1251. #TFCP - Owning Trucks vs. Owning Relationships: A Trucker's Shift to Freight Sales!

In today's episode, I'm joined by Sage (Erik Larson), a logistics veteran with over 20 years in the industry, from owner-operator to SPI agent. He shares how the 2008 recession nearly took him out and how his decision to go all-in on freight brokerage reshaped everything.  We talk about the grind, working to master the over-dimensional niche, building custom trailers, and moving 70+ complex loads a year. Sage also breaks down how he built long-term carrier relationships without using load boards, his transition from independent brokerage to the SPI model, and why freight volume is tied to global trade shifts and oil prices.  If you're serious about operational excellence, niche specialization, and adapting your freight business, you'll want to hear this one!   Connect with Sage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SageOutcastX   📊📉 Don't miss out on the latest market trends by subscribing to your TOP Transportation Morning Show! 🌎 🎬🎯 #TheFreightCoach Morning Show is LIVE every weekday at 10:30 AM CST to break down transportation industry headlines! Mark your calendars!   🤝 Shoutout to my sponsors!👇 Denim | https://info.denim.com/chrisjolly   SPI Logistics | https://spi3pl.com/  Revenova | https://revenova.com/freightcoach/ NMFTA | https://nmfta.org/   🚚 Ditch your carrier packet, drive more carrier sales, and get better load coverage with seamless digital onboarding, TMS integration, and smart load coverage by visiting https://brokercarrier.com/.    To donate and contribute to the Have a Heart's purpose, visit https://www.haveaheartinc.org/donate.   🚀🔥 To sign up for my Newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/iNoHco, get in touch with me through the social media channels below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!👇   ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrL70IEnCfDkNaiYMar3jw 📷 https://www.instagram.com/thefreightcoach/  🕊️ https://twitter.com/thefr8coach  💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jolly-a183aa6a/