Take the guesswork out of fighting freight fraud and scaling profitably. CEO Adam Blanchard (Tanager Logistics, Double Diamond Transport) breaks down the exact tech stack, hiring system, and operating rhythms behind his $65M asset-based brokerage. You’ll learn how to protect your company against double brokering and identity spoofing, a secret unlock for building a nearshore team, and align asset and brokerage ops without blowing margin.What you’ll get:• A layered anti-fraud framework you can deploy this quarter.• The asset/brokerage tech stack that actually moves the needle• Field notes from Capitol Hill: what policy shifts mean for carriers and brokers today.Perfect for carriers and brokers who want to grow, stay paid, and sleep at night.

Before they even found Alvys, Stevens Trucking discovered a tech-driven strategy that changed everything for their drop-and-hook efficiency, and in this episode of Freight People, Cole Stevens breaks it all down.

It’s the exact move that helped them reduce idle time, optimize trailer pools, and scale like a tech-first fleet.

Host Ava Barnes sits down with Cole Stevens, the Chief Strategy Officer of Stevens Trucking, to unpack the full journey from a hotshot in the Oklahoma oilfields to a 400-truck powerhouse named one of the Top 10 Workplaces in Oklahoma.

“We’re a 46-year-old startup.”

“If I wouldn’t drive for us, how can we expect anyone else to?”

You’ll hear the founding story, the family values that still drive operations, and how smart tech layered with old-school grit has made Stevens a standout in freight.

Biggest takeaway: The drop-and-hook playbook that changed the game

From Combat to CEO: The Grit, Faith & Vision Behind Spartan Carrier Group | Freight People Podcast

In this episode of the Freight People Podcast, host Ava Barnes sits down with Carlos Llanes Jr., CEO and founder of Spartan Carrier Group—a man whose story will stick with you long after the episode ends.

Carlos walks us through his bold journey from musician to Marine to multi-million-dollar logistics founder—growing Spartan Carrier from $0 to $54M in just over 3 years, with no outside funding. But this isn't just a business success story. It’s a story of purpose, grit, faith, and building something bigger than money.

You'll hear how Carlos landed Toyota as one of Spartan’s first clients, what it really takes to scale with integrity, and how he views automation not as an end—but as a means to serve people better. He also shares the powerful love story with his wife, the moment he found his faith, and how he's using his business as a platform for impact—from driver retention to AI and CDL schools.

If you're a freight leader, entrepreneur, or just someone craving purpose-driven inspiration, this one’s for you.

Listen to how Spartan is flipping the industry on its head—one mission-led decision at a time.

Timestamps

0:00 — Why automation only matters if it improves people’s lives

1:00 — From musician to Marine to logistics founder

3:30 — Winning Toyota with no backing

8:00 — Walking away from corporate America

14:00 — Carlos's love story + faith journey

27:00 — Building a driver-first company

30:00 — Why Spartan chose Alvys as their TMS

33:30 — Advice for freight founders

35:00 — Carlos’s final message on peace, leadership, and letting go of worry

Learn more about Spartan Carrier Group: https://spartcargroup.com

Follow Spartan on Instagram: @spartancarriergroup

Want tech that grows with you? Check out alvys.com

Subscribe for more raw, real conversations with the people moving freight forward.

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