Cold calls. Tight lanes. Government freight.

In this episode, I’m talking with Garrett Bowers, owner of Bowers Trucking and an SPI Logistics agency owner, about what it takes to build a steadier carrier business when the market is doing what it always does.

We get into why he swears by early-morning prospecting, how he thinks about tighter lanes and saying “no” to the wrong freight, and what changes when you stop treating sales like something you do only when you’re panicking.

Then we go into the rabbit hole most carriers ignore: government freight. Garrett breaks down how he found opportunities around Tinker Air Force Base, what the Defense Logistics Agency actually does, and the practical first steps to get started (yes, SAM.gov is involved). Plus, the kind of freight that makes for a great story later, including hauling the Air Force One staircase.

What we cover:
▪ Why early cold calls work
▪ How to choose lanes that keep trucks moving
▪ Government freight basics: where to start and what to expect
▪ The operational standard required for military shipments

Watch this episode on YouTube

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

If you’ve ever wondered how a massive industry event like Manifest manages to feel timely, relevant, and most importantly useful, this is the episode for you. I’m sitting down with Tanzil Uddin, SVP of Content and Partnerships, to peel back the curtain on how they build a world-class agenda without falling into the vendor karaoke trap.

Tanzil explains the listening tour strategy that begins almost a year in advance, where the team interviews dozens of shippers and industry leaders to identify the real world friction points in the supply chain. We discuss how they balance long term trends like AI and automation with sudden, disruptive headlines like new tariffs or geopolitical shifts. Tanzil also shares his advice for anyone looking to get on stage, emphasizing that Manifest isn't looking for product pitches. They’re looking for high level use cases and collaborative solutions.

Whether you’re a first time attendee looking to navigate the Venetian or a seasoned logistics pro curious about how the industry's biggest conversations are curated, Tanzil breaks it all down with a focus on practical value over hype.

What we cover:

• The Research Phase: How Tanzil’s team uses a listening tour to gather intel directly from shippers and manufacturers.
• Agility in Content: Why the Manifest agenda is never truly final until the weeks leading up to the show to ensure it reflects current market conditions.
• The No Sales Rule: Tanzil explains the strict vetting process that keeps product demos off the stage and puts problem-solving front and center.
• Speaker Criteria: What the content team looks for in a moderator and why diversity of thought is non negotiable for their panels.
• Mastering the Manifest App: How to use the 30 day window before the show to build a strategic battle plan and avoid the dreaded hallway FOMO.

Watch this interview on YouTube

Links:

• Connect with Tanzil at Manifest/Hive Group on Linkedin
• Purchase your Manifest 2026 ticket (save some money by using our link!)

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In the finale of our Best of 2025 series, we’re highlighting the modes and legalities that usually stay "out of sight, out of mind." We start with Jason Aristides of Open Tug, who is bringing tech to the 12,000 miles of US inland waterways. Then, maritime law expert Lauren Beagen joins us to break down the residual effects of the 2025 port labor strikes and the new Office of Shipbuilding. We wrap up with Grace Sharkey, diving into the "Icebreaker Race" in the Arctic and the shady reality of celebrity private label brands.

Key Takeaways:

• Why barges are 85% greener than trucks (and 70% cheaper).
• The truth about the "Hub and Spoke" model in carrier alliances.
• How the US is falling behind in Arctic "chess" with only two functional icebreakers.

Timestamps:

• 03:50 – Open Tug: Standardizing the River System
• 39:51 – Port Strikes & Automation
• 1:39:51 – The Polar Silk Road & Arctic Shipping
• 2:09:49 – The Private Label Paradox

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.