Explore every episode of the podcast Trucking Matters From Reliance Partners

Ernesto Gaytan, Jr., General Manager of Super Transport International (STI), is our featured guest on this Borderless Coverage edition of the podcast. Ernesto and STI have become respected fixtures in Laredo, Texas, and within the cross-border sector of transportation in and out of Mexico. Ernesto helped lead the effort to establish the Laredo Motor Carriers Association and he is a past President of the LMCA. Ernesto has also served a term as President of the Texas Trucking Association. 

Over the years, Ernesto has worked on a number of key issues related to cross-border, and, during this episode of the podcast, he provides valuable perspectives on a number of timely topics, including B-1 drivers, tort reform and USMCA. Ernesto also looks back at the early days of STI and notes the impact that his father, Ernesto Gaytan, Senior, made on the growth of cross-border transportation over the years. Your host for this edition of the podcast is Borderless Coverage Founder Mark Vickers, who is an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners.

RELIANCE CAN HELP: Are you in the market for cross-border insurance coverage? Borderless Coverage is a Reliance Partners‘ business that enables international companies to conduct safe and profitable business in North America and across North American borders. We provide cross-border insurance. Our team consists of business minded cross-border supply chain consultants, economists, insurance experts, lawyers and global trade agreement negotiators, including the most recent lead negotiators of USMCA from Mexico. To learn more about the offerings available through Borderless Coverage from Reliance Partners, please click here.

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In this Safety Matters edition of the podcast, we will be exploring the Crash Indicators BASIC, and we will be covering practical strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. We will also discuss the best practices for what drivers should do immediately after an accident and the critical steps motor carriers must take to ensure proper response, documentation and follow-up. Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team will be serving as subject matter experts throughout this episode. Prior to joining Reliance, both Mark and Daniel had long and distinguished careers as State Troopers working in the area of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host and moderator for this episode, which is an edited release from the live webinar event hosted by Reliance Partners on December 11th.

SIGN UP FOR JANUARY’S LIVE WEBINAR: Reliance Partners will be holding its next live webinar in the Seven BASICS Series on Thursday, January 15th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The January webinar will feature a discussion of Case Studies where the Safety Impact Team took the lead in helping clients navigate various challenges related to CSA Scores. You can register for the Reliance Partners’ January 15th webinar by clicking here.

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Carlos Sesma, a Senior Partner at the Sesma, Sesma and McNeese Law Firm, connects with Trucking Matters from Mexico City for this Borderless Coverage edition of the podcast. Carlos, who earned the reputation as the top corporate attorney in Mexico for the transportation and logistics sector, is also a partner and co-founder of the Mexico carrier vetting and rating platform, Confianza. As you will hear, Borderless Coverage founder and podcast host Mark Vickers, who is an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners, covers a broad range of timely topics with Carlos during the show.

Along with discussing the continued steady growth of cross-border logistics that have followed the shift in supply chains away from China and toward Mexico, Mark and Carlos highlight the key considerations when looking at  the differences between the legal structures for transportation and logistics in Mexico versus the United States, such as the limited liability for registered Mexican carriers. They also note the importance of having proper contracts and insurance to mitigate risks.

Carlos spends some time offering insights into why the Confianza platform was created with the aim of providing vetting and visibility for Mexican carriers to help build trust between them and U.S. shippers/brokers looking to work across the border. Looking at the road ahead, Carlos remains optimistic about the potential for continued growth in cross-border logistics, particularly with the upcoming renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement.

RELIANCE CAN HELP: Are you in the market for cross-border insurance coverage? Borderless Coverage is a Reliance Partners‘ business that enables international companies to conduct safe and profitable business in North America and across North American borders. We provide cross-border insurance. Our team consists of business minded cross-border supply chain consultants, economists, insurance experts, lawyers and global trade agreement negotiators, including the most recent lead negotiators of USMCA from Mexico. To learn more about the offerings available through Borderless Coverage from Reliance Partners, please click here.

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Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team serve as our guides for a look inside the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. This Safety Matters episode of our series continues our exploration of the Seven Basics that are part of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program. In addition to being our subject-matter experts as we talk through the top violations related to Vehicle Maintenance, Mark and Daniel also shared recommendations to reduce out of service violations found within this BASIC. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host and moderator for this edition of the podcast, which is an edited release from the live webinar event hosted by Reliance Partners on November 13th.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit the company’s website by clicking here.

