The carrier side of freight is often discussed in terms of rates, assets, and capacity, but Zach Schuchart wants the industry to remember what sits underneath all of it: people. On this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni Ruiz sits down with Zach, SVP and Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, for a candid conversation about carrier profitability, meaningful automation, and why treating carriers and drivers like true partners is not just the right thing to do, it is good business. Zach brings more than two decades of experience across UPS, Chainalytics, XPO, and Optimal Dynamics, giving him a rare view into the shipper, broker, and carrier sides of the market. Together, he and Jenni unpack how carrier networks have evolved, why “getting the right freight in the network” matters, and how advanced optimization can help carriers make smarter, more profitable decisions without stripping the human knowledge out of the operation. They also dig into the emotional side of change management, the difference between useful automation and automation for automation’s sake, and why the shipper-carrier relationship has become more distant over time. From driver experience at facilities to liability indemnification and the overuse of non-asset providers, Zach isn't afraid to initiate the tough conversations freight needs to have. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.
