The freight industry is full of big promises and broken systems, but Grace Sharkey is back to spotlight the people actually solving them. She joins Blythe for a special reunion episode of Freight Friends, now from her new role at Orderful. They talk about the freight tech stories that matter, why EDI is still such […]
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Is EDI broken or just misunderstood? In this reunion episode of Freight Friends, Blythe Brumleve welcomes Grace Sharkey back to the mic to talk about her new role at Orderful, the state of freight media, and why so many companies are still struggling with EDI integrations. From customer horror stories to a Christmas Eve miracle involving Walmart, Grace shares why she’s betting big on solving one of freight’s most persistent pain points. Key takeaways: Media experience is a hidden weapon for logistics companies trying to build trust and relevance Grace’s new role at Orderful focuses on making EDI less painful, faster to implement, and API-friendly Many brokers delay switching tech out of fear of cost when in reality, it’s the bad setup that’s costing them Freight tech storytelling needs to focus more on the people using it, not just the software Orderful is solving a known problem with actual working tech (that’s already saved Christmas at least once)LINKS:Grace’s LinktreeNick Stachel’s LinkedInOrderful’s WebsiteThe Supply Chain Is the ProductThe Logistics of SHEIN: From Imports to InfluencersWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? 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 interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company’s agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you’re a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services here.
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The days of hiding your supply chain are over. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve expands on a thesis born from her BBC appearance: the supply chain is now the product. She dives into the viral videos, consumer buying trends, and transparency tools that are redefining what people value in the […]
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Your brand isn’t just your logo or your tagline. It’s your supply chain. In this solo episode, Blythe breaks down her recent BBC appearance and expands on a bold new thesis: your supply chain isn’t just a backend function. It’s the product. From viral TikToks to luxury handbag knockoffs, this episode explores why today’s buyers are more concerned than ever with the “how” behind their favorite stuff. And why that curiosity is your best marketing tool. Key takeaways: Transparency isn’t just ethical. It’s profitable. Gen Z and Millennials are fueling resale and sustainability trends. The rise of TikTok creators is exposing global supply chain truths. Brands that share sourcing stories earn long-term loyalty.LINKS:Appearance on BBC’s What in the WorldTanner Leatherstein on TikTokSheep Inc.Good on YouTrashieWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? 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 interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company’s agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. CloneOps AI-powered phone operations for inbound and outbound calls with speed, scale, and efficiency. Our virtual agents handle high-volume interactions, automate workflows, and deliver real-time insights, freeing your team to focus on growth. Designed for logistics, retail, and beyond—seamless communication, smarter conversations, faster resolutions. CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you’re a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services her…
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Is your marketing team overwhelmed by AI tools or just not sure where to start? Recent research from the Marketing AI Institute and AirOps uncovers how marketers are actually using AI, what’s working, and where the biggest gaps still exist. Most teams are still stuck in experimentation mode, with only a small percentage reporting full […]
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We’ve all heard the hype about AI, but what’s actually happening behind the scenes? In this episode, Blythe breaks down two major studies that reveal how marketers are really using AI tools, where they’re struggling, and what’s coming next. If you’re trying to figure out what to adopt (and what to ignore), this episode offers a blueprint for smart AI integration without the slop. Key takeaways: Only 17% of marketing teams have fully integrated AI into their workflows. 65% of marketers say research and ideation are still the most time-consuming tasks. You can use anonymized meeting notes to supercharge FAQ pages and ad campaigns. Tools like Grok and ChatGPT Projects have helped reduce research time from 6 hours to 2. AI is best used as a co-pilot, not the sole driver of your content strategy.Note: In this episode, Blythe references “Gemma” a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. But it’s actually GAMMA. Please forgive her mistake and check out their awesome AI for presentation slides here.LINKS:Writer.comAI Report from WriterState of Data 2025Report of the Register of CopyrightsWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? 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 interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company’s agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. CloneOps AI-powered phone operations for inbound and outbound calls with speed, scale, and efficiency. Our virtual agents handle high-volume interactions, automate workflows, and deliver real-time insights, freeing your team to focus on growth. Designed for logistics, retail, and beyond—seamless communication, smarter conversations, faster resolutions. CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you’re a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services her…
