Transfix

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284

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Transfix Take On, a show for the logistics and supply chain world where we switch gears into the hot topics of trucking. For more information, visit: www.transfix.io

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60 recent

September 10, 202613 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of Sept 10 - What Labor Day Signals for Freight

Labor Day delivered a bump to the freight market—but not the surge many carriers may have hoped for. With diesel prices climbing, post-holiday volumes softening, and capacity pressures varying sharply by region, the rest of September is shaping up to be anything but uniform. In this episode of The Transfix Take, Jenni Ruiz and NFI market expert Justin Maze break down the latest freight trends, including the proposed REVOKE Act targeting “chameleon carriers,” the growing impact of fuel costs, and what the market’s muted Labor Day response could signal for the weeks ahead. They discuss: – How the REVOKE Act could help combat carrier fraud and repeat bad actors - Why higher fuel prices are pushing up all-in transportation costs - What post-Labor Day volume declines mean for spot rates - Why brokers and shippers should plan carefully as RFP season begins - Where capacity is tightening—and where the market remains loose - Why Northeast rates have climbed more than 13% over the past 90 days - What produce season, holiday freight, imports, and weather could mean for Q4 Plus, Justin shares his outlook for the remainder of September, including why national average linehaul rates could fall roughly 2.5% before seasonal demand begins building again in October and November. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

August 28, 202649 min

Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Phil Rees, SHIPMAX

The rules of global e-commerce are changing—and brands built around shipping every order across borders are being forced to rethink their fulfillment strategies. In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni Ruiz sits down with Phil Rees of Shipmax International to unpack how tariffs and changes to de minimis thresholds are accelerating the shift toward localized fulfillment. Phil explains why placing inventory closer to the customer is becoming increasingly important—and why finding the right 3PL requires much more than a quick Google search or the lowest quote. They discuss: - How tariff changes disrupted the traditional direct-to-consumer model - Why brands should localize their highest-performing products first - The operational, commercial, and cultural factors that define a strong 3PL partnership - How smaller brands can find right-sized fulfillment providers - Why the cheapest supply chain option often becomes the most expensive - How AI, automation, and robotics are reshaping logistics and the future of work From international fulfillment and inventory strategy to AI-powered productivity, this conversation explores what brands and logistics providers need to consider as supply chains become more localized, automated, and complex. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

August 14, 202645 min

Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Joe Hurst, Veroot

Compliance Is Becoming the Cost of Doing Business in Supply Chain Compliance used to be something transportation and logistics companies could afford to treat as a back-office function. That era may be over. In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni Ruiz sits down with Joe Hurst, Co-Founder and President of Veroot Compliance, to unpack the changing world of supply chain compliance, CTPAT, customs regulations, importer of record requirements, and freight broker liability. At the center of the conversation is a new executive order reshaping expectations for foreign importers of record (FIORs) and the customs brokers that serve them. Joe breaks down what the changes could mean for companies importing goods into the United States, why CTPAT certification and validation are suddenly getting much more attention, and how businesses should prepare as compliance shifts from penalties after the fact toward proving eligibility and security upfront. Jenni and Joe also decode the bigger compliance picture across transportation, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), TSA air cargo security, cross-border freight, carrier vetting, documentation, audit trails, and the Montgomery v. Caribe Transport ruling affecting freight brokers and carrier selection. In this episode: * What CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) actually is and how the program works * The difference between CTPAT certification and validation * What the new requirements could mean for foreign importers of record and customs brokers * The operational benefits of becoming a CTPAT trusted trader * Why cross-border shippers should be thinking about compliance before a deadline forces the issue * How TSA cargo security, chain of custody, and carrier compliance fit into the larger picture * Why freight brokers and logistics providers need a defensible documentation trail * How the role of the compliance professional is becoming increasingly central to executive decision-making * Why Joe believes transportation companies need to start treating compliance as a real investment, not an administrative afterthought From customs and cross-border trade to trucking, air cargo, and freight brokerage, the message is increasingly clear: if you touch the shipment, you need to understand your responsibility for it. For logistics companies wondering how much compliance is enough, Joe’s advice is simple: don’t wait until the penalty, lawsuit, customer requirement, or government deadline tells you. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

August 12, 202612 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of August 12 - Freight Rates Falling. What Happens After Labor Day?

