WHAT THE TRUCK?!? - podcast cover

WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Dooner, FreightWaveswww.freightwaves.com
WHAT THE TRUCK?!? is FreightWaves' irreverent award-winning podcast breaking down the biggest stories in transportation and logistics. WTT?!? is all about the people that make freight move. On the show you'll hear from founders, CEOs, VCs, truckers, brokers, and influencers. Join Dooner and the industry three times a week on FreightWavesTV and podcast players everywhere.
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Episodes

DOT Secretary Duffy: Nationwide non-domiciled CDL audit; ELP enforcement

On episode 855 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Duffy is here to announce a new pro-trucker package and nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs. The pro trucker package addresses parking, bad brokers, removes speed limiters and more. We’ll learn how Secretary Duffy plans to Make Trucking Great Again. Cleo’s Frank Kenny stops by to talk about the trade deal deadline. With China saying they have framework for a new deal and a July 9th deadline rapid...

Jun 27, 202545 min

Craig Fuller: ELP enforcement, trade wars, real wars, and freight feuds

On episode 854 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by FreightWaves’ CEO and Founder, Craig Fuller. English language proficiency enforcement begins today. How will it impact carriers, shippers, brokers, and the truckload market? Fuller breaks it down. We’ll also explore: -The freight market in the first half of 2025 -Global turmoil and its effects on supply chains -Key market trends and insights from SONAR’s Trade War Command Center -Freight industry feuds -Updates on the Motion Museum, this ye...

Jun 25, 202546 min

Will diesel prices go nuclear; electric vehicle ship fires; ENS sign awareness

On episode 853 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner discusses with FreightWaves’ oil expert, John Kingston, the impact of fuel costs following the U.S. bombing of Iran. With saber-rattling around the Strait of Hormuz and a potential prolonged war with Iran, could diesel prices skyrocket? The recent fire aboard the Morning Midas has OEC Group raising concerns about the risks of shipping cargo on vessels carrying electric vehicles. OEC Group’s Joe Klobus explains how to protect your ocean freight. If your ...

Jun 23, 202546 min

Jett McCandless: Launching Movement; advising The White House; and clapping back

On episode 852 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner talks with project44 founder and CEO Jett McCandless about their new decision intelligence platform, Movement. Movement represents a fundamental shift in supply chain management philosophy, moving “beyond mere ‘features’ or ‘visibility’ to focus on execution, outcomes, and transformation,” said project44 CEO Jett McCandless. We’ll explore how it works, why it’s a game-changer, and why it has project44’s competitors on edge. McCandless and the project44 ...

Jun 20, 202545 min

Fatal accident: Lawyers break down the case of Roth v. NFL and Gursimran Singh

On episode 851 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner talks to lawyers about a fatal truck accident case. Today, they’ll examine Roth v. NFL and Gursimran Singh. Attorneys Kevin Etzkorn and Nathan A. Steimel break down the timeline of events that led to Gursimran Singh crashing into a stalled car, killing its driver. They’ll explain why they argued Singh was untrained, unqualified, and unsafe. The latest freight theft victim? Nintendo. Thieves stole $1.4 million worth of Switch 2 consoles from a truck at a...

Jun 18, 202546 min

Recent busts expose shady CDL industry; GenLogs eye on the highway

On episode 850 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner discusses a recent series of busts revealing the shady underbelly of the CDL industry. Danielle Chaffin joins to break down CDL scams in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Florida, exploring their connection to the rise in fatal semi-truck crashes and rampant freight theft. Following several major accidents involving Amazon Relay-hired trucks, Chaffin dives into data on the carriers operating within Amazon’s network. GenLogs’ Ryan Joyce discusses their cameras ...

Jun 16, 202546 min

Carrier411’s Darren Brewer: Mexico broker IPs banned; how to avoid getting FreightGuarded

On episode 849 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner celebrates Friday the 13th with Carrier411’s Darren Brewer. Some consider him the Jason Voorhees of freight, but is he really the boogeyman? Brewer discusses the latest change to their platform, targeting brokers accessing the site from foreign IP addresses. We’ll find out what measures they’re taking to combat fraud and bad actors. We’ll also explore how FreightGuards work, how to avoid being FreightGuarded, what to do if you are, and examine the broke...

