Every freight AI vendor quotes an automation rate. Almost none publish what's behind it. Here's the methodology question brokerages should be asking and what Chain's 3M-load dataset reveals.
A FreightCaviar follower spent weeks quick-paying carriers on a steel project before learning the shipper was fake, the carriers were in on it, and not a single load was ever real. Plus: Congress takes aim at chameleon carriers, diesel keeps falling, and more.
“When I say you’re going to require high levels of authenticity and authentication at the point of entry... that is no longer going to be enough to prevent access. You’re going to need multiple points that all need to match in order to unlock access- that’s where we’re going."
“Being dishonest will only get you so far. You may be able to cover a load or get away with something a few times, but it always catches up to you."
In this week’s episode of The FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Ty Schroeder, Account Specialist at BBI Logistics, to discuss where the market is headed, how BBI stays ahead of cargo theft, and what he believes brokers need to understand to build stronger relationships with carriers.
Plus: Take a look at this week's Carrier of the Week.
TOP LANE MOVERS POWERED BY TRIUMPH
Will the market bounce back? What is the formula for building a successful brokerage? What is one thing brokers and carriers need to stop doing in 2026?
Join us as we sit down with Ty Schroeder as he shares his industry predictions and insights.
In order to be successful in the upcoming year, there's one thing Ty thinks brokers and carriers need to stop doing.
“Being dishonest will only get you so far. You may be able to cover a load or get away with something a few times, but overall, I think it always catches up to you. Being honest goes a long way.”
As for his economic predictions, he's not optimistic about the upcoming year.
“I don’t see the overall U.S. economy growing significantly, where it would cause an influx of so many shipments, we’re paying a lot of money, and need a lot more trucking companies on the road. I think it’s going to be a tough next year and a half to two years.”
He believes capacity will likely tighten in 2026, driving rates higher and creating a more challenging market for brokerages.
Still, with the right training, this environment can be incredibly rewarding—many customers will be looking for a dependable partner they can trust. That could be you.
So how can you thrive as a freight broker in 2026?
👉 Remember: honesty is key
👉 Paying a little more for a load is better than having it stolen
👉 To prevent cargo theft: learning from your mistakes + training = KEY
Check out our piece on Ty's freight forecast:
Kaja Kusińska
Watch the interview on YouTube.
Levity automates high-volume email and phone tasks like quoting, load building, and track & trace, without black-box agents or risky AI experiments.
Designed for teams that need control, transparency, and results they can trust.
"Don’t just send load lists to dedicated (DCC) carriers like ourselves. Start a strategic conversation and ask which lanes complement our network. As a DCC-focused carrier, the best way a broker can add value is by learning what backhauls we have filled or need covered. Ask about requirements and small details to see if the lane fits our model."
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What if you could input an O/D pairing and see all shippers with volume on that lane? What if you could see the lanes of every shipper before you called them? What if you could find 500,000+ shipper locations with a simple search?
GenLogs gives you this superpower. See why the top brokerages use Shipper Intelligence to sign new shippers and expand wallet share among existing customers. It's like brokering freight on cheat mode.
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
🎣 FREIGHT HUMOR
A FreightCaviar follower spent weeks quick-paying carriers on a steel project before learning the shipper was fake, the carriers were in on it, and not a single load was ever real. Plus: Congress takes aim at chameleon carriers, diesel keeps falling, and more.
“When I say you’re going to require high levels of authenticity and authentication at the point of entry... that is no longer going to be enough to prevent access. You’re going to need multiple points that all need to match in order to unlock access- that’s where we’re going."
FMCSA launched a new carrier registry three weeks ago to stop freight fraud — zero new carriers have been registered since. Plus: PepsiCo is running 41 driverless trucks, peak season and a shrinking driver pool, cameras know where your carriers have been, and more.
The freight boom arrived. For some carriers, it arrived too late. We explain why in today's feature. Plus: real gouda fellas, satisfactory doesn't mean safe, LTL is waking up, and more.
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