The Ramp Up

Hoplite Logistics
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

The Ramp Up is a Podcast by Hoplite Logistics detailing their journey from a pre-launch startup as a Logistics brokerage. Co-Founders Rich Krul and Bryan Rekowski share their perspective as the business has continued to evolve, while also talking with industry professionals about every aspect of growing a business.

Episodes

  1. May 29

    Episode 10 - Feeding Millions Together with Move For Hunger's Stephanie De La Hoz & Kyla Crisp

    In this episode, we explore the impactful work of Move for Hunger, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste and fighting hunger through innovative food recovery programs. Our guests, Stephanie De La Hoz and Kyla Crisp, share insights into their initiatives, challenges, and how partnerships with logistics providers like Hoplite are transforming food rescue efforts. 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:50 - Guest Introductions and Experience: Stephanie and Kyla introduce themselves and describe their backgrounds in food banking and non-profit work 03:03 - History and Mission of Move for Hunger: Stephanie details how the organization was founded 17 years ago by Adam Loey to prevent food waste during residential moves 05:08 - Scaling Impact and Evolving Logistics: Discussion on how the organization expanded from small residential pickups to a charity freight network moving over 70 million pounds of food annually 07:54 - How Food Donations are Sourced: Insights into how the organization identifies donations through outreach to farms, manufacturers, and partnerships with other food recovery groups 09:40 - Building the Charity Freight Network: Stephanie explains the trial-and-error process of building a sophisticated logistics network without prior industry backgrounds 14:22 - Addressing Shipper Concerns and Liability: A look at the common hurdles for donors, including liability fears and the protection offered by the Bill Emerson Act 18:50 - How to Get Involved: Information for shippers and organizations interested in partnering with Move for Hunger through their website and social media 19:32 - Current Challenges: Gas Prices and Logistics: Kyla discusses the impact of rising fuel costs on their budget and the logistical effort of coordinating large-scale produce drops 22:11 - Flexibility in Distribution: The benefits of working outside restricted food bank networks to ensure rejected or surplus loads are moved quickly 24:42 - Preventing Waste Across All Food Types: Why the organization chooses to repurpose non-nutritious food items (like ice cream toppings) to prevent landfill waste 27:08 - New Initiatives: Freight Savings Program: Overview of a new program helping food banks reduce their own transportation costs by leveraging the charity's logistics support 29:12 - Community Outreach and Events: Discussion on "activations" at industry conferences where attendees can participate in meal-packing events 31:10 - Partnership Gratitude and Closing: Closing remarks reflecting on the 1.7 million pounds of food moved through this specific partnership over the last year

    Episode 10 - Feeding Millions Together with Move For Hunger's Stephanie De La Hoz & Kyla Crisp

  2. 11/06/2025

    Episode 9 - Startup Stories and Spidey Vibes: Building Tom Holland's BERO Brewing with Neha Soi & Macy Chambers

    In this episode, hosts Rich and Bryan open with a little fun (yes, they really ask: “how cool is Tom Holland?”) before diving into one of the biggest drivers of startup success — culture. They sit down with Macy Chambers and Neha Soi to discuss their career journeys and what it takes to build a company like BERO from the ground up, including early mistakes, key launch lessons, and the critical role of supply chain in making a retail brand stand out. From there, the conversation shifts to the carrier side of the business: what makes a carrier credible from a shipper’s perspective, how Hoplite Logistics stays laser-focused on the shipper experience, and where growth is headed next. The group explores how technology and intuition combine to guide both teams’ evolution, while also touching on the importance of in-person relationships and Neha’s transition from freight brokerage to the shipper side. Whether you’re launching a startup, scaling operations, or simply curious about how culture, supply chain, and technology intersect, this episode offers a backstage pass into the making of two different—but closely connected—growth stories. Tune in for an inside look at what’s working, what’s shifting, and what’s ahead for BERO and Hoplite. 00:00 – Intro to BERO and how cool is Tom Holland? 03:20 – Building culture at a start-up 05:49 – Macy and Neha’s career journeys 08:42 – Building BERO from the ground up 12:41 – Lessons learned from several start-up launches 16:08 – Importance of supply chain in retail start-ups 17:59 – What makes a carrier credible from their viewpoint? 19:50 – How awesome Hoplite Sales Director Rob Conard is 21:16 – Hoplite’s growth and focus on the shipper experience 23:19 – Pivot points and the role of intuition 28:33 – Neha’s quick transition from a freight brokerage to the shipper side 31:57 – Importance of in-person visits for relationship-building 35:44 – Hoplite and BERO’s approach to technology 41:46 – What does the future hold for BERO? 44:49 – Working with large retailers

    Episode 9 - Startup Stories and Spidey Vibes: Building Tom Holland's BERO Brewing with Neha Soi & Macy Chambers

  3. 08/20/2025

    Episode 8 – The Age of AI has Arrived! A Future Look with Augment CCO Justin Hall

