Driving Forward Podcast

On this July 17 episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson sits down with one of LTL’s original tech pioneers: Lance Healy, Co-Founder & CEO of Freight Facts and the mind behind some of the most transformative innovations in freight.From launching Banyan Technology in the early 2000s (pioneering API connections to LTL carriers) to holding a U.S. patent on LTL dynamic pricing, Lance has spent his career pushing the industry forwar...

Join Nate Johnson and Robert Bain (aka the strongest man in logistics) for a special Driving Forward broadcast straight from the heart of the Truckers Jamboree at Iowa 80 in Walcott, IA.This isn’t your average podcast, we’re going live from the FR8MVMT booth, surrounded by chrome, diesel, and some of the hardest-working people in America.Tune in as we talk:

• What makes the Truckers Jamboree a must-see

• The sights, sounds, ...

Rates aren’t going up. Costs are. That means your tech strategy can’t wait.In this episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson, Robert Bain, Jennie Malafarina (Virago Marketing), and Lexi Farris (Upwell) break down how freight leaders are responding and why those who delay tech adoption are falling behind.We cover:👉 Culture change vs. tech adoption👉 How to do more with less (without burning out your team)👉 AI hype vs. real ROI👉 Wh...

She’s back! With a new role and the same bold energy. June 19th, we’re joined on Driving Forward by Grace Sharkey, now stepping into her new role as Sr Manager of Communications & PR at Orderful. From journalism to SiriusXM to shaking up supply chain tech, Grace talks career pivots, storytelling in freight, and what’s next for one of logistics' most recognizable voices. And yes, Nate Johnson is back in the host seat after a...

In this follow-up episode with James "Artie" Crawford and Benjamin Wilkens of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA), we continue the conversation with a sharper focus on real-world responses and actionable strategies that are shaping the industry's defense. After uncovering the scope of the threat in Part 1 (Billions lost to fraud, identity theft, and hijacked freight), we’re back for a deeper l...

Cargo theft and cybersecurity breaches are no longer isolated incidents—they’re a growing epidemic in freight.Join us LIVE for a high-stakes episode of Driving Forward with guest experts James "Artie" Crawford and Benjamin Wilkens from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA).Hosted by GLCS's Robert Bain (Strongest Man in Logistics), this episode pulls back the curtain on the evolving threats facin...

GLCS’ Robert Bain, aka The Strongest Man in Logistics, grabs the mic for this week’s Driving Forward while Nate Johnson takes a short break. Joining him is Jennifer Karpus-Romain, Executive Director of the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA), the only nonprofit dedicated to helping sales and marketing pros in transportation thrive. TMSA isn’t just active, it’s historic: celebrating 100 years in 2024, it’s one of...

Sharm Chelliah, Sales Director at Greenscreens.ai, is flipping the script and stepping into the interviewer’s chair—putting Nate Johnson, host of Driving Forward, on the receiving end of the questions. With 15+ years in tech, data, and logistics, Sharm brings a unique lens shaped by roles at MicroStrategy, Flexport, and Project44. He’s helped giants like Coca-Cola and Home Depot make smarter decisions with data—and worked hands-on ...

Pamela Polyak was born into trucking. But she didn’t inherit her leadership. She earned it. In this raw, revealing episode of Driving Forward, we sit down with the third-generation CEO of Polyak Trucking to unpack what it really takes to lead in one of the toughest industries on the planet. From growing up in the family business to building her own freight empire, Pamela shares the moments that defined her, from earning respect in ...

Julie Andrich didn’t set out to become a CEO but nearly three decades after starting as a dispatch assistant at her family’s trucking company, she’s leading Autumn Transport with grit, grace, and a deep commitment to the values that built it.Join us LIVE on Driving Forward as host Nate Johnson talks with Julie to talk about growing a freight business through integrity, service, leadership, and family—and what it really looks like w...

We’re going LIVE from the Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis with a Driving Forward episode focused on one of the most urgent issues in logistics today: freight fraud.Join hosts Nate Johnson and Robert Bain for a timely conversation with industry leaders spearheading efforts to protect the freight ecosystem.🎙️ Featured Guests:• Ken Riddle, Director, FMCSA• Dale Prax, CEO, FreightValidate• Danielle Spinelli, Descartes Systems Gr...

In this episode of the Driving Forward Podcast, Nate sits down with John Leach, CEO of FLS Transportation Services, a $600M logistics powerhouse that’s quietly become one of the top 3PLs in North America. John’s journey didn’t start in freight. He spent years leading in telecom, then helped build the commercial machine at Coyote Logistics before stepping in to lead FLS. That diverse background shaped the way he runs a freight compa...

Logistics is louder, messier, and more demanding than ever. Customers want answers now. Operations are overloaded. And too many companies are still relying on outdated tech to chase problems that are already costing them money, time, and trust. That’s where Glympse comes in. And it’s why everyone’s watching. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Ruff, a CEO who’s built and scaled tech that doesn’t just look good on paper, it perf...

Adam Wingfield — Founder & Managing Director of Innovative Logistics Group — is on a mission to empower small fleet operators across the country.In the April 10th episode of Driving Forward, Adam and Nate discuss what it really takes to succeed in today’s freight market and how Adam’s new collaboration with FreightWaves is helping small carriers gain the tools, insights, and data they need through The Playbook.We explore why sm...

What does it take to grow a family-run logistics company into a $100M industry leader? Kristy Knichel did just that—and she’s just getting started.In this episode of Driving Forward, host Nate Johnson sits down with Kristy to talk about her rise as President and majority owner of Knichel Logistics, the bold moves behind their explosive growth, and how she's breaking barriers as a woman in freight.You'll hear:

• How Kristy ...

We’re BACK at the Mid-America Trucking Show for another Driving Forward live broadcast — straight from MATS Booth #38601 on March 27th at 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT! Join hosts Nate Johnson and Robert Bain “The Strongest Man in Logistics” as they go live for the second straight year from the floor of MATS, bringing you real-time insights, laughs, and the latest in freight and logistics. We’re also excited to welcome special guests thr...

Step inside two big industry events - the TMC Annual Meeting and the TCA Annual Convention - as we break down the key takeaways, game-changing innovations, and powerful conversations that took center stage.Host Nate Johnson sits down with Susan Mayo, Zach Barnhouse, and Robert Bain from GLCS to discuss the biggest themes shaping trucking today. From cutting-edge fleet maintenance and technology at TMC to high-level strategies impac...

It’s only March 2025, but the trucking and logistics industry is already shifting fast. Did the experts predict these changes or were they way off? In this eye-opening episode of Driving Forward, originally ran in early January, host Nate Johnson sat down with Grace Sharkey, Matthew Leffler, Chadd Olesen, and Robert Bain - a powerhouse panel of industry visionaries - to forecast the biggest trends shaping logistics this year. They ...

US Trucking isn’t just an industry, it’s a foundational part of America. Yet every day, new tariffs, tighter regulations, and shifting economic pressures are making it harder for carriers and drivers to keep moving forward. Policies crafted by people who’ve never sat behind the wheel are reshaping the industry, and the consequences are real: higher costs, shrinking margins, and an uphill battle to bring in the next generation of dr...