Jun 13, 202545 min

John Konrad: US-China trade deal; containerized drones; Greta gets deported

On episode 848 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by gCaptain’s John Konrad to talk about global turmoil in maritime. First, they’re looking at the US-China trade deal that President Trump just announced. What does it mean for relations between the two superpowers, and how will it impact freight? Operation Spiderweb has drone warfare at top of mind, but it’s also something John Konrad has been warning about for years. Konrad explains why the US needs drone carriers now. They’ll also look at G...

Jun 11, 202545 min

Autonomous vehicles enter the protest; UNFI cyberattack; tracking freight theft

On Episode 847 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about a cyberattack that currently has truckers stuck at United Natural Foods (UNFI), one of America’s largest food distributors. How much will it hurt the food supply chain? Autonomous Waymos are being exploited in Los Angeles by protesters who summon them then set them on fire. We’ll look at whether autonomous trucks will be exploitable in the future. According to CargoNet, freight thefts were up 27% from 2023 to 2024. Tive’s Richie Daigle...

Jun 09, 202546 min

Trump v Elon; Switch 2 review; CA trucking & tariff impacts; Truckstop shake-up

On Episode 846 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about the news that broke that internet: the Trump versus Elon feud. Musk now says Trump’s tariffs will cause a recession this year. What does the falling out mean for freight? We’ll take a look. With over 30% of truckers identifying as gamers, is the Switch 2 their new lifeline from boredom during layovers? Is it good for the kids, the dads and the Chads? Dooner has his sons help him review Nintendo’s latest console release. Big news out of...

Jun 06, 202546 min

AI workforce is here; Trojan trucks; Canadian trucking; ICE eyes freight

On Episode 845 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Pallet CEO and founder Sushanth Raman about the company’s recent $27 million series B funding round. We’ll find out the latest on AI workforces for 3PLs, what problems it may solve and whether broker jobs are at risk. We head north of the border with Left Lane Associates Mike “Ace” McCarron to find out the good, bad and ugly of Canadian trucking. We’ll learn about U.S.-Canada tensions, tariff impacts on cross-border, crime in Canadian tru...

Jun 04, 202546 min

Blitz week breakdown: top violations; authority approvals down 50%; tariffs?

On episode 844 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with SearchCarrier’s Garrett Allen. His new site allows you to easily look up any carrier and see how often it’s been put out of service, inspected and more. We’re also diving into his blitz week dashboard to break down this year’s top violations. Konexial’s Jerry D’Addesi on the latest in AI load matching, double broker prevention and edge computing. Is the FMCSA starting to take freight fraud more seriously? After FMCSA’s identity verif...

May 30, 202546 min

100 deadliest days of summer; do truckers know their pay?; carrier bankruptcy

On Episode 843 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is joined by Justin Martin to break down the headlines regarding FMCSA’s proposed rule changes; a carrier bankruptcy; and a look at the truckload market. A recent TikTok series revealed many drivers don’t know their pay. Martin breaks down the videos and answers the question: How well do drivers know their numbers? We’ll also find out how being a Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy “reply guy” can help shape policy, and we’ll take a look at some of the...

May 28, 202546 min

Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act; escaping Yellowknife; theft victim speaks

On Episode 842 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is looking at a scorching hot freight market in Savannah, Georgia. The port is seeing record container volumes, and the market is very tight with outbound tender rejects over 23%. The Secure Roads & Safe Trucking Act just passed in Oklahoma. American Truckers United’s Shannon Everett talks about how the bill will take unsafe drivers off the roads. We’ll also learn what else needs to be done, and we’ll get his reaction to Transportation Secretary Se...

