Mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the logistics tech landscape. In this episode of Freight Friends, Blythe and Grace Sharkey unpack what recent deals mean for the industry, how SEO strategies are shifting under AI pressure, and what freight markets could look like in the coming months. They also explore the ripple effects for carriers, shippers, and the tech companies caught in the middle.

Key takeaways:

• Tech consolidation is reshaping how freight companies compete and collaborate.
• SEO strategies in logistics are changing fast with AI and shifting consumer behavior.
• Carriers and shippers are feeling the pressure of an uncertain second half of 2025.
• Market moves today will set the tone for 2026 freight demand and technology adoption.

LINKS:

• Grace’s Linktree
• FreightGames.io
• "Flexport Tycoon"
• LinkedIn post on Instagram SEO
• Cloudflare fighting against the LLM bots

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

This solo episode of Everything is Logistics pulls back the curtain on CargoRex’s new Associations directory—why we built it, who it serves, and how to use it to find the right freight, logistics, and supply chain associations for your goals.

You’ll hear the product decisions behind the category (taxonomy, search, and selection criteria), the problems it solves for busy operators, and a simple workflow to turn a membership into a pipeline. Plus, how you can suggest an association, claim your listing, and what’s coming next in the CargoRex roadmap.

Key takeaways:

• The problem: association info is scattered, outdated, and hard to compare.
• The build: a clean index of freight/logistics associations with filters that match how pros evaluate membership.
• The win: faster discovery, better fit, clearer ROI on dues and time.
• How to use it: shortlist, compare perks, plan engagement, measure results.
• What’s next: more categories, better search, and member playbooks.

“Membership only works if you work it. CargoRex helps you pick smarter and act faster.”

Try it: Head to CargoRex and open the Associations category to search, compare, and submit missing orgs.

LINKS:

• CargoRex Website
• CargoRex Associations
• Best Trade Associations for Logistics Professionals: Boost Your Network, Knowledge & Credibility

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Before we can build a base on the Moon, we need something even more important than astronauts: a supply chain. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, we're exploring the "New Silk Road in Space" with Joe Pawelski, CTO and co-founder of CisLunar Industries.

Joe breaks down how his company is developing the infrastructure to support in-space manufacturing, power systems, and debris recycling—all to make lunar logistics a reality. From turning orbital junk into usable fuel and metal to enabling sustainable lunar operations, this conversation connects the dots between space innovation and real-world logistics strategy.

We cover:

• How the Space Foundry and Power Processing Units (PPUs) enable space-based supply chains
• What it takes to build and power a Moon base
• Why orbital recycling is more than space cleanup—it’s a new source of fuel and materials
• The METAL framework and what it means for lunar logistics infrastructure
• What logistics pros on Earth can learn from solving supply chain challenges 240,000 miles away

Whether you move freight by truck, ship, or spacecraft—this episode delivers.

Listen in and imagine the future where cargo routes don’t stop at the atmosphere.

LINKS:

• Joe's LinkedIn
• CisLunar Industries LinkedIn
• CisLunar Industries Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

The logistics industry can often feel like a numbers game, but Linda Carrion is here to remind us it’s always been about the people, especially the drivers.

In this episode, Linda shares how she went from medical assistant to CEO of two freight companies, why her approach to leadership is grounded in empathy, and how local networks like the Propeller Club are changing the business landscape in Jacksonville.

Whether you’re building a freight business or just trying to hold on during a tough market, Linda’s story offers real talk and practical advice.

Key takeaways:

• The agent model gave Linda the safety net to grow her business without sacrificing independence.
• Building trust and transparency with drivers leads to better retention and long-term reliability.
• Intermodal operations are anything but cookie-cutter and require constant problem-solving.
• Local organizations like the Propeller Club play a critical role in fostering freight community connections.

LINKS:

• Linda's LinkedIn
• Carry-on Transportation Solutions Website
• JAXPORT Website
• TALON Jax Website
• Propeller Club - Port of Jacksonville Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Drones are doing a lot more than flying packages. They’re quietly transforming how warehouses operate behind the scenes.