    AI is reshaping nearly every industry, and freight and logistics are no exception. Among the companies leading this transformation is Augment, a rising force in freight brokerage technology. In this episode, hosts Rich and Bryan sit down with Justin Hall, CCO of Augment, to dive into the company’s mission, capabilities, and vision for the future. Justin shares his unique background, the lessons that shaped his career, and why Augment is positioning itself as a game-changer for brokers. Looking ahead, what will freight look like in the next 2–3 years as innovation accelerates? Justin offers his insights—and explains how you and your company can start capitalizing on these changes today. 00:01 – Intro & Culture Building 06:29 – Justin’s Background & Freight Journey 16:23 – The Origins of Augment 21:37 – Why Hoplite Partnered with Augment 23:49 – Augment’s Mission 28:32 – The Promise of AI in Freight 32:32 – Startup Culture & Work–Life Balance 36:30 – Augment’s Commitment to Customers 37:47 – Do Shippers Care About AI? The Real Value Add 39:34 – Long-Term Applications of AI in Freight 44:43 – The Role of Tribal Knowledge in Logistics 46:10 – Augment’s Biggest Challenges to Date 48:37 – Taking the Leap: Starting Your Own Business 50:38 – Why Shippers Choose Hoplite

    Episode 8 – The Age of AI has Arrived! A Future Look with Augment CCO Justin Hall

  4. 07/21/2025

    Episode 7 - So you want to ship cross-border Mexico? Everything to know with Mark Vickers of Borderless Coverage

    In the seventh episode of The Ramp Up, Rich and Bryan chat with former Borderless Coverage CEO Mark Vickers. Borderless Coverage was acquired by Reliance Partners in 2021, where Mark now works as Head of International Logistics. The trio discuss the state of cross-border freight in Mexico, best practices for shippers moving in and out of Mexico, and what you can do to best negate risk south of the border. Mark's background with Mexico freight in particular has made him an industry expert on the topic. If you are a shipper who is already moving Mexico freight, this is an episode you will not want to miss. 00:01 – Status update on Hoplite 01:11 – What did we underestimate? 03:50 – What are we pleased with? 06:08 – Importance of security measures with Mexico Cross-border freight 14:00 – Mark Vickers intro and Borderless Coverage background 18:00 – Reliance Partners shipper insurance coverage and trends 26:14 – Mexico cross-border policy changes in recent years 33:31 – What does Mexico need to change to curb rampant cargo theft? 38:55 – What do first-time shippers need to know about moving cross-border Mexico? 42:38 – What regions in Mexico should shippers invest in? 45:31 – 8th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Event

    Episode 7 - So you want to ship cross-border Mexico? Everything to know with Mark Vickers of Borderless Coverage

  5. 05/15/2025

    Episode 6 - Talking Tariffs! Cargado's Matt Silver on Mexico, China, and the Future

    In the sixth episode of The Ramp Up, Rich and Bryan chat with Cargado Co-Founder & CEO Matt Silver. Cargado is a freight marketplace focused on cross-border solutions and a strategic partner of Hoplite. Matt's background with Mexico freight in particular has made him an industry expert on the topic, and he shares his deep insight into the tariff situation, how it impacts Mexico cross-border, and what he expects to see over the coming months. The trio also discuss the start-up process for both of Matt's ventures (Forager and Cargado) and lessons learned in the process. 00:00 – Intro & Matt’s background with Coyote, Forager, and Cargado 03:27 – Finding his Mexico Freight Niche 10:54 – Building Forager: The Early Days 14:25 – Lessons Learned from Forager: Starting a Brokerage 19:49 - Navigating Funding and Investment in Freight 22:07 – Starting Cargado: Filling a Hole in the Market 25:07 – Future of the Platform 28:35 – The Team-building Approach of Cargado 31:26 – The Current Tariff Landscape & Trade Dynamics 35:17 – Future Mexico & Canada Trade with the Trump Administration 38:27 – Forecasting the 2025 US Market 41:37 – Matt’s Emerging Tech Platforms in Freight

    Episode 6 - Talking Tariffs! Cargado's Matt Silver on Mexico, China, and the Future

  6. 04/15/2025

    Episode 5 - The Great TMS Debate! Plus the guys talk tech stack for freight brokers

    In the fifth episode of The Ramp Up, Rich and Bryan discuss their thought process when choosing their technology partners, including demo'ing 10 different TMS platforms. They give their high-level thoughts on all 10 and reveal their choice. Lastly, they give their top three choices for emerging tech platforms within the freight brokerage industry. 00:00 – Intro 00:50 – Manifest impressions and takeaways 03:14 – HR and Payroll Platforms (Rippling) 04:49 – Importance of a PEO for remote workforces 06:41 – The TMS decision-making process for Hoplite 09:17- Descartes Alijex 09:53 – Alvys 11:18 – Roserocket 13:04 – 3PL Systems 14:50 – Revenova 17:41 – Turvo 19:55 – MVMNT 23:03 – WaveTMS 26:38 – Tai Software 30:00 – What should you look for and what did was learned? 33:04 – Pricing Platforms (Greenscreens, SONAR, DAT) 37:57 – Compliance and Onboarding Platforms (Highway/RMIS/MyCP) 43:20 – GPS Tracking (Macropoint) 43:53 – GenLogs 44:24 – Phone Systems (Grasshopper, RingCentral) 44:50 – Cargado 45:52 –Bitfreighter 46:09 – Needs versus Wants and mistakes made 50:17 – TOP 3 DISCUSSION – Top Emerging Tech 50:52 – GoodShip 52:52 – GenLogs (continued) 54:22 – Cargado (continued) 57:02 – AI Agent Platforms 1:00:30 - Recap

    Episode 5 - The Great TMS Debate! Plus the guys talk tech stack for freight brokers

  7. 02/03/2025

    Episode 4 - How has Journey changed the Sales training landscape with AI role-playing?