The freight market is loosening as summer winds down, but the question is how long that relief will last. This week on the Transfix Take Podcast, Jenni Ruiz and NFI Industries market expert Justin Maze break down falling tender rejections, easing linehaul rates, and the regional shifts shaping the market ahead of Labor Day. While much of the country is seeing softer conditions, pockets of tightening in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest show why location and lane direction still matter. In this episode: * Tender rejections fall to just above 12% after reaching 18% in mid-July * National linehaul rates drop roughly 2% week over week to $2.24 per mile * Why rates could fall another 3–3.5% before Labor Day * Continued softening across the Southeast and South as produce season fades * Why the Northeast remains tighter, particularly on freight heading south * Wildfires and late-summer produce putting pressure on Pacific Northwest capacity * What declining spot freight volumes could mean for routing guides and upcoming RFP season * Why carrier capacity reductions and tighter safety standards could have a much bigger impact on rates heading into 2027 * An update on federal rulemaking around English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers The market may be quieter than it was a few weeks ago, but beneath the surface, capacity is still shifting. And what happens between now and the holiday season could tell us a lot about where freight rates are headed next year. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

August 5, 202615 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of Aug 5 - The Summer Slump Has Arrived

The freight market is finally cooling after an unexpectedly tight July, but that does not mean rates are returning to their old lows. This week, Jenni Ruiz and NFI market expert Justin Maze unpack the late-summer slowdown, including how tariff-driven import front-loading, persistent driver constraints, rising fuel costs, and elevated tender rejections are shaping the market heading into Labor Day. They break down where rates are falling fastest across the Southeast, Coastal and Southern regions, why the Northeast continues to tighten, and what shifting import volumes could mean for the West Coast. Plus, Justin looks back at July’s surprises and forecasts how much further the market could decline before holiday volatility enters the picture. In this episode: • Why July stayed tighter longer than expected • How tariff deadlines fueled a surge in imports • Why capacity remains constrained despite falling rates • Where regional spot rates are rising and falling • What elevated tender rejections signal for the months ahead • Justin’s forecast for August and the approach to Labor Day The summer slump may be arriving, but the freight market is far from quiet. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

July 24, 202635 min

Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Jeff Tucker, Tucker Company Worldwide

What does more than six decades in freight brokerage teach you about navigating today’s most pressing risks? In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni Ruiz sits down with Jeff Tucker, third-generation CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide, to explore how freight brokerage has evolved from index cards and towering tariff books to sophisticated, data-driven operations supporting pharmaceuticals, aerospace missions, and some of the largest shipments moving on wheels. Jeff shares the history behind TIA’s carrier selection framework, why the recent Montgomery decision should be treated as a wake-up call rather than an entirely new risk, and what brokers, forwarders, and shippers need to understand about documented carrier-selection procedures, organizational accountability, and insurance coverage. The conversation also goes inside the rarefied world of pharmaceutical cold chain, where Tucker Company relies on just 27 carefully vetted carriers and where one temperature excursion, security failure, or operational shortcut can carry life-altering consequences. Plus, Jeff explains why the future of independent brokerage belongs to companies willing to specialize, customize, and become exceptional at solving a defined set of problems, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. In this episode: • How freight brokerage has changed since 1961 • What the Montgomery ruling actually means for the industry • Why written carrier-selection procedures must be consistently followed • The operational realities of pharmaceutical cold chain • Why incentives and safety decisions should remain separate • The growing importance of specialization and customization • How internal silos quietly undermine supply chain performance This is a master class in institutional knowledge, operational discipline, and building a brokerage designed to withstand both industry cycles and courtroom scrutiny. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

