Rich Lucas

Logistics is probably one of the most spiteful industries. I was talking to a friend this weekend who owns a small brokerage, one of his employees is being sued by a massive brokerage. Customers reached out to the rep that they want to work with him. Customers are going to testify in a jury trial. This is going to be extremely embarrassing for this large brokerage to have their former customers testify in court about why they work with xyz and not them. Customers are never going to come back to this large brokerage. 6 figures is going to be spent in legal fees, and for what? Most lawsuits in this industry no one wins but the attorneys, and they are done out of spite. Just had another friend pay 27k to his former employer to settle a lawsuit even though they took no customers. Just wanted it over with. I could write a book about the wild things I hear in this industry with lawsuits. It’s a underground world of logistics, that’s not talked about much. But this industry is probably one of the most sue happy industries out there. I feel for everyone out there involved in pending litigation. I wonder how much better this industry would be if companies focused more on improving employee culture and pay than lawsuits. It’s always the low paying brokerages I hear that are normally sueing left and right. #sales #logistics #trucking #culture

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It’s surprising how often people outside the Logistics and Supply Chain industry don’t realize just how vast this field truly is. Here’s a big one that trips up a lot of people Freight ≠ Supply Chain Many think freight brokers, trucking companies, or logistics teams are the supply chain. But really, the supply chain encompasses a huge, interconnected network with many roles beyond just freight. Here are some key examples: ➡️ Freight: This is only one piece of the puzzle. Freight is all about moving products from one place to another—think freight brokers, carriers, 3PLs, and teams managing trucking, air, rail, and ocean shipping. ➡️ Supply Chain: This is the whole journey, from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product to customers. It involves procurement, manufacturing, inventory management, warehousing, distribution centers, tech solutions, and more. At CS Recruiting, we work across the full spectrum—from roles in freight and logistics to procurement, supply chain planning, warehouse management, and beyond. So, while freight is a critical piece of the supply chain, it’s just one element in a much bigger system. If you’re a hiring manager looking to strengthen your team in any part of the supply chain—whether it’s freight, procurement, warehouse management, or beyond—we got you! #transportation#logistics#supplychain#hiring

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I was thinking about this the other day, but one of the most fun parts of being a broker is the unknown. When you start you have no customers, and your book can develop in many ways. In terms of commodity, lead time, mode, customer personality, etc. I had all spot freight, short lead time, chaotic, and rarley going to the same places. It made it exciting on Mondays I could go into the week with 2 loads on my board and finish with 30-40. The aderaline of the unknown was one of my favorite parts, and clicking outlook emails that said “ Matt can you quote this” “ Matt I will have a xyz ready today” we’re exciting. What do you guys think is the anticipation of the unknown one of the best parts of being a broker? #sales #logistics #trucking #broker

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Several months ago I made a post encouraging people to get into logistics. Several people commented Matt why would you say that. You built your book in 22, 23 it’s different now. No one is on boarding. Lot of doom and gloom scrolling on here. So when I took this shipper role I was genuinely curious what the quality of the sales emails and calls would be. I didn’t get one good one. They all were either asking to get set up, if I had any loads, long 3 paragraphs about services and rates, ( someone even asked me what I do). We told most people that called we weren’t on boarding for 6-9 months. Would I have said the same thing if I got a good call or email? No, I was waiting for one. Never got one though so I just set up my friends. Even something simple like we ship for your competitor and run that product in xyz lane are you running out of this area too? Based on what I saw in 3 months, I am not sold on the doom and gloom. Very few other sales jobs you can get ahead simply by doing 5 minutes of homework and being unique. Just my 2 cents. #kidfreight #sales #logistics #trucking

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I know how important it is to have a resilient supply chain. Intermodal shipping can make that happen. Read our full Intermodal shipping guide for detailed insights: http://sndr.pro/4r