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With the debut episode of our Trucking Matters Borderless Coverage Series, Reliance Partners welcomes Werner Enterprises Chairman and CEO Derek Leathers to discuss a host of topics related to the company’s cross-border operations while exploring the evolution of trade with Mexico since the days of NAFTA. Mark Vickers, an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners, is your host of the Borderless Coverage Series. Mark’s conversation with Derek takes us back to the early days of Derek’s career and how he joined Werner when the company was beginning to build its cross-border operation.

As you’ll hear, Mark and Derek discuss the changes that have taken place with US-Mexico trade from NAFTA through USMCA, including how Werner has continued to adapt with the market. Mark also gets Derek’s perspective on the key topics that have been in the news in recent months, including English Language Proficiency requirements, B1 Drivers and Non-Domicled CDL holders. Derek offers a collection of valuable insights throughout the conversation while noting Werner’s continued commitment to cross-border operations and the importance of Mexico as a trading partner with the United States.

Are you in the market for cross-border insurance coverage? Borderless Coverage is a Reliance Partners‘ business that enables international companies to conduct safe and profitable business in North America and across North American borders. We provide cross-border insurance. Our team consists of business minded cross-border supply chain consultants, economists, insurance experts, lawyers and global trade agreement negotiators, including the most recent lead negotiators of USMCA from Mexico. To learn more about the offerings available through Borderless Coverage from Reliance Partners, please click here.

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In this Safety Matters edition of our podcast, Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team Members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega take listeners through a comprehensive look at the Hours of Service regulations as we continue our series examining the Seven BASICS that are part of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program. Through their presentation, Mark and Daniel will offer insightful perspectives on the most common HOS violations encountered by law enforcement. They will also share the key steps drivers and fleets can take to stay compliant with the Hours of Service. The podcast will open with a brief look at what’s happening with English Language Proficiency and Non-Domiciled CDL enforcement. 

As you will hear, this episode was originally presented as a webinar by Reliance Partners, and Fleetworthy served as the sponsor of the live webinar event. To learn more about Fleetworthy, please visit Fleetworthy.com. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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In this edition of the podcast, Trucking Matters continues our look into the Unsafe Driving BASIC that is part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability enforcement program. Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega discuss approaches that safety managers and fleet leadership can utilize in working with drivers in preventing violations related to the Unsafe Driving BASIC. The discussion includes DataQ Challenges and how they can be utilized. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, will serve as your host and moderator for this episode of the series.

Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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With this episode, Trucking Matters from Reliance Partners begins our series exploring the Seven BASICs that are covered under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability enforcement program. BASIC is an acronym for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category. Part 1 of our series will feature the opening segment in a detailed overview of the Unsafe Driving BASIC.

Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, will serve as your host and moderator for this episode, which features expert perspective from Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega, two members of the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team. Prior to joining Reliance Partners, both Mark and Daniel established sterling reputations in commercial vehicle enforcement with long careers as State Troopers. At Reliance, Mark and Daniel are working with the company’s clients in the areas of safety and compliance.

In addition to discussing the Unsafe Driving BASIC by noting the various types and the severity of unsafe driving violations, including a look at how the points system works, this episode also provides an overview of the Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program overseen by the FMCSA and the Safety Measure System applied to truck carriers.

This discussion was initially shared as part of a Safety Matters Live Webinar episode from Reliance Partners on September 16th. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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Would your trucking company be prepared if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notified you that FMCSA would be conducting an audit of your operation? In this episode of the podcast, Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team offer a collection of helpful insights on preparing for and surviving an audit by FMCSA. Reliance Partners Chief Revenue Officer Thom Albrecht serves as the host and moderator of a conversation that allows both Mark and Daniel to call upon their experience as commercial vehicle enforcement officers before they each joined the Reliance Team.

As you will hear, Mark and Daniel note the importance of how understanding the audit process is crucial for compliance. They also explore the factors that auditors consider during an audit, including the significance of acute and critical violations, and how these can impact a motor carrier’s safety rating. Mark and Daniel take time during this episode to discuss the importance of mock audits as part of maintaining compliance and being prepared in case of an audit by FMCSA.

Through this episode of the podcast, originally broadcast as a live webinar by Reliance Partners, we’ll share an update with you on the enforcement of the English language proficiency requirements for CDL and non-CDL drivers, which was in the early stages of implementation at the time of the recording. In this part of the discussion, Mark and Daniel address the current trends in ELP enforcement and the challenges faced by drivers with language barriers, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to ensure compliance and safety on our roads.

Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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The Eighth Annual Modernization of Cross Border Trade Conference, which is hosted by Reliance Partners, took place in mid-June and it offered a number of valuable insights on what’s happening with cross-border trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Mark Vickers, the Executive Vice President of International Operations for Reliance Partners, started the conference eight years ago and he has championed its growth and evolution through the years.

For this episode, Trucking Matters host Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer of Reliance Partners, spent some time with Mark looking back at the eighth edition of the conference. As you’ll hear, the great conversation between Thom and Mark explores the growth of the event, the types of companies that attend, the impact of political changes on trade, and the importance of infrastructure investment. The conversation also covers regulatory changes, challenges related to cargo theft, and the future of cross-border trade, including innovations like the Green Bridge project. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team Members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega return to the podcast to continue the discussion on the guidance related to the decision by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to make English language proficiency an out-of-service violation. In this episode of the podcast, Mark and Daniel will be responding to questions submitted by the audience members who attended the Safety Matters Webinar that Reliance held not long after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced plans to begin ramping up enforcement of English language proficiency requirements for CDL and non-CDL drivers following an executive order from President Trump.

Jackson Alexander, one of the leading agents at Reliance, also joins the conversation to provide valuable perspective as the panel works through a collection of great questions that were prompted by the upcoming changes and the webinar presentation by the Reliance Partners team. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer for Reliance Partners, is your host and moderator for an important discussion that will be of interest to stakeholders across the supply chain. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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In this Safety Matters edition of the podcast, we are joined by two members of the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team to discuss the recent decision by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to make English language proficiency an out-of-service violation. The guidance from CVSA follows the announcement that the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration is ramping up enforcement of English language proficiency requirements for CDL and non-CDL drivers after an executive order from President Trump in late April.

The enforcement of the updated guidance on English language proficiency will no doubt have an impact on CSA driver fitness scores. In the days and weeks following the announcement, the team at Reliance Partners began fielding a lot of questions on the topic and began digging for answers. For this episode of the podcast, you’ll hear expert perspective on the changes from Reliance Safety Impact Team members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega. You will also hear valuable insights from Jackson Alexander, one of the leading agents at Reliance. Thom Albrecht, who is the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host for an informative discussion that provides insights into the potential consequences for drivers and motor carriers as well as recommendations for compliance and training. As you will hear, the panel emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to ensure driver readiness and the potential impact on insurance costs due to ELP violations. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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In our debut episode for our 2025 season, Trucking Matters will be providing listeners with a preview of what you can expect when Reliance Partners hosts the eighth annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference in Laredo, Texas, on June 17th. Trucking Matters Podcast host Thom Albrecht, who is also the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, welcomes Mark Vickers to the podcast. Mark is the Executive Vice President of International Operations at Reliance Partners.

In providing a preview of the popular conference, Thom and Mark explore the significance of modernization in cross-border trade, the growth of the annual event in Laredo and the networking opportunities it provides. The conversation also looks into the impact of tariffs on trade relations between the U.S. and Mexico, emphasizing Mexico’s continued importance as a business partner. While the news on tariffs remains an evolving story heading into the June 17th event, Mark continues to see a landscape where US-Mexico trade will experience further growth.

As Mark shares, the upcoming conference will feature speakers representing some of the largest cross-border motor carriers as well as leading cross-border customs brokers and freight brokers. Attendees will include representatives from the U.S. and Mexican governments along with a host of professionals from the private sector. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

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In this episode of the Trucking and Safety Matters podcast, hosted by Tom Albrecht, Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, the focus is on cross-border trade and the role it will play in the future of logistics. Our guest is Mark Vickers, who is the Executive Vice President and Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners. As you will hear, Mark discusses the evolution of the Seventh Annual Modernization of Cross Border Trade Conference in Laredo. Mark shares the story behind the evolution of this annual meeting, which he organized to foster better relationships and trust between U.S., Canada, and Mexico logistics stakeholders.

As part of this episode, you will hear Mark elaborate on the challenges and transformative solutions in cross-border logistics, particularly in the realm of cargo insurance, emphasizing the introduction and importance of a “borderless coverage” program. This program addresses the inadequacies of traditional Mexican cargo insurance laws, offering comprehensive protection for high-value goods moving across borders, which is crucial for maintaining trust and operational efficiency in an industry propelled by geopolitical changes and economic demands.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

The post Going Inside the World of Cross-Border Freight Brokerage appeared first on PodWheels.

