Trucking Matters
Podcast PRESENTED BY
Presented by Reliance Partners, the Trucking Matters Podcast dives into the heart of the trucking and logistics industry, where safety, strategy, and success intersect.
Hosted by Thom Albrecht, Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, this podcast is designed for fleet executives, safety professionals, owner-operators, drivers, and anyone navigating the world of commercial trucking.
Each episode features leading voices from across the industry, tackling topics from the latest safety regulations and risk management trends to operational strategies, insurance updates, and freight market insights.
Whether you’re behind the wheel or behind the scenes, Trucking Matters brings you the conversations that keep your business moving forward – safely and smartly.
To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.
Latest Episodes
Cross-Border Trade Expert Martin Rojas Discusses Navigating Today’s Challenges
For our first Borderless Coverage episode of 2026, we will be featuring the insights of Martin Rojas, a highly respected subject matter expert with more than 30 years of experience within the cross-border sector of the transportation industry. Martin has followed up...
Super Transport International’s Ernesto Gaytan, Jr. Highlights Key Cross-Border Issues
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...
Exploring The Crash BASIC And Practical Strategies For Reducing Frequency And Severity
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...
Top Attorney Carlos Sesma Discusses Mitigating Cross-Border Risks and Confianza Carrier Vetting Platform
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...
Safety Matters Edition: Understanding The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC
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...
Werner Enterprises Chairman and CEO Derek Leathers Discusses Cross-Border Operations, ELP and Trade With Mexico
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...
Hours of Service: A Comprehensive Look At Compliance For Drivers and Fleets
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...
Exploring The Use of DataQ Challenges With Unsafe Driving Violations
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...
Understanding All Aspects Of FMCSA’s Unsafe Driving BASIC
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...
Providing Essential Insights For Surviving FMCSA Audits
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...
Conference Recap: Insights On What’s Happening With Cross-Border Trade
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...
Answering Important Questions On Updates To ELP Enforcement
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...
Exploring The Impact of ELP Enforcement on Safety Compliance
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...
Talking Tariffs & Other Key Issues: Previewing The Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference
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...
Going Inside the World of Cross-Border Freight Brokerage
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...
Chad Boblett’s Owner-Operator Tips To Stay Afloat During Tough Times
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,...
Taking A Deep Dive Into Market Conditions & The Prospects Ahead For Freight
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...
Expert Panel Discusses The State Of Capacity
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...
Addressing Questions On Expansion of FMCSA’s Roadside Inspection Regulations
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...
Discussing New FMCSA Regulations Related To Roadside Inspections
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...
Identifying Cargo Theft Red Flags & Other Theft Prevention Strategies
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...
Combatting Advanced Methods Of Cargo Theft
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...
Exploring The Value Of Utilizing Mock Audits
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...
Navigating The Out Of Service Challenge
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...






























