?? Final F3 Recap

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Good Friday morning. The recovery from the high of F3 begins. But first, we're giving you a recap of days two and three, where we saw experts speak on key freight topics, new rapid-fire demos, the trucking shortage debate, and much more. Here's your rundown of all things FreightWaves' Future of Freight Festival.

Plus: FMCSA releases video for drivers to get back CDLs, Trump names commerce secretary, and more.

??? The FreightCaviar Podcast: In this interview, we find out why Will Jenkins sees Shipper CRM (a FreightCaviar product) as the next big thing.

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?? WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

?? Highway and Cargado Shine in 2025 FreightTech 25 Rankings. Highway claimed the top spot in the 2025 FreightTech 25, earning recognition for its innovative carrier identity and fraud prevention platform. Led by CEO Jordan Graft, the startup has aided freight brokering in a massive way by securing carrier onboarding and combating issues like cybercrime and double brokering. Meanwhile, Cargado debuted at 10th place, making a big splash after launching earlier this year. Its invite-only cross-border load board now serves 125 logistics companies, transforming Mexico-US freight operations. Greenscreens rounded out the top 5. These companies have done a phenomenal job with their transformative approach to addressing the industry's challenges.

?? Qued, Nirvana, and Blendyd Studios Stand Out at F3 FreightTech Demos. Day two of the Future of Freight Festival featured eight rapid-fire demos highlighting innovative solutions for the freight industry. Qued showcased its appointment scheduling portal, which streamlines pickup and delivery processes with instant TMS integration, cutting down clicks and steps for efficiency. Nirvana presented its safety intelligence platform, centralizing safety data to reduce risk and control insurance costs. Blendyd Studios impressed with a recruitment tool optimized for mobile, enabling seamless candidate applications and intelligent prioritization for recruiters. With the audience voting for Best in Show, these standout presentations definitely set the bar for freight tech.

?? The Truth About Truck Driver Shortages: Myth or Mismanagement. Timothy Dooner of FreightWaves’ WHAT THE TRUCK?!? moderated a debate between Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of OOIDA, and John Larkin, Strategic Advisor for Clarendon Capital, on whether trucking’s issue is a driver shortage or poor retention. Pugh argued the shortage is a myth, citing high turnover rates fueled by stagnant pay and demanding conditions. Larkin highlighted flat rates during a freight recession but warned of potential driver shortages if the economy rebounds. Both agreed low driver pay, caused by shipper pressure to cut costs, exacerbates turnover. Efforts like the ATA’s apprenticeship programs face criticism, with safety concerns over younger drivers, with Larkin arguing that 18-21-year-old drivers' “prefrontal cortex development” doesn’t allow them to make sound judgments in certain situations. Better wages were emphasized as the solution to stabilize the workforce. “The people who suffer are the drivers,” Pugh said. Maybe the wages can fix that.

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F3: Day Two and Three Recap

Day 2 and three of FreightWaves F3 brought bold predictions, sharp insights, and plenty of buzz about the future of freight. From tackling nuclear verdicts and broker liability to charting the rise of autonomous trucks and AI-powered freight tech, the industry’s experts didn’t hold back.

Key Insights from Industry Leaders

Lori Heino-Royer: Waabi and the Future of Autonomous Trucking Lori Heino-Royer emphasized the importance of partnerships and infrastructure in autonomous trucking. Waabi’s AI-powered simulator prepares trucks for real-world scenarios by automatically generating edge cases.

• “The hardest part of building this technology is handling what we call edge cases—but they’re not edge. They’re everyday driving.”

Matthew Leffler: Nuclear Verdicts and Broker Liability Leffler spotlighted the rising risks of nuclear verdicts and broker liability with updates on the Werner Enterprises case, where Werner was assigned 70% liability in a $100M+ verdict now under review by the Texas Supreme Court.

• “The liability that faces our industry is catastrophic. We all need to understand the risks.”

Bill Driegert: Tech Is Forcing Brokers to Evolve Flexport’s Bill Driegert shared insights on how automation and AI are reshaping freight brokerage. He predicted the industry’s future:

Benjamin Gordon: Strategic M&A Is Back Benjamin Gordon of Cambridge Capital explained why M&A is heating up post-freight recession, with deals like Kuehne+Nagel’s acquisition of IMC leading the way.

• “Shareholders now expect you to keep performing—even in a freight recession.”

Ending the Night With the Fishes Day 2 wrapped up with an Amazon-sponsored visit to the Tennessee Aquarium and Lean Solutions Group’s networking event on the Walnut Street Bridge—complete with drinks, cigars, and plenty of new connections.

Upcoming FreightCaviar Content

F3 is all about connecting, and FreightCaviar was busy at work filling our camera roll and collaborating with others to bring you some incredible content.

Don’t miss out! Follow us on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts to catch these interviews.

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?? AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

?? FMCSA Explains Return-to-Duty Process. The FMCSA has released a video guide explaining the steps for truck drivers to regain their commercial driving privileges after Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse violations.

??? Trump Names Commerce Secretary. President-elect Donald Trump nominates Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as Commerce Secretary. Lutnick will lead the incoming tarriffs and trade agenda.

?? $112M Ponzi Scheme. Sanjay Singh, Founder of Royal Bengal Logistics, was convicted in federal court on Nov 8. in a $112 million 3 year Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors, laundering millions to bank accounts in India. The scheme involved fake trucking investments.

?? G&W CEO Plea. Michael Miller, Chief Executive of Genesee & Wyoming, urges the rail industry to “get off our asses” and embrace technology while staying committed to core principles to remain competitive in freight movement.

?? THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• Podcast: ShipperCRM announced Will Jenkins' investment and partnership. In this interview, we detail why Jenkins sees ShipperCRM (a FreightCaviar product) as the next big thing.
• Conferences: Join us at Manifest Vegas 2025. Register with our link and save $200 before prices go up later today!
• Freight Jobs: Find the latest freight job listings here.
• Find Shippers Fast: Looking for customers? Check out ShipperCRM, the world's largest shipper database, and apply for access here.

FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY