The Gig Academy

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Openforce is raising awareness in partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a non-profit organization that is raising up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking, to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.   

In this powerful episode, host Ni...

Join in on a lively roundtable discussion featuring Openforce executives Wendy Greenland, CEO; Natalie Putnam, CRO; and Doug Grawe, General Counsel.  

Host Nick Hancock interviews Wendy, Natalie, and Doug to learn more about current transportation industry trends and how they will potentially affect businesses engaging with independent contractors in 2023.  

And to our listeners near and far, have a wonderful holiday season!

A couple of months ago, we had a highly anticipated conversation with Openforce Chief Revenue Officer Natalie Putnam, where we learned about the leverage of transportation companies in negotiating payment terms with retail customers.  

As a follow-up to that conversation, our host, Nick Hancock, learns how transportation businesses can utilize OTR Solutions’ Cash Float program, a benefit exclusively offered to Openforce clients.  

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The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its proposed rule that updates its definition of an independent contractor (IC) under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This proposed rule proves what we already knew to be true: the DOL strongly favors finding a worker is an employee vs. an IC, making adhering to compliance with IC status rules more critical now than ever.          

In this brief but information-packed podcast, our host, ...

Cash flow in any business is important, but especially in trucking and transportation businesses that are responsible for paying drivers weekly, or even daily. 90-day, 60-day, or even 30-day payment terms from retail clients can force small businesses to struggle with cash flow or worse yet, shut down entirely.  

However, businesses offering transportation services have a lot of leverage. Pinpointing the value you provide to your r...

Although AB5 was signed into law in 2019, it resurfaced again when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take the California Trucking Association’s challenge to California’s AB5 independent contractor status test. Which means AB5 still stands, even in transportation.    

This is not ideal for drivers who want to be independent and for companies that like the service they receive from independent contractors.   

However, this is not th...

The impacts of the gig economy are impossible to ignore. 68 million people were, at least for one shift, self-employed in 2021. Economists predict that the majority of the workforce will be independent contractors by 2027.  

This means the insurance industry must evolve with the new American dream to protect everyone's best interests. At the forefront of this movement is Matthew Bagley, Vice President of Crum & Forster's Accident &...

Non-compete agreements. Non-solicitation agreements. Inventions. And confidentiality.  

As a company that relies on independent contractor workers, are there any implications in requiring these legal agreements?  

Or, as an IC or gig worker, are you required to sign these agreements if it hinders your independence?     

Our host, Nick Hancock, breaks it down for us in his interview with Kristen Johnson, Esq., managing partner of th...

Selecting the best health insurance coverage is difficult for anyone, especially for independent contractors who are usually too busy on the road to do extensive research and price comparison. That’s why Openforce partnered with The Insurance Desk, a team of licensed health coverage consultants who help inform ICs of the options available to them in a direct, no-nonsense approach.     

In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews ...

There has never been a greater demand for delivery and courier drivers. Although capacity is overwhelming, it’s also presenting an incredible opportunity for both ICs who are looking to grow their small businesses, and for established transportation companies looking to engage with more ICs to keep up with increasing capacity and to expand into new verticals.    

In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews delivery and courier se...

Tax season is upon us which means many people are scrambling to find a tax preparation resource who understands the nuances of 1099 workers in the transportation industry. Or, they’re struggling to get organized. Or worse – they're sticking their heads in the sand and avoiding taxes altogether. 

That’s why Equinox Owner-Operator Solutions is here to help you! They understand trucking, transportation, and logistics. The Equinox team...

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Openforce is proud to announce its recent partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking, a non-profit organization that is raising up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking, to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.   

In this harrowing episode, host...

This impactful episode features a can’t-miss discussion with Rob Slack, Industry Relations Executive at Openforce, and Doug Grawe, the newly appointed General Counsel at Openforce. Rob’s article titled “5 Transportation Industry Projections to Watch in 2022” was recently featured in the CLDA fall magazine, so we wanted to keep the discussion going while the article is hot off the press!   

In this year-end episode, host Nick Hancoc...

James Eberhard is the CEO and Founder of Fluid Truck, a Denver-based tech company transforming the vehicle rental experience. Fluid Truck leverages innovative technology to offer easy, efficient, sustainable truck sharing for businesses and individuals. Under James’ leadership, it has accelerated into the fastest growing technology company in Colorado. 

In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews James to discuss how his unique i...

Spencer Tenney is President and CEO of the Tenney Group, an industry specialized merger and acquisition advisory firm that has been dedicated to transportation since 1973. Tenney Group’s core business is sell-side representation services for trucking and logistics companies with annual revenues ranging from 20M to 300M. 

In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews Spencer to discuss the unprecedented amount of M&A activity in the...

Mike Giaccone is the CEO of Assemblers Inc.–a rapidly growing, nationally recognized company with retailer partnerships across the United States. Hear how Mike, who began his career with retail giants such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s, saw the need for expanding customer service by offering delivery AND assembly. And so, Assemblers Inc. was founded in 1998.   

As a game-changer in the industry, Assemblers, Inc. now sets the standar...

“Taking the smallest step is better than not taking a step at all.”

Almaurice Russ is the owner and CEO of Bon Voyage Enterprises, a family-owned company that provides delivery services in Maplewood, NJ, serving the tri-state area.

In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews the incredibly inspiring Almaurice on the steps he took, as well as the challenges he faced in his entrepreneurial journey.

If you’re listening and you’re in...

Driver shortages have been an issue for the past several years, but especially since the pandemic.

In this episode, Jennifer Dube, Director of Vendor Services at SDS Rx, and Brad Crank, Director of Operations at Crossroads Courier, discuss the current challenges surrounding driver recruiting and retainment in the transportation and logistics industry. Hear how they’ve gotten creative with recruiting tactics and advertising, and how...

Compliance and insurance are often complex and confusing processes for the transportation industry. Is your business is in the best position to navigate them with minimal risk?  

In this episode, Bryan Paulozzi, CIC, Vice President at Risk Strategies, and Rob Slack, Industry Relations Executive at Openforce, discuss the current challenges surrounding compliance and insurance in the transportation and logistics industry. They addres...