Why Bad Actors Know You're an Easy Target | Highway CCO Michael Caney on Behind The Wheelhouse

In this episode of Behind the Wheelhouse on Trucker Talk Radio, Michael, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway, joins Justin for a deep dive into one of the most pressing challenges facing the trucking industry today: freight fraud. From double brokering and chameleon carriers to cargo theft and identity theft, Michael breaks down how fraud evolved from a paperwork problem into an international criminal enterprise, and what Highway is doing to bring trust back to carrier-broker relationships.Michael traces his path from a commission-based sales job at Bear Transportation over 20 years ago to leading Highway's commercial organization, explaining how years of watching technology vendors fail him inside freight brokerages pushed him toward a product that actually solved the root cause. He walks through how Highway works for both brokers and carriers: verifying equipment through ELD connections, protecting carrier identities from impersonation, and surfacing trusted carriers to the brokers who need them most.The conversation also digs into the Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling on freight broker preemption and what it really means for brokers caught between vicarious liability and negligent hiring claims. Michael is blunt: the lawyers who told brokers for 40 years to stick their heads in the sand got smoked, and now the industry has to define what reasonable care actually looks like. He also pushes back on using inspection data as a vetting tool, calling it antiquated in a world where telematics can do the job better and faster.Beyond fraud, Michael shares a candid vision for where freight is headed: growing up. He argues the industry needs to do what banking did after its biggest crises, building secure digital infrastructure where carriers, brokers, factoring companies, insurance agents, and telematics providers all play by the same rules. He closes with a challenge to carriers and owner-operators: act like the professionals you are, build a real business presence, and stop letting bad actors suppress your wages.Chapters0:00 Intro0:05 Welcome and Episode Overview1:08 College Football Banter3:09 Michael Caney's Background in Trucking4:55 How Michael Caney Joined Highway7:54 What Highway Does for Carriers10:15 Highway Explained for New Truckers12:24 The Rise of Double Brokering14:42 Chameleon Carriers and Cargo Theft17:02 Supreme Court Ruling Breakdown20:37 Highway's Response to the Ruling23:06 Driver Verification and ReadyApp29:44 Stop Using Inspection Data for Vetting31:50 Professionalism and Standing Out35:50 The Real Wage Problem in Trucking41:19 AI and the Future of Freight44:25 Freight Growing Up47:49 Why Carriers and Brokers Need Highway49:05 Closing ThoughtsFollow Us!X: https://x.com/trucktalkradioIG: https://instagram.com/truckertalkradioTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@truckertalkradioFollow MichaelX: https://x.com/MichaelCaneyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcaney/Powered by Ready AppThe driver-verification platform protecting brokers, carriers, and shippers from identity fraud, onboarding risks, and unsafe hires.Learn more at: https://ready-app.comSupport GreyCross.orgA 501(c)(3) supporting families affected by roadway tragedies across America.Donate at: https://greycross.org#truckertalkradio #behindthewheelhouse #freightfraud #doublebrokering #carrierverification #truckingpodcast #freightbroker #owneroperator #truckinglife #supplychain #logistics #cargotheft #highway #truckingtech #cdldriver #freightindustry #truckingnews #smallcarrier