May 23, 202546 min

Short sea shipping; Duffy signs English language EO; fraud as a business model

On Episode 841 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is coming to you live from FreightWaves’ Domestic Supply Chain Summit. We’re kicking things off with coverage from Austin, Texas, where DOT Secretary Sean Duffy officially signed the English language proficiency executive order. We’ll find out why both truckers and trucking associations cheered this critical move toward road safety. Can you say “short sea shipping” five times fast? OpenTug CEO and co-founder Jason Aristides barges right in and gives us...

May 21, 202546 min

Freight thefts slam SoCal shippers; retail and consumers left holding tariff bag | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

On Episode 840 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about yet another freight theft in Southern California. The thieves spoofed a bill of lading and made off with a shipper’s freight. Travelers’ Scott Cornell stops by to talk about the rise of strategic theft and why your cargo may be at risk. President Donald Trump told Walmart to “eat the tariffs,” but is that a realistic ask? With steep 30% tariffs across a lot of Walmart and many other retailers’ items, they’re saying cost increases are u...

May 19, 202546 min

SONAR’s Trade War Command Center; Nikola & CARB: Who killed the hydrogen truck?

On episode 839 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with SONAR’s Will Hopping to learn all about their new Trade War Command Center, which tracks freight trends, rates and disruptions in real time. Nikola and CARB, who killed the hydrogen truck? William Hall took the plunge and bought a Nikola. Now that the company is bankrupt, have he and other owner-operators been left holding the bag? He shares his experience and updates us on his ownership experience. OOIDA is celebrating its annual Tr...

May 16, 202546 min

Driver charged in fatal Mother’s Day crash; from trucker to AI dispatch founder

On Episode 838 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner has an update on the Mother’s Day crash that claimed two lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Amazon driver, Joseph Antoinier, has been charged and the victims have been identified. Now the victims are trying to pick up the pieces after losing a beloved father. Visit the crash victims’ GoFundMe. Bradley Little went from CDL driver to AI dispatch founder. We’ll find out how the freight recession almost knocked him down for the count and how he plans to ...

May 14, 202546 min

Is US-China trade deal bullish for freight; FreightGuard: Fair or foul

On Episode 837 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is coming back from Mother’s Day with news on a U.S.-China trade deal. With the U.S. dropping tariffs from 145% to 30%, will it save the summer freight market? We’ll find out why freight leaders are bullish. Vincent Carrano at Fenichey LLC shares why he recently FreightGuarded a carrier over an incident where the carrier backdoored the company by talking directly to the shipper. We’ll find out if the FreightGuard was fair or foul. With over 60% of smal...

May 12, 202545 min

Meet the fleets shaping the future generation; driver on visa charged; SHIPS Act

On Episode 836 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Next Generation in Trucking’s Lindsey Trent about the company’s Career Catalyst award, which honors the fleets shaping our nation’s future drivers. This recognition highlights fleets — both for-hire and private — that are creating meaningful career paths for young truck drivers, diesel technicians, warehouse associates and more. Can we bring big ship building back to the USA? With all this trade war talk, Dredging Contractors of America’s...

May 09, 202546 min

DHL Express ships endangered antelopes to Kenya; freight fraud; fixing backhauls

On episode 835 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to DHL Express about shipping endangered bongo antelopes to Kenya. The bongos were transported in custom-built crates, alongside 6 tonnes of pellet feed and 3 specialist animal care staff including a veterinarian and 2 bongo specialists from the US. DHL’s Jimmy Eades tell us all about this unique shipment. Are you savvy enough to spot freight fraud? Truckstop’s Taryn Daker shares their latest freight fraud data and shares tips on prevention. ...

May 07, 202546 min

Ask Aaron Rubin anything about tariffs: De minimis; toys; bonded warehouses

On episode 834 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is hosting an Ask Me Anything with ShipHero’s Aaron Rubin all about tariffs. They’re getting into questions about: -Tariff fraud -Bonded warehouses -TikTok knockoffs - Death of de minimis - Toys and consoles are already passing on costs to consumers, will your daughter only get 2 dolls for Christmas? - Movie tariffs and much more Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on dema...