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When I get a notification about something like "President-Elect plans to impose 30% tariffs on goods from Mexico and China," I don’t just scroll past it. As someone in logistics and supply chain, my brain immediately jumps to: What does this mean for the industry? For my clients? For their customers? So, naturally, I asked ChatGPT. Here’s the rundown: 1️⃣ Costs are going up. Tariffs like this don’t just disappear—they either land on consumers or squeeze businesses. Importers will feel the heat and raw materials. Pricier, for sure. 2️⃣ Supply chains will get shaken up. Companies will scramble to restore or nearshore, which sounds great long-term but creates short-term chaos. And trade lanes we rely on? Some might slow down, while others pick up. 3️⃣ Transportation will shift. Cross-border trucking, ports like LA/Long Beach, and even rail could see major changes. New trade patterns mean new challenges for logistics providers. 4️⃣ Compliance gets trickier. Tariffs bring more red tape. Customs, audits, retaliation from other countries—it all adds complexity to already intricate processes. 5️⃣ Domestic sourcing will rise. U.S. manufacturing could get a boost, and so could regional freight. More warehousing hubs might pop up to handle this shift. 6️⃣ Diversification becomes key. Businesses that spread out their sourcing and invest in flexibility will come out ahead. Multimodal solutions (rail, ocean, air) will grow. 7️⃣ Consumer behavior will play a role. Higher prices on imports could dampen demand for certain goods, making companies rethink pricing and inventory strategies. For logistics and supply chain pros, this isn’t just a "wait and see" moment. It’s a "get ahead of it" moment. Whether it’s offering alternative solutions, rethinking freight lanes, or sharpening cost strategies, the companies and professionals who adapt quickly will lead the charge. How would you prepare your supply chain for a shake-up like this?

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Selecting the right shipping provider is crucial for your import supply chain's success. Here are 5 things to consider: 1. Know your free days before demurrage charges start. 2. Assess how fast and far your product needs to move from the port. 3. Opt for transloading if traveling over 200-250 miles from the port. 4. Decide on the visibility level needed for in-transit freight. 5. Use a single provider for efficiency and prioritized freight handling.  Working with a comprehensive provider like Schneider: - Simplifies your supply chain management - Reduces touchpoints - Prioritizes your success This leads to cost savings and better customer focus.

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Skilled drivers fuel shipper success. Case in point: Schneider's highly trained intermodal drivers excel in meeting shippers' on-demand needs regardless of market conditions. Rethink intermodal solutions to propel your freight and business forward: http://sndr.pro/E

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Interrupting a interview to take a call is a red flag in most industries, but not in logistics. I’d argue it’s a green flag. I had this happen with a interview this afternoon, he had a hot load a previous broker fell off. This has happened several times when interviewing agents as well. To me it shows: 1. You have Frieght. 2. You take customer service seriously. Am I the only one who thinks this way? What are some other things that are green flags in logistics, but red flags elsewhere? #sales #logistics #interviews #trucking

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The extension of the Master Contract until early 2025 provides a stable framework for these ongoing discussions, ensuring labor stability in the short term. However, the tentative agreement sets the January 15, 2025 deadline just before Chinese New Year, a crucial period for shipping, raising concerns that any potential disruption could have widespread consequences if no agreement is reached. More to come…

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As an independent #freightagent, growing your business can sometimes lead to a plateau where operations consume your focus, hindering business expansion. WFX Logistics offers solutions to move your business forward: 🌟We will provide a dedicated operations team that can take over all operational aspects, freeing up your time to nurture relationships and acquire new accounts. 🌟 Additionally, our recruiting team can recruit and onboard new members at no extra cost. Whether you need sub-agents for sales, or support with freight handling, we have a pool of talented individuals ready to join your team. Don't let your business stagnate. Let WFX Logistics assist you in reaching new heights. Reach out to discuss how we can support your growth. #logistics #growth #partnership #WFXL #3PL #freightbroker #logisticsjobs

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Freight fraud is a hot topic right now for carriers and brokers. 2 Dawgs, 1 Pod. will be back at 2cst on Friday to talk everything fraud and highway related with Michael Caney. Is it a good idea to be sharing stories on the bad guys on social media or is that helping them get better? Should we be relying on the fmsca to fix things? There is a lot of different possible topics on the idea of fraud, I will say from everyone I talk to everyone loves Highway and they are becoming a household name in that space. I know it’s a common question that comes up when I talk to potential agents, and they are happy to hear we utlize highway. They have definitely figured something out in this space imo and excited to talk about it. #fraud #freight #logistics #trucking

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