Driving Forward Podcast

Hosted by GLCS, INC.

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Episodes

177

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

Driving Forward is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest trucking trends and delivering innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. Driving Forward aims to be the go-to destination for carriers, brokers, trucking executives, fleet owners and professional drivers, seeking valuable insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies. The podcast promises a fresh and dynamic perspective on the ever-evolving landscape of transportation.

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60 recent

August 21, 20261 hr 2 min

Selling, Succeeding & Staying Independent: Doug Grawe of The Grawe Group

You know what your trucks, equipment, and customers are worth. But is the rest of your business ready for someone to look under the hood?Growth, profitability, legal exposure, technology, customer expectations, and changing regulations all compete for attention. The decisions made in one area often create consequences somewhere else in the business.This week on Driving Forward, Nate Johnson sits down with Doug Grawe, Owner & CEO of The Grawe Group and former General Counsel at Dart Transit — one of the nation's largest owner-operator fleets.Doug has spent two decades helping family-owned trucking companies navigate the legal decisions that make or break them, and he's opening up the playbook:🔷 How to get your company ready for a sale (and what kills deals in diligence)🔷How to bring the next generation into the family business without blowing it up🔷What the DOL's latest independent contractor rule changes mean for owner-operator programs🔷The contract clauses carriers should never sign blind🔷Why those dusty bylaws and operating agreements might be the most important papers in your buildingFor transportation owners and executives thinking about growth, transition, risk, or long-term business value, tune in for a look at how the decisions made today can shape what comes next.

July 31, 20261 hr 5 min

TMS Go-Live Without The Chaos: How Implementations Actually Succeed

Choosing a TMS is a major decision. But once the contract is signed, the real work begins.A TMS implementation can shape how your business operates for years. Go-live is a major milestone, but getting there without losing momentum, blowing the budget, or overwhelming the team takes more than a solid project plan.This week on Driving Forward, Nate Johnson leads a conversation about what it takes to implement and support an enterprise TMS with two people who have seen these projects from very different sides.Brandon Hodges, EVP at Mastery Logistics Systems, brings more than 20 years of experience helping companies navigate TMS implementations from the vendor side. Steve Harder, VP of Technology at Crane Worldwide Logistics, has spent 30 years managing the operational and technology realities that come after the contract is signed, including nearly two decades leading IT at DHL Supply Chain.They talk about phased rollouts versus big bang go-lives, the small wins that build momentum, why internal champions and executive support matter, and how to manage the integration web that can quickly turn a complex project into an even bigger one.If a TMS is on your roadmap in the next 12 months, this is the conversation to hear before timelines tighten, integrations multiply, and go-live gets real.

July 28, 20261 hr 24 min

Fleet-Saving Decisions: Leadership Insights from TCA 2026

What did the last 4 years in this market teach us that we can't afford to forget? Recorded at TCA Refrigerated, Nate Johnson sits down with several respected trucking leaders who have spent decades building successful fleets through good markets and bad. Randy Marten | CEO & Chairman of Marten Transport Pam Wiers | CFO of Dutch Maid Logistics Ken Johnson | Executive Chairman of Leonard's Express Ashley Kordish | CEO of Ralph Moyle, Inc. Luke Subler| President of Classic Carriers & Immediate Past Chairman of TCA Refrigerated Division The conversations are honest, practical, and shaped by experience. They discuss why protecting margins sometimes means saying no to freight, why knowing your costs has never been more important, how strong customer relationships outperform short-term pricing decisions, and why many fleets still have a long road ahead even as rates begin to improve. Whether you lead a fleet, manage operations, oversee finance, or make strategic decisions for a transportation company, this episode is a valuable perspective from leaders who have weathered decades of industry cycles and aren't afraid to share what worked, what didn't, and what comes next.

July 17, 20261 hr 2 min

Beyond the Load | Kyle Kottke: Leading Through Freight Market Changes

When the freight market gets interesting, experience matters. On this episode of Driving Forward, Nate Johnson is joined by Kyle Kottke, General Manager at Kottke Trucking, Inc., for a conversation on what it takes to lead through change in trucking. From navigating market volatility and payment pressure to protecting temperature-sensitive freight when conditions are anything but predictable, Kyle brings insight shaped by years in operations, negotiation, freight management, and financial strategy. We’ll talk about reliability when it counts, the difference between a carrier and a true partner, and the leadership lessons that come from building teams, serving drivers, and staying grounded when the industry keeps shifting. Tune in for a conversation grounded in real freight experience — from cold chain reliability and carrier partnerships to what it takes to lead through market volatility, protect shipper trust, and keep supply chains moving when conditions get complicated.

July 10, 20261 hr 1 min

Better Freight Decisions with Todd Waldron: AI, Trailers & the Future of Freight Operations

The freight market is improving. But better rates don’t solve old problems. After years of fighting through one of the toughest freight cycles, carriers and brokers are facing a different challenge: deciding how to grow without making the same mistakes. Todd Waldron joins Nate Johnson to discuss what they're hearing across the industry, why operational flexibility matters more than ever, where technology is creating real value, and how strong customer relationships continue to separate companies that react from those that prepare. The market may be changing, but sustainable growth still comes down to the same fundamentals. Whether you're leading a fleet, brokerage, logistics operation, or transportation technology company, this conversation offers insights on navigating the next stage of the freight market while building an operation that's prepared for whatever comes after.