In this episode of Freight Friends, Grace Sharkey and Blythe explore how drones are being used in logistics operations both inside and outside the warehouse, what the second half of 2025 might look like for freight, and the freight businesses and marketing tactics that have their attention. The episode wraps with a few source-to-porch stories that highlight what really moves this industry.

Key takeaways:

• Indoor drones are helping warehouses reduce injuries and boost productivity without major infrastructure changes
• The second half of 2025 may bring more rate instability and seasonal chaos, especially for Q4 retail
• Some of the most effective freight marketing right now is low-budget and high-authenticity
• Source-to-porch visibility is improving, but expectations and execution still pose challenges

LINKS:

• Grace's Linktree
• Grace's work at Orderful
• ImportYeti
• DexaDrone
• Gaetano DiNardi on SEO
• Triumph & Loadpay’s Mike Rowe commercial
• Screwworm in cows
• Mustard history
• The Dupe Economy: Why Today's Consumers Are Smarter Than Ever
• Inside the Shadowy, Lucrative Business of ‘Superfake’ Luxury Handbags

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

What happens when the company you helped grow suddenly shuts down? For Mia Mazel, it sparked the launch of a brand new one, Talento.

Recorded live at TMSA Elevate in Austin, this conversation with Mia explores her journey from grad student to logistics leader, how she navigated the closure of Sworkz, and how Talento is redefining nearshore staffing with a tech-first mindset. She shares how adversity turned into opportunity, why supply chain pricing teams are ripe for transformation, and how blending AI with human expertise creates smarter operations, not job replacements.

Key takeaways:

• Mia launched Talento just 72 hours after her former company shut down, retaining customers and building new processes on the fly.
• Talento provides talent management solutions and AI-powered tools for supply chain companies with a focus on operational simplicity.
• Nearshore teams can do far more than customer service, especially in pricing, sales, and data.
• Mia aims to act as a partner, not just a service provider, offering guidance even when clients aren’t sure where to start.
• Building brand trust means creating a business that can thrive without being dependent on one person.

LINKS:

• Mia's LinkedIn
• Talento Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

If you're still relying on check calls and spreadsheets to track freight, you're already behind.

In this episode, Chain’s EVP of Sales, Kevin Coomes, joins the show to break down how his team is building AI-powered tools that make life easier for freight brokers, from exception management to proactive customer communication. We also dig into the origin of Chain, how their Autopilot tool works inside your TMS, and why eliminating noise is the real key to broker productivity.

Key takeaways:

• Most freight brokers still rely on outdated, reactive methods like manual check calls.
• Chain uses AI to centralize communication and automate exception management directly inside the TMS.
• Autopilot is designed to work in the background, taking care of low-value tasks so brokers can focus on what matters.
• Visibility doesn’t just mean tracking freight—it means proactively alerting stakeholders before problems arise.
• The freight future is about cleaner data, less busywork, and platforms that help you grow.

LINKS:

• Kevin's LinkedIn
• Chain's Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

What if the final frontier isn’t as far away as it seems? In this episode, Kelli Kedis Ogborn, VP of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship at the Space Foundation, breaks down how space is no longer just about astronauts and satellites. It’s an economic engine already driving trillions in opportunity. From reusable rockets to orbital infrastructure and venture capital gaps, this conversation explores what it takes to do business beyond Earth.

Key takeaways:

• The global space economy is currently valued at $570B and expected to hit $772B by 2027
• 78% of the space economy is driven by commercial activity, not just government spending
• Satellites are enabling new markets in insurance, agriculture, and logistics through advanced data
• Infrastructure in space needs coordination and standards like refueling stations and docking protocols
• Venture capital alone won’t fund the future, so sovereign wealth and patient capital are key to scale

LINKS:

• Kelli's LinkedIn
• Space Foundation Website
• Kelli's Podcast/Webcast about Space Economy

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.