For this Trucking Matters edition of the Reliance Partners podcast series, we will be getting a ground-floor perspective on the state of freight and how to stay afloat in challenging times from Chad Boblett. As the creator of Rate Per Mile Masters Group on Facebook, Chad has become a valued resource for a Facebook Community that has grown to more than 36,000 members. Chad also founded and operates his own trucking business, Boblett Brothers Trucking, which he launched in 2011 following 10 years of military service in the Marine Corps. Your host for the podcast is Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners. As you will hear, Thom and Chad had a wide-ranging conversation that included topics covering finding better loads and rates regardless of the cycle, the advantages of running a power-only operation, how to improve your safety scores and why, in Chad’s view, he believes it is better to have your own authority rather than positioning yourself as a lease-operator.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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Reliance Partners brings you another Trucking Matters edition of our podcast series as we will continue our deep dive into the market conditions and the capacity trends in the trucking industry. Our expert panel looking at the state of capacity is once again Craig Fuller, the CEO of FreightWaves, Tim Denoyer, Vice President of ACT Research, and Chris Pickett, founder of Pickett Research and author of the Pickett Line Newsletter. Chris also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Flock Freight. As part of the discussion, you’ll hear our panel share their respective views on the prospects for individual freight sectors. Your host for the podcast is Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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We are taking the opportunity to expand the scope of our series by bringing you a Trucking Matters edition of the podcast, and we will begin a discussion on the state of capacity during this episode. You will be hearing from three of the leading experts on all things related to capacity. Our guests will be Craig Fuller, the CEO of FreightWaves, Tim Denoyer, Vice President of ACT Research, and Chris Pickett, founder of Pickett Research and author of the Pickett Line Newsletter. Chris also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Flock Freight. Your host for the podcast is Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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In this episode, we will take a deep dive into the granular, detailed approach that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has taken in developing the expansion of regulations related to commercial motor vehicle inspections. Reliance Partners Safety Team Members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega are back on the podcast to answer questions and provide some examples of how the changes from FMCSA can impact carriers and drivers on a number of fronts, including CSA points. Safety Matters is hosted by Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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This episode of Safety Matters is dedicated to providing perspective on the long list of new regulations that are coming on the books from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. With some 1,400 new regulations related to roadside inspections, professional drivers and company safety officials might feel like they have just taken delivery on an oversized load of directives from the FMCSA. You’ll be hearing expert insights on the new regulations from two members of our Reliance Partners Safety Team, as Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega return to our podcast. Safety Matters is hosted by Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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In this episode, Reliance Partners President Chad Eichelberger and Scott Cornell from Travelers Insurance return to Safety Matters to continue our discussion on identifying the growing number of cargo theft scenarios and prevention strategies to consider. Both Chad and Scott have spent years in the cargo world and have seen nearly every theft and double-brokering scheme imaginable.  As you will hear, they will share insights about current trends and talk about how to stay ahead of the thieves. Your host for this discussion is Tom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

The post Identifying Cargo Theft Red Flags & Other Theft Prevention Strategies appeared first on PodWheels.

While technology and automated processes have delivered a long list of efficiencies and savings for trucking and logistics companies, many of those same technologies are being used for nefarious purposes by cargo thieves and theft rings. In this episode of Safety Matters, we will be joined by Chad Eichelberger, the President of Reliance Partners, and Scott Cornell of Travelers Insurance. Both of our guests are highly experienced with theft claims and prevention strategies. Our discussion will include common fraud and theft tactics, including double-brokering, demand for payment and how to spot fake documents.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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With our second episode of the podcast, we will be discussing mock audits and other proactive strategies that can be utilized in addressing the key issues related to the Out of Service Challenge, which is also known as the OOS. Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega, two members of the Safety Team at Reliance Partners, will join us once again on the podcast. As we noted in our first episode, both Mark and Daniel are former state troopers who were heavily involved with commercial trucking and inspections. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host for the podcast.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com.

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With the debut edition of the podcast, Safety Matters will begin our look into how to navigate the Out of Service Challenge, also known as the OOS. To help us dive into the key issues related to the Out of Service Challenge, we’ll be hearing the perspectives of Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega. Both Mark and Daniel are part of the Safety team at Reliance and they are also former state troopers who were heavily involved with commercial trucking and inspections. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host for the podcast.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, visit the company’s website, ReliancePartners.com

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