    In the fourth episode of The Ramp Up, Rich and Bryan chat with Journey Founder Will Jenkins. Will was previously a Co-Founder of MoLo, an extremely successful third party logistics provider who was acquired by ArcBest in 2021. Will has since founded Journey, a transportation-focused recruiting and training academy that is quickly growing. The three discuss Journey's state-of-the-art AI role-playing bot and how this could be the future of Sales training. They also touch on the importance of culture, how to optimize the interviewing process, and which characteristics matter the most when hiring Salespeople. 0:00 - Intro 3:44 - Journey’s AI-based training platform 7:40 - Journey’s origins and strategy 9:53 - Journey’s marketing 14:03 - Journey’s launch versus MoLo’s 15:39 - Building a great culture 18:11 - Best interviewing practices 24:01 - Importance of training 24:57 - Training in a remote environment 29:36 - Screening for Journey and its customers 35:51 - Sales training and strategy 42:34 - ROI timeline for Sales hires 47:02 - Sales-focused interviews 48:45 - Top characteristic for a sales person

    Episode 4 - How has Journey changed the Sales training landscape with AI role-playing?

  8. 12/16/2024

    Episode 3 - THE CULTURE + Favorite Candidate Qualities

    In the third episode of The Ramp Up, co-hosts Rich and Bryan discuss their goals for the culture at Hoplite and how they approached hiring to accomplish that.They finish the episode ranking the top three qualities each of them look for when interviewing candidates. 00:00 - Intro 01:56 - Defining the company pillars 04:21 - Hiring people with a helpful mindset 07:33 - Building culture from scratch and in a remote environment 08:43 - Importance of consistency and transparency 14:01 - In-person onboarding and face-to-face importance 16:33 - Navigating the hiring process for Sales at Hoplite 19:55 – Why Guadalajara for the Mexican entity? 22:38 – Hiring from other brokerages 26:37 – RANKED – Top candidate attributes

    Episode 3 - THE CULTURE + Favorite Candidate Qualities

  9. 11/21/2024

    Episode 2 - How does Greenscreens optimize their best-in-class marketing strategy?

    In episode 2 of The Ramp Up, co-hosts Rich & Bryan place a Hoplite Spotlite on Greenscreens.ai, a real-time pricing platform in the logistics industry. While their platform is best-in-class, it is their marketing strategy that is discussed as they have curated a phenomenal approach to brand image and culture-building alike. Speaking with Vice President of Marketing Celine Clayton and Vice President of Customer Success Rachel Backfisch, they dive into many topics that are applicable to business of all sizes and industries. Topics include: 00:00 – Intro to Celine and Rachel 03:00 – Their approach to marketing 05:55 – Effect of good culture on marketing & the brand 08:02 – Social media marketing 12:42 – LinkedIn’s impact on marketing in logistics 14:50 – Partnerships in marketing strategy 17:16 – KPIs and analytics to monitor in marketing 19:50 – Most effective low-cost marketing channels 24:14 – How to hack the LinkedIn algorithm 28:03 – Greenscreens branding origin story 33:42 – Company pillars tying into marketing 38:10 – Rebranding timeline 40:48 – Greenscreens almost had a mascot? 42:18 – Flexing some creative muscle 43:19 – Top logistics brands right now? 45:33 – Super Bowl hopefuls

    Episode 2 - How does Greenscreens optimize their best-in-class marketing strategy?

  10. 11/07/2024

    Episode 1 - THE PLUNGE + Favorite Logistics Brands

    In the first episode of The Ramp Up, co-hosts Rich and Bryan discuss their decision to leave their previous roles and embark on the start-up journey, how difficult that decision and process was, and the origins and branding of Hoplite Logistics. They finish the episode ranking their top three favorite brands in the logistics world right now. 0:00- Intro to the podcast 4:08 - Co-hosts backgrounds 6:29 - The leap of faith 12:26 - Doubts creeping in 15:13 - Origin of the branding 19:44 - Podcast goal 20:38 - Bryan’s decision to join 23:55 - Our favorite logistics brands right now

    Episode 1 - THE PLUNGE + Favorite Logistics Brands
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Ramp Up is a Podcast by Hoplite Logistics detailing their journey from a pre-launch startup as a Logistics brokerage. Co-Founders Rich Krul and Bryan Rekowski share their perspective as the business has continued to evolve, while also talking with industry professionals about every aspect of growing a business.

Information

  • Creator
    Hoplite Logistics
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Ramp Up