market challenges, including tariffs and shifting consumer habits. They also discuss the new version of QuiksSkope, a tool designed to combat freight fraud and improve accountability in the transportation industry. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use ...
Jul 11, 2025•55 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: Expedite freight for aerospace industry Flat rates vs. CWT – how to switch Quoting linehaul-only rates without fuel Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-freight360! to get AscendTMS FREE FOR 90 DAYS! Recommended Products: Click ...
Jul 08, 2025•20 min
Why do 95% of new sales reps wash out in their first year? This episode uncovers the mindset shifts, psychological hurdles, and authentic communication strategies that separate top freight brokers from those who struggle. Whether you're building a sales team or trying to thrive in the industry yourself, you'll get actionable insights to transform your results and boost retention. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 1...
Jul 03, 2025•57 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: "What insurance coverage does a freight broker actually need—Contingent Cargo, General Liability, or both?" "Two friends had loads stolen due to email hacks—how can brokers prevent this type of fraud?" "Should brokers call a driver before booking, or is email confirmation enough?" Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first ...
Jul 01, 2025•16 min
We’re celebrating 300 episodes by sharing the most valuable lessons we’ve learned in building a successful freight brokerage. From finding your niche and qualifying leads to building strong carrier relationships and tracking profit—not just revenue—this episode is packed with time-tested strategies. Whether you're new or seasoned, these fundamentals will help you grow smarter and stronger in any market. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight...
Jun 27, 2025•55 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 📦 Recommended freight broker software tools to manage rate confirmations, BOLs, PODs, and invoices. 🚚 Strategies for pricing and moving LTL (Less-than-Truckload) shipments. 🥔 What to do when shippers underpay: Can brokers ask for more money without damaging relationships? Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! ...
Jun 24, 2025•21 min
Military logistics is one of the most complex and overlooked areas in transportation. In this episode, we break down how moving freight for the Department of Defense really works—from navigating organizations like SDDC, to managing tight timelines, limited carrier capacity, and high-stakes coordination. You'll also hear firsthand stories and relationship-building tips that can help brokers succeed in this specialized niche. Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: C...
Jun 20, 2025•53 min
Stephen Ruhe & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 🚆 Export & Domestic Rail Freight - How can brokers source both export and domestic rail freight? 🍁 Moving Hay from Canada to the U.S. - If you’re brokering freight like hay from Canada to the U.S., can you handle customs clearance yourself—or do you need to involve a customs broker or freight forwarder? ❌ Carrier Cancels After Booking – Now What? - What happens when a carrier books a load and then cancels ...
Jun 17, 2025•16 min
Benjamin and Stephen dive into how technology is changing freight brokerage in this episode of Freight 360: Using TMS and automation to boost efficiency Helping small brokerages adopt and improve tech Avoiding the hype and making sure systems actually work Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here AscendTMS: Click Here Use promo code RA-freight360! to ge...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Stephen Ruhe & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: ✅ Insurance and surety bond requirements for starting a freight brokerage in Florida 📦 How brokers find loads and the role of load boards vs. direct shippers 🚫 Handling the "we only work with asset-based carriers" objection Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - Brokers & Carriers: Click Here Asc...
Jun 10, 2025•23 min
🎧 This Freight 360 episode explores winning brokerage strategies, industry risks, and economic shifts. -Securing more freight through strong communication and customer value -FMCSA identity verification changes and rising fraud concerns -Tariffs, safety budget cuts, and their economic impact -Tech, AI, and personal productivity tips for brokers Support Our Sponsors: QuikSkope - Get a Free Trial: Click Here Levity: Click Here DAT Freight & Analytics - Get 10% off your first year! DAT One - B...
Jun 06, 2025•54 min
Nate Cross & Ben Kowalski answer your freight brokering questions and discuss: 📦 Are load boards enough? — Can brokers actually find spot market loads directly on load boards, or do they first need to secure customers independently and then post the freight? 📞 Cold call math — Out of 80 outbound calls, how many typically answer on the first try? And how many return the call later? 🔁 From sales to ops — Has anyone successfully transitioned from a pure sales role into an Account Management ...
Jun 03, 2025•21 min
