Freight Think: Turning Freight Spend Into a Strategic Advantage

In this episode of the Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin Goethe is joined by Reid Klosowsky and Bill Moroney, co-founders of Freight Think LLC and former senior leaders at Bed Bath & Beyond. Together, they unpack why freight and transportation spend is one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — levers for improving profitability in today’s supply chains.With decades of experience spanning transportation, vendor management, and retail supply chain operations, Reid and Bill share practical insights on how companies can move beyond averages, silos, and “default decisions” to truly understand the real cost of moving products.🔑 Key Topics CoveredWhy freight data is notoriously messy — and why most companies stop too earlyThe hidden cost of “average-based” freight assumptionsHow product decisions and transportation decisions quietly work against each otherThe danger of premium freight becoming the default instead of the exceptionWhy e-commerce magnifies freight mistakes (and losses) at scaleThe difference between shipping a truck vs. shipping a SKUHow incentive structures drive freight behavior — for better or worseWhere AI is already helping (and where human judgment still matters)Early thoughts on blockchain, visibility, and what actually creates valueWhy companies with thin margins feel freight pain the fastest🚨 Common Freight Mistakes Reid & Bill See All the TimePaying for faster service levels that provide zero real benefitTreating freight as “someone else’s problem” instead of a total landed cost issueMaking sourcing decisions that lower unit cost but raise total supply chain costLetting fear of stockouts justify permanent premium freight behaviorCelebrating sales spikes without realizing they’re losing money per unit💡 Big TakeawayFreight isn’t just a logistics problem — it’s a profitability problem. When companies connect freight data to products, forecasts, service levels, and incentives, they unlock opportunities that directly improve the bottom line. As Bill puts it: a dollar is a dollar — whether it’s freight, inventory, or markdowns.🤖 Freight, AI, and the Road AheadReid and Bill also share a grounded, experience-based perspective on AI in freight and supply chain analytics. While AI can dramatically speed up analysis and surface insights, they emphasize the importance of clean data, context, and human oversight — especially when decisions impact margins at scale.👥 About Today’s GuestsReid Klosowsky is Co-Founder of Freight Think LLC and former VP of Global Transportation & Supply Chain Flow at Bed Bath & Beyond, where he led a $10B transportation network through massive disruption and transformation.Bill Moroney is Co-Founder of Freight Think LLC and former VP of Vendor Management at Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY, with deep expertise in supplier performance, cost-to-serve models, and profitability optimization.📬 Connect with Freight ThinkWebsite: https://www.freightthink.comLinkedIn: Bill Maroney - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-maroney-07b5a61a1/LinkedIn: Reid Klosowsky - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reid-klosowsky-8909831/