July 14, 202610 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of July 14 - Tariff Rush, Rising Diesel & California's Next Move

This week on The Transfix Take, Jenni Ruiz and NFI's Justin Maze unpack a freight market that's holding steady on the surface, but showing signs of change underneath. With shippers rushing to front-load inventory ahead of looming tariff deadlines, import volumes climbing, and uncertainty surrounding the future of the USMCA, the conversation explores where those pressures could begin showing up across the domestic freight market in the weeks ahead. They also break down this week's jump in diesel prices, why tender rejections continue to hover around 16%, what flat national rates really signal, and how seasonality is shaping conditions across every major U.S. region. Plus, what brokers should be watching on the West Coast as imports rise, why the Southeast continues to loosen, and how California's soaring fuel costs could ripple through capacity and the spot market. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

June 30, 202612 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of June 30 - Fourth of July Brings Tightest Market YoY Since COVID

The Fourth of July freight market is here, and capacity is doing most of the talking. In this week’s episode of The Transfix Take, Jenni Ruiz and Justin Maze break down a holiday market that is moving faster than many expected. Fuel is finally easing, with the national diesel average down to $4.66, but linehaul rates are still climbing, tender rejections remain elevated around 18%, and spot market pressure is building ahead of the long weekend. Justin walks through what carriers, brokers, and shippers should expect across every major region, from tightening in California and the southern border markets to continued holiday-driven volatility in the Southeast, Coastal region, Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast. The team also covers how extreme heat is impacting freight operations, including reefer demand, cooling breaks, rail speed restrictions, and fuel usage. Plus, Jenni and Justin discuss why the market is still sitting firmly in the carrier’s favor, why shippers may need to rethink contract acceptance and repricing, and how July 4th can create added exposure to freight fraud if teams are rushing to cover loads. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

June 26, 202630 min

Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Holly LaBoda, Formula L

Everyone in sales is looking for the silver bullet: the one tool, tactic, sequence, or AI shortcut that will unlock growth. But according to Holly LaBoda, founder and Chief Growth Officer of Formula L, the real “silver bullet” is not a trick at all. It is strategy, process, discipline, and a deep understanding of the buyer. In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni sits down with Holly to unpack what logistics companies often get wrong about growth, from misaligned sales and marketing teams to copy-paste AI outreach that buyers can smell from a mile away. They dig into why cold calling still matters, how AI can help sellers scale without turning them into robots, and why the best sales process starts with being genuinely useful. Holly also breaks down the “forgetting curve,” the idea that buyers forget most of what they hear faster than sellers would like to admit. From sharper ICPs to better buyer follow-ups, AI guardrails, and the lost art of being helpful, this conversation is a reset for anyone trying to grow in freight, logistics, or supply chain without relying on gimmicks. To learn more about Holly and Formula L, you can visit https://www.formulal4.com/home -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

June 24, 202613 min

Transfix Take Podcast | Week of June 24 - DOT Week Numbers Hold Till 4th of July

Capacity is tightening, rates are holding, and the Fourth of July freight market is shaping up to hit harder than it has in recent years. In this week’s episode of The Transfix Take, Jenni Ruiz and Justin Maze break down what carriers, owner-operators, brokers, and shippers need to know heading into the holiday week. Diesel finally dipped below $5, offering some much-needed relief, but capacity remains under pressure as carriers continue to hold onto rate gains from DOT Week and Memorial Day. Justin walks through the latest regional shifts across the Southeast, Coastal markets, South, Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast, including why California is starting to tighten, why border markets like Laredo and McAllen remain ones to watch, and why flatbed rates may still have more room to climb. The episode also covers the launch of the CAVRA Standard for carrier selection, the ongoing impact of FMCSA enforcement, non-domicile CDL pauses in California and New York, and why today’s market is being driven less by explosive demand and more by shrinking available capacity. For anyone watching spot rates, tender rejections, regional capacity, or holiday freight disruption, this is the market pulse to catch before July 4th. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.