May 05, 202546 min

Convoy Platform: Zero thefts over last 380,000 loads; tariffs vs. fasteners

On Episode 833 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Flexport’s Bill Driegert about resurrecting Convoy Platform. The company has just announced that it has had zero loads stolen over its past 380,000 shipments. Across the industry, cargo thefts were up 27% year over year, and the average value of theft ballooned to $202,364. We’ll find out how Flexport has managed to beat the bad guys. Can fasteners hang in there against tariffs? Field Fastener’s John Oldham Jr. stops by to talk about how ...

May 02, 202546 min

Trucking leaders applaud Trump executive order requiring truckers speak English

On Episode 832 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is sharing the trucking industry’s reaction to Trump’s executive order requiring truck drivers to speak and understand English. The order rescinds a 2016 FMCSA memo that effectively eliminated roadside enforcement of English proficiency. Adil Ashiq is a former U.S. Merchant Marine captain-turned-supply chain and maritime industry nerd. We’ll find out how to navigate tumultuous trade waters. We’ll look at maritime employment and the Jones Act. CloneOps’...

Apr 30, 202546 min

‘Sweatystartup’ Nick Huber on his new book ‘How To Get Rich Doing Boring Things’

On Episode 831 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to ‘Sweatystartup’ Nick Huber about his new book, ‘How To Get Rich Doing Boring Things.’ Huber started his first business, Storage Squad, in 2011 and grew it to 25 major college towns before he sold the business in 2021 for $1.7 million. He also became one of the originators of B2B rage bait on social media. We’ll find out the logistics of building boring businesses, leveraging controversy to generate cash and what Huber’s ventures may tell ...

Apr 28, 202546 min

AI for duty drawback: Get back 99% of what you pay in tariffs; Walmart’s drones

On Episode 830 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is back from Chicago, where he got to see that state of freight on the world’s most powerful visibility platform: project44. With ocean booking cancellations up bigly on the East and West coasts, when will trucking feel the pain? Did you know that if you export or destroy goods that you’ve paid tariffs on, you can claim 99% of your duties back? We’ll meet Caspian CEO and co-founder Justin Sherlock to talk about his AI-driven duty drawback program. Dron...

Apr 25, 202546 min

Trucker creates own prosthetic arm; distracted driving; tariff and trade fraud

On Episode 829 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to one of the most amazing owner-operators on the road: Roger Machback. Machback lost his arm in a boating accident but didn’t let that keep him out of the cab. Instead, he designed his own prosthetic arm so he could keep on trucking. Now, he says, regulations need to change regarding amputee drivers. We’ll find out why. Grace Sharkey is sounding the alarm about the latest trending form of freight fraud: trade fraud. With shippers scrambling...

Apr 21, 202546 min

AI for tariffs; world’s first autonomous road-to-rail solution; Mack layoffs

On episode 828 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is celebrating Good Friday by talking with Gaia Dynamics co-founder and CEO Emil Stefanutti to talk about a tool that couldn’t have come at a better time. With tariff turmoil causing shippers and customs brokers to scramble, Gaia has launched an AI solution for tariffs and product classifications. We’ll find out how it works and how it can save you money in a high-tariff environment. Glid is building the industry’s first autonomous road-to-rail solution...

Apr 18, 202546 min

Port of Huntsville on the power of inland ports; navigating a trade war

On Episode 827 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking about the shockwaves that have been reverberating throughout the trade community due to the trade war. The Maritime Professor Lauren Beagan drops in to talk about the massive collapse in container bookings that has happened over the past month. How soon will we feel the pain in volumes on the trucking side? Beagan also breaks down recent maritime policy regarding new port fees as well as the Panama and Suez canals. Port of Huntsville CEO But...

Apr 16, 202546 min

Arkansas passes new bill fining truckers who can’t speak English … is it enough?

On Episode 826 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is joined by OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh to talk about a new bill in Arkansas fining truckers who cannot speak English sufficiently. Will it be enough to keep our roads safe or should noncompliant drivers be put out of service? The trade war is a constantly evolving situation causing some industries to freeze in their tracks. Vinturas’ Alexander Style stops by to talk about how tariffs are impacting his clients in the OEM, automotive and trucking space. Shipper...

Apr 14, 202546 min
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