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What happens when a freight broker quits to go to law school, but ends up building three logistics companies instead? Tyson Lawrence, now CEO of Diablo Freight Ventures, joins us to talk about failure, rebuilding, and what most freight tech founders still get wrong.
Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Spotlight, where we highlight the latest episode of The FreightCaviar Podcast and introduce our new Carrier of the Week.
We sit down with Tyson Lawrence, CEO at Diablo Freight Ventures, Inc., which offers small package and freight shipping services for small to mid-sized businesses.
Tyson Lawrence landed his first logistics role at C.H. Robinson in 2001, fresh out of Washington State University, where he studied Political Science and Pre-Law, relocating from the rainy Pacific Northwest to the sunny West Coast.
After several years in the industry, he felt burned out and left his role at C.H. Robinson to go back to law school.
But while balancing his studies and a job at West Coast Distributing, where he worked until 2005, a turning point arrived. One day in class, he looked at a group of recent graduates and realized he didn’t want the future they were heading toward. Deep down, he knew that what he truly wanted was to become an entrepreneur.
Tyson launched his first business, PacWest Distributing Inc., that same year, building it up to $15M in revenue.
In 2015, lacking the skills and tools to diversify the company, Tyson saw the net income stall, profits decline, and the company eventually go bankrupt. It was a hard-earned lesson...one that would shape his next venture.
Later that year, he opened TAKTIK Logistics Group, a brokerage operating under GlobalTranz. Starting with a few customers from his first venture, he applied the hard-earned lessons from PacWest — especially around managing finances, cutting losses quickly, and focusing on just one thing at a time.
In 2021, GlobalTranz acquired TAKTIK, and Tyson stayed on during a two-year earn-out, helping WWEX agents grow their businesses.
In 2023, he launched Diablo Freight Ventures after accepting a Unishippers franchise, offering UPS small package and freight services to small and mid-sized businesses.
After more than two decades in the industry, Tyson says he's seen firsthand many newcomers chase the “tech” angle of freight without any operational experience, not understanding what businesses are valuable in the tech space. With Diablo Freight, Tyson is bridging that gap and, along with his expertise and coaching program, giving others the tools to build a freight business the right way.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Here's what he had to say on finding success in logistics:
“Ultimately, in this industry, and being successful, you have to be mentally tough and willing to take some risks.”
This week's episode is brought to you by Epay Manager, Freight Flex, and Rapido Solutions Group.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch the interview on YouTube.
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One thing they wish more brokers understood:
"One thing we wish more brokers understood is the complexity and timing challenges of port drayage, especially at the Port of Oakland. Delays, chassis availability, and appointment windows can all affect our schedules, and flexibility is key. We’re not just moving freight—we're coordinating between ports, warehouses, and long haul routes, so strong communication and realistic expectations make a big difference."
Want to be featured? Fill out this quick form to be our next Carrier of the Week.
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At TAB, we provide agents with unmatched support, leading technology, staffing options, and unlimited potential to meet their financial goals and keep the wheels turning.
What we offer:
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