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Freight tech isn’t about flash, it’s about function. At SPI Logistics, VP of Technology Ezequiel Peralta is leading a transformation that cuts through the noise. By moving beyond the TMS as the system of record and building a flexible integration layer, his team is creating a freight tech stack that actually works. They’re using AI […]
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Most freight tech stacks are a tangled mess of tools that don’t talk to each other. Ezequiel Peralta, VP of Technology at SPI Logistics, is working to fix that. This episode strips away the hype and digs into what it really takes to build functional, secure, and scalable freight systems. Peralta shares how SPI is moving beyond the TMS-first mindset by introducing a flexible integration layer, leveraging AI to reduce email chaos, and automating back-office tasks without sidelining the people who matter most. Freight leaders looking to create tech that works for humans, not the other way around, will get a lot out of this one.Key Takeaways: Freight tech success depends on modeling your business process before adopting any tool. SPI Logistics is moving beyond the TMS as the tech stack centerpiece with a dedicated integration layer. AI tools are only valuable when paired with structured data and business-aligned goals. Automation is transforming back-office operations, reducing manual tasks for better auditing and analysis. Everyone—not just IT—must be involved in managing freight fraud and data security.LINKS:Eze’s LinkedInSPI Freight Agent ProgramSPI on CargoRexWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? 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 interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company’s agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. CloneOps AI-powered phone operations for inbound and outbound calls with speed, scale, and efficiency. Our virtual agents handle high-volume interactions, automate workflows, and deliver real-time insights, freeing your team to focus on growth. Designed for logistics, retail, and beyond—seamless communication, smarter conversations, faster resolutions. CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you’re a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services her…
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Barges can move the equivalent of thousands of truckloads using a fraction of the fuel, but most of the industry still runs on email chains and guesswork. Jason Aristides, CEO of OpenTug, is changing that by bringing real-time GPS tracking, AI-powered automation, and digital booking tools to the tug and barge sector. He joins Blythe […]
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Barges move over 70 percent of U.S. grain and can carry the equivalent of 4,000 truckloads with a single tugboat. Yet this massive freight channel has remained invisible to most supply chains due to outdated systems and zero visibility. In this episode, OpenTug CEO Jason Aristides shares how his team is digitizing barge and tug operations with GPS tracking, AI-powered automation, and a modern marketplace experience. By unlocking real-time visibility and booking capabilities, OpenTug is helping shippers tap into a cleaner and more efficient way to move freight across America’s 12,000 miles of inland waterways. Key takeaways: Barges are one of the most fuel-efficient and underused freight modes in North America A single barge move can replace thousands of truckloads with a fraction of the labor OpenTug brings real-time GPS and predictive ETAs to an industry that ran on email chains Ports like New Orleans are investing heavily in container barge terminals More visibility and automation will help eliminate empty miles and reduce emissionsLINKS:Jason’s LinkedInOpenTug’s LinkedInOpenTug on CargoRexWATCH THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? 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 interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company’s agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. CloneOps AI-powered phone operations for inbound and outbound calls with speed, scale, and efficiency. Our virtual agents handle high-volume interactions, automate workflows, and deliver real-time insights, freeing your team to focus on growth. Designed for logistics, retail, and beyond—seamless communication, smarter conversations, faster resolutions. CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you’re a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services her…
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Tariffs and global supply chains can feel overwhelming, but understanding them is part of the job. After 15 years in logistics, host Blythe Milligan still found the topic of tariffs and global trade tensions intimidating. In this episode, she breaks down how she prepared for a talk on the subject, the sources she used, and […]
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How do you future-proof freight procurement? In this episode of Everything is Logistics, Chris Caplice, Chief Scientist at DAT Freight & Analytics and founder of MIT’s FreightLab, unpacks why traditional RFPs fall short, the rise of dynamic routing, and how AI is helping shippers make smarter decisions faster. He shares real-world examples from paper manufacturers, […]
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