The cradle-to-grave model has been a staple business model in logistics brokerage for years. And with the rise of the agent model across North America, it’s seeing a bit of a glow-up.

Everywhere you turn, there’s another post selling the dream: Be your own boss. Work from anywhere. Build your own book. Keep more of your commission.

Sounds great, right? And to be fair, it can be, it’s how I started my entrepreneur journey. Cradle-to-grave can offer freedom, autonomy, and a chance to build something of your own. But let’s not romanticize it. Because when you’re the one selling the freight, booking the truck, tracking the shipment, handling the fallout, chasing paperwork, and invoicing the customer… that’s not freedom. That’s a one-person logistics department. And it burns people out.

The freight’s delivered, the truck’s empty, and the driver’s already asking about their next load.

You’re done, right?
Not even close.

This is where a lot of dispatchers coast, but this stage can make or break your margin, customer relationships, and ability to get paid. It’s not glamorous, but post-delivery is where the smart teams pull ahead. Tie off the loose ends now, or deal with the fallout later (usually in the form of disputes, denied accessorials, or annoyed billing staff).

Here’s your checklist for after delivery.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Victoria Jones

Let’s be honest: following up can feel awkward. You don’t want to be a pest, but you also don’t want to let that lead, quote, or opportunity quietly fade into the void.

Whether you’re in sales, customer service, or running your own small business, the follow-up dance is one you have to learn. The trick? Doing it with confidence, and not avoiding being a stage 5 clinger.

Here’s how to follow up like a pro, without feeling like icky about it.

You’ve made it past the pickup, congrats. But now the load’s rolling, and the clock is ticking. This is the part where a lot of dispatchers mentally check out.

Don’t.

Because in-transit is when things can start to fall apart quietly, and if you’re not watching closely, you’ll only hear about it when it becomes a problem at delivery. Or worse, in a claim. Here’s what you need to be checking while the load is moving and before that trailer door gets cracked open on the other end.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Abby Hamm

We all know how much I hate hype when it comes to new businesses in logistics, unfortunately it can feel like there’s a shiny new “must-have” trend every week.

AI-powered TMS. Drones in warehouses. Blockchain for pallets. Digital freight marketplaces promising to “Uber-ize” trucking. Not to mention every LinkedIn guru yelling about “resilience,” “visibility,” or “hyper-automation” (whatever the F that means).

The FOMO is real, and so is the fatigue. Because when you're running a brokerage, managing a fleet, or trying to keep products moving smoothly through a supply chain, you don’t have time (or budget) to chase every trend that pops up.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Rhythm Kaur Gandhi

Booking a truck on a load from a brand-new customer? Take a breath. Before you hit confirm, run through this checklist, because nothing kills a day faster than realizing too late that you’re missing a crucial detail and you can’t back out now.

This isn’t just a CYA move (although yes, it's that too). It's about protecting your time, your team, your drivers, and your profit. Putting in extra effort on the front end helps you avoid the possibility of an absolute dumpster fire later on. Skipping these questions is how you end up with equipment mismatches, rejected freight, or worse safety violations.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Megan Estrada-Zink

If you’ve worked in logistics for longer than five minutes, you know this industry is all about relationships, and relationships are all about trust. Building that trust doesn’t always mean being the loudest, smartest, or most experienced person in the room. Sometimes, it means reading the room and meeting people where they are.

That doesn’t mean being fake. It means being flexible.

Adapting your communication style, your behavior, and yes, even your attire, is one of the most underrated skills in logistics. Whether you’re pitching a new client, troubleshooting a warehouse delay, or talking drivers through a reroute, success often comes down to your ability to connect. And connections start with how you show up.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Blythe (Brumleve) Milligan

I never really thought I was a podcast person, until I realized I just had to find the podcasts that worked for me. And, surprising no one, I found myself drawn to shows hosted by women. Maybe it’s the relatability, or maybe the topics just hit harder. Who knows. But in case you’re still trying to find your podcast groove, I’ve gathered my go-to listens, shows that teach me things, inspire me, and keep me laughing on even the hardest days.

Here are my top 10 must-listen podcasts hosted by women:

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), choosing the right warehousing partner isn’t just about finding a place to store your products, it’s about finding a reliable extension of your business. The wrong partner can cost you time, money, customer satisfaction, and frankly, your sanity. The right partner, on the other hand, can help you grow, scale, and operate smoothly.

Before signing any contracts or moving any inventory, here are 8 key questions SMEs should ask when deciding on potential warehousing partners.

Every time I turn on industry news, scroll through LinkedIn, or attend a conference, it’s the same faces (typically white males ones). The same CEOs running from appearance to appearance spouting the same talking points, occasionally calling each other out. 

Look, I get it. You’re the face of the company. But if you’re the only face, that’s a problem, not just for you, but for your business and the entire industry.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Let’s be honest, most logistics and supply chain knowledge can be taught. Understanding different transportation modes, hours of service regulations, pricing structures, and operational processes are all things you can learn through training, documentation, and shadowing others on the job. Good companies have procedures in place, and most of the day-to-day work can be handled by almost anyone willing to learn.

Welcome to our series celebrating the incredible women in Supply Chain and Logistics! In a traditionally male-dominated field, it's important to shine a light on the inspiring women who are making a significant impact. Through a mix of insightful and fun questions, we’ll explore their journeys, challenges, and successes. While we acknowledge the contributions of everyone in this industry, this series aims to elevate the voices and stories of women who often get missed. Next up: Sylvia Ng

When I walked into Manifest, I knew my understanding of warehouses, warehouse operations, and warehouse tech was, at best, basic. But after attending, I quickly realized just how much more there is to learn. (Cue Aladdin’s A Whole New World playing in the background.) So, it’s time for another series, this one diving into warehousing, the challenges that come with it, the tech that’s available to help, and the operations behind it all.

I had the pleasure of being a guest on an episode of The Postal Hub Podcast. We discussed the world of food delivery and how postal operators can try to make it work. Yep, you read that right, your local postal service isn’t just about letters and parcels anymore; they’re eyeing your food and bev too.