66% of logistics pros say talent quality — not cost — is the #1 factor in choosing a nearshore partner. Rapido's integration model explains why that's the right question to be asking.
Plus, a carrier pleading guilty to mob money laundering while still FMCSA-active, Iran's first post-ceasefire attack and what it means for diesel surcharges, FedEx Freight's first earnings as a standalone company, and more in today's newsletter.
Freight brokers are measuring their inboxes wrong. Most inbound email is monitoring, not work. And the longtail categories that look like noise are costing real margin. Here's how to audit what's actually in your inbox, and why it matters in 2026's margin-first market.
Freight Fraud in 2025 and What Highway Just Launched for Carriers
In the latest episode of "The FreightCaviar Podcast", we sit down with Michael Caney, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway. He shares tips on protecting your business against fraud and talks about Highway's newest product.
In this week’s episode ofThe FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down withMichael Caney, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway. He shares his industry predictions for 2025, discusses strategies to combat freight fraud, and unveils Highway’s newest product.
A year ago, we spoke with Michael about cybersecurity. Today, he's back to give us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the industry's pressing issues: freight fraud– and the strategies to fight it.
The Hidden Nature of Freight Fraud
According to Michael, it’s impossible to quantify the problem because of how hidden it still is. In fact, some prefer to keep it that way.
“I’ve heard it’s up to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses but that’s anecdotal; no one reports it. There are a lot of entities that don’t want you to know how bad it is.”
New Tactics in Freight Fraud
When asked about new tactics in freight fraud, Michael explains that it’s less about tactics and more about efficiency.
“There are only so many ways you can steal freight, and it starts in the communication channels– ‘How can I brute force my way into learning about a load or learning about a network via e-mail or phone.’"
Protecting Your Business Against Freight Fraud
So how can you protect your business against freight fraud? Focus on digital experience.
“If you’re a broker the place you have to be vigilant about is your inbox and around your phone system. Ask yourself– should a carrier be doing certain things in your digital experience? Should they be searching for your refrigerated freight? Should a carrier with a physical footprint in the southeast be searching for loads in California? No, they shouldn’t.”
The Capitols of Cargo Theft
When asked about top regions and countries linked to cargo theft, Michael mentions Eastern Europe and Pakistan. But it’s not so much about the country of origin as it is about transparency.
“I think it’s more about understanding that there’s a problem we’re dealing with and whether or not you're willing to be transparent about how you operate. There are folks with offices in Europe that are more transparent than some carriers in North America.”
Highway’s Newest Product
He also introduced something they'd been working on for a while.
“If you’re a smaller freight broker and you want to appear valid you’ve got to come to Highway and claim your identity. One of the things that we’re interested in is ownership and FMCSA changes. It helps us further shrink the world of good people that want to work together.”
Advice on Fighting Back Against Fraud
Michael also shared a piece of advice that he thinks all brokers and carriers should follow to fight back against freight fraud.
“I think we could do a better job of raising our collective business acumen and just treating each other like human beings.”
Companies like Highway play a big role in preventing freight fraud. But the only way that we can fight back against it is to work together.
“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."
“Hold on, we've got something here where these guys are hungry to grow. We're hungry to grow." So, if we work together, we can help them grow their business."
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