With rising fuel prices, insurance and fear of reoccurring driver shortages, do you believe the traditional asset-based business model is becoming obsolete in favor of brokerage-only models? How does this shift impact long-term relationships with shippers and the overall transportation market? Is it just a cycle that we will continue to see shift in favor of one versus the other dependent upon market conditions?

@Ajit Shah brings decades of global leadership across venture capital, technology, trade, and public-private partnerships. From founding and scaling companies across Asia to serving on boards in sectors like telecom, finance, and education — he’s helped shape industries and empower entrepreneurs across borders. We’re honored to have you in LWR, Ajit — your insight and experience will be a massive asset to this community. Welcome aboard! 🤝

Most people in are unaware of the extent to which the fraud game truly operates. Here’s a real tactic used daily by bad actors and consolidators: 🛒 Step 1: Buy an older Android model like the Samsung Galaxy A12 (SM-A125F/DS) 📲 Step 2: Pay someone ~$15 on Fiverr to root the device 📍 Step 3: Install GPS spoofing software. With root access, you can hide the spoofing from apps like Macropoint, Amazon Relay, and FourKites. These platforms will show normal tracking, even though it's completely fake. 💥 Amazon Relay Scam — How It Works: 1. 🕵️ Identity is stolen 2. 📦 Load is booked on Amazon Relay 3. 💰 Load is sold to any carrier, at any rate, because they never intend to pay 4. 🚛 An unwitting real carrier hauls the load 5. 📸 Spoofed GPS shows “normal” transit 6. 🧾 POD is collected → Amazon pays in 7 days → Fraudster disappears 7. 🔁 Rinse and repeat with a new MC# Consolidators employ similar methods to deceive your TMS or tracking platforms by spoofing movement while they reroute your freight to a warehouse, consolidate it, and ship it later by rail or full truckload. Most brokers and shippers are unaware that it ever happened.

I wanted to share something with the group that I pay attention to every year. The is the report from 2023 year, and the 2024 report should be released about June. Know your numbers! Here's the executive summary: The latest American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking report, released in June 2024, states that the total marginal cost of operating a truck in 2023 was $2.270 per mile, a 0.8% increase from 2022. Excluding fuel costs, marginal costs rose 6.6% to $1.716 per mile. On a per-hour basis, costs were $91.27, up 0.5% from $90.78 in 2022. Key cost components included: - Fuel Costs: Decreased 8.8% to $0.553 per mile. - Driver Wages: Increased 7.6% to $0.779 per mile. - Truck/Trailer Payments: Rose 8.8% to $0.360 per mile. - Repair and Maintenance: Up 3.1% to $0.202 per mile. - Insurance Premiums: Jumped 12.5% to $0.099 per mile. - Tolls: Increased 21.4% to $0.034 per mile. The report highlights challenges like a soft freight market, increased deadhead mileage (16.3% for non-tank operations), and higher driver turnover in the truckload sector. Operating margins were 6% or lower in most sectors, except less-than-truckload (LTL). What are your predictions for the 2024 year?

We’re excited to have @Eric Hoppe join the fold. He’s the General Manager at Specialized Global Logistics, where he oversees global operations, drives improvement, and keeps the entire machine moving with precision. With over 13 years in logistics and ops leadership — from the floor at Willow Run to managing vendor contracts, risk mitigation, and multimodal performance across the globe — Eric brings the real-world execution this room was built for. He’s lived the grind, led from the front, and scaled operations that move serious freight. Whether it’s cost control, process automation, or high-stakes global movement, this is the kind of leadership LWR is all about. Operators, asset managers, and freight strategists — tap in. Welcome to the room, Eric — let’s get to work.