What does it REALLY take to build your own freight agency?

In this episode of Tell Me Everything, I sit down with KT, a Tallgrass Freight agent celebrating five years with the company, to talk about betting on yourself, building a freight business from the ground up, and staying motivated when things don’t go according to plan.

KT shares how he went from a successful book of business to essentially starting over—and the mentality that helped him build it back.

We talk about the grind of freight sales, finding your “why,” setting goals, building customer relationships, staying hungry even after you become successful, and why having the right support system matters when you’re running your own business.

One of my FAVORITE things KT said:

“Nobody can tell me what my worth is. I write my worth.” 👏

We also get into life as a 1099 freight agent, the Tallgrass agent model, technology and back-office support, building a team, and why chasing the highest commission percentage isn’t always the whole story.

If you’re a freight broker thinking about becoming an agent—or you’re already building your own book of business—there are SO many good takeaways in this one.

🎙️ Tell Me Everything Podcast with Danielle Spinelli

#FreightAgent #FreightBroker #Logistics #Trucking #FreightBrokerage #Transportation #SupplyChain #Entrepreneurship #TallgrassFreight #TellMeEverythingPodcast

HE BAD GUYS MIGHT ALREADY BE INSIDE YOUR SYSTEMS… AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT!

Welcome back to another episode of Fraud Girl Friday on the Tell Me Everything Podcast!

We’re coming to you from the NMFTA Conference in Long Beach, California, where cybersecurity, AI, and supply chain security are taking center stage!

This week, I’m sitting down with Travis Sproul, Managing Director of TSC Global, to talk about something EVERY freight broker, carrier, shipper, and logistics professional needs to be paying attention to: CYBERSECURITY!

Here’s the scary part… Cybercriminals aren’t always kicking down your digital doors. Sometimes they’re already inside your systems, watching your operations, learning your processes, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

With AI deepfakes becoming more realistic, phishing attacks disguised as legitimate freight documents, and disconnected technology creating security gaps, protecting your supply chain is becoming a whole different ballgame!

AI Deepfakes: Can you really trust the face or voice on your screen?

Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Are your systems actually communicating and protecting each other?

Cargo Theft & Route Optimization: Saving $200 on fuel sounds great… until your freight gets stolen in a high-risk area.

Multi-Factor Authentication: A simple security measure that can make a BIG difference.

Insider Threats: What happens when the bad guys are already inside your operation?

AI & Supply Chain Security: How connected data can help identify risks before they become disasters.

Testing Your Security: Having a cybersecurity plan is one thing. Knowing it actually WORKS is another!

We also dive into Travis’s military supply chain background, why companies need to identify vulnerabilities BEFORE criminals exploit them, and how to take a more proactive approach to freight security.

You can have all the cybersecurity tools in the world, but if you don’t know where your vulnerabilities are, how your systems connect, or whether your processes actually work… you’re leaving the door open.

And trust me, the fraudsters aren’t waiting around for you to figure it out!

Hosted by Danielle Spinelli, Fraud Girl Friday is part of the Tell Me Everything Podcast, where we expose cargo theft schemes, freight fraud tactics, cybersecurity threats, and scams impacting the transportation industry.

Because protecting freight starts with KNOWING what you’re up against!

Tallgrass Freight Co.

Are you a freight broker or agent looking for a new home for your business? Reach out to Tallgrass Freight Co. to learn more!

February 8–10 | Las Vegas, NV

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LIKE this episode if you learned something new!

COMMENT: What’s the BIGGEST cybersecurity vulnerability in transportation today?

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What does it actually take to build a successful freight agency and what happens when you have the right support behind you?

In this episode of Tell Me Everything, I’m in Kansas City with Tallgrass Freight Co. for their annual Agent Roundtable, sitting down with Sean to talk about what makes the freight agent model different, how agents can grow their own businesses, and why education, community, and support matter so much in today’s freight market.

We get into the REAL side of becoming a freight agent: building a book of business, knowing when to make your first hire, expanding into new modes like LTL and cross-border freight, creating your own brand, navigating a changing transportation market, and figuring out your bigger “why.”

One thing that stood out to me during the Tallgrass Agent Roundtable was the amount of knowledge being shared between agents. These aren’t just people moving freight—they’re entrepreneurs building multi-million-dollar businesses, sharing what worked, what didn’t, and helping newer agents avoid some of the same mistakes.

We talk about:

• How freight brokers transition into independent freight agents
• Building and scaling your own freight agency
• When it makes sense to hire your first employee
• Creating your own brand while operating under an established brokerage
• Learning new freight modes including LTL and cross-border
• Why freight agents need to understand market trends and industry changes
• Using education to become a better resource for shippers
• Building stronger relationships with customers when freight goes wrong
• The importance of community when you’re working remotely
• Why knowing your “why” matters when building a business
• The difference between running your own brokerage and joining an agent program
• How Tallgrass supports freight agents with technology, education, marketing, leadership, and industry resources

Whether you’re currently a W-2 freight broker, an established freight agent, or considering starting your own freight brokerage, this conversation gives an inside look at what it takes to turn a book of business into an actual business. tme@tallgrassfreight.com

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See you in VEGAS!