July 6, 202654 min

AI, Learning & the Future of Training in Logistics | Dr. Gina Anderson

Technology only creates value when people know how to use it. Driving Forward revisits a conversation between Nate Johnson and Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO of Luma Brighter Learning and Learning Scientist. Long before AI became the center of every conversation, Dr. Gina Anderson was helping transportation companies rethink how people learn, adapt, and embrace change. As a learning scientist and CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, Gina believes the strongest organizations don't just train their people. They build cultures where learning becomes part of the job. With the upcoming launch of her new book, Powered by People: Building Culture That Outlasts the Founder, this conversation feels even more relevant today than when it was first recorded. As transportation continues to evolve, success depends on more than adopting new technology. It depends on helping people adapt alongside it. From AI and onboarding to safety culture, leadership, change management, and continuous learning, the conversation explores ideas that resonate across nearly every corner of a transportation organization.

June 26, 20261 hr 4 min

It Runs in the Family: Trucking, Legacy, and the Lessons That Last

Pam has earned Carrier of the Year honors and worked with over 3,000 customers. But what sets her apart is turning her hardest lessons into a roadmap for the next generation of operators. 🚛 She survived her first year of asset ownership during COVID and leads 6 businesses with a mission to teach others. Welcome back Pam Polyak — 3rd generation trucking owner, primary owner of Polyak Trucking, Logistics & Consulting, and a force in this industry for over 20 years. Pam joins host Nate Johnson for a conversation that every owner-operator and fleet owner needs to hear. Here's a glimpse of what they're getting into: 📋 Accountability & Continued Education for Owners 🤖 Use of AI in Small Businesses 👨‍👩‍👧 The Human Side of Running a Family-Owned Trucking Company This is an episode for our owner-operators and small fleet owners looking to run smarter, grow stronger, and scale with confidence. We’ll see you there!

June 22, 202655 min

Freight Market Shifts: What Logistics Leaders Need to Fix Now

The freight market is moving again, but that does not mean the pressure is gone. Rates are shifting. Capacity is tightening in some areas. Costs remain high. Carriers, brokers, and freight tech companies are still feeling the effects of a long, difficult market. Nate Johnson and Robert Bain discuss what they're hearing from transportation and logistics companies right now, including freight market conditions, sales strategy, technology adoption, operational efficiency, leadership decisions, and preparing for the next market cycle. As the market begins to shift, many leaders are asking the same questions: Are we improving fast enough? Is our pipeline strong enough? Are the right people in the right roles? Is our technology creating leverage or adding complexity? Are we prepared for what comes next? The companies that come out stronger won't be the ones waiting for conditions to improve. They'll be the ones strengthening customer relationships, improving operations, evaluating technology, and making the hard decisions that position them for what's next. The market may be getting better, but better doesn't mean easy. This is the time to clean up what's inefficient, strengthen what's working, and make sure your business is ready for the next cycle. And yes, Nate's new glasses give him a slight comic book villain energy in this one, so consider that a bonus.

June 12, 20261 hr 0 min

FreightFacts, Shipper Scores, and the Future of LTL

Technology has changed. Pricing has changed. Expectations around visibility and data have changed. But one challenge has remained the same: How do carriers, shippers, and technology providers make better decisions with better information? Lance Healy joins Nate Johnson to discuss what FreightFacts is launching, the current state of the industry, what’s changing in LTL, why better data matters, and how technology can help carriers, brokers, and shippers make smarter decisions. And because it’s Nate and Lance, there’s a good chance the conversation will also drift into boats, music, and whatever else comes up along the way. Whether you're a carrier, shipper, 3PL, technology provider, or simply interested in the future of freight, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who has spent much of his career helping move the industry forward.

June 8, 20261 hr 1 min

Built to Break the Mold: Melanie Simard's Road Through Trucking

Melanie Simard didn’t build her career from one side of the industry. She built it from nearly every angle possible.She started in brokerage, but decided early on that she wanted real experience on the asset side of trucking. So she got her Class 1 CDL and went driving long-haul reefer.When she was told women didn’t belong in flatbed, she went there too.From the cab to dispatch, operations, safety, and compliance leadership, Melanie built her career the hard way. Step by step. Learning the industry firsthand instead of from a distance.Today, as VP of Safety, Compliance & Technical Support at ISAAC Instruments, she helps fleets across North America navigate safety, compliance, technology, and operational accountability at a higher level.But this conversation with Nate Johnson goes far beyond regulations and software.🤝 It’s about earning respect.📈 Adapting through change.🔎 And what leadership actually looks like in an industry that has historically been built on toughness, independence, and pressure.This isn’t a polished corporate story. It’s a career built through experience, persistence, and proving people wrong along the way.