Podcast: Building Innovative Solutions in Freight with Will Jenkins

In the world of freight and trucking, success stories often begin in unexpected places. On this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto sits down with Will Jenkins, founder of Journey, to explore how his path from selling kitchen knives led to building and selling a $615 million freight brokerage, his passion for building high-performing teams, and his mission to close the freight industry’s talent gap.

The Path to Freight: Building a Foundation in Sales

Will Jenkins didn’t start his career planning to revolutionize the trucking industry. As a former college football player with dreams of becoming a doctor, his journey into freight transportation began with an unexpected detour – selling Cutco knives. This early sales experience, where he managed 80 sales representatives and generated $145,000 in summer sales, laid the groundwork for his future success in the freight brokerage industry.

“I wasn’t planning on a career in freight,” Will recalls, “but that summer selling knives opened my eyes to the possibilities of entrepreneurship and the impact of hard work.”

After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan, Jenkins transitioned through various roles, including B2B sales at Kimberly Clark Professional, before finding his way to Coyote Logistics. At Coyote, he started as a carrier sales representative, quickly learning the intricacies of the trucking industry and building relationships with drivers and carriers that would prove invaluable throughout his career.

Scaling MoLo Solutions into a Billion-Dollar Brokerage

In 2017, Jenkins co-founded MoLo Solutions, built on the principles of empowering employees, supporting carriers, and delivering exceptional service to shippers. These core values catapulted MoLo to success, achieving $615 million in revenue by 2021.

During the pandemic, MoLo’s dedication to carrier relationships set it apart. “We built strong partnerships with shippers because we were there for them when others weren’t,” Jenkins shares.

This commitment to excellence culminated in MoLo’s acquisition by ArcBest in 2021, a testament to Jenkins’ leadership and the company’s lasting impact on the industry.

Journey: Addressing the Freight Industry’s Talent Gap

After MoLo’s acquisition, Jenkins shifted his focus to one of the freight industry’s most pressing challenges: the talent gap. In 2022, he founded Journey, a company dedicated to recruitment, consulting, and training within freight and logistics.

Journey’s mission is clear:

• Strategic Recruitment – Matching top talent with the right opportunities.
• Expert Consulting – Offering actionable insights from industry veterans.
• Comprehensive Training – Bridging the skills gap with tailored development programs.

“Training isn’t just about learning the basics,” Jenkins explains. “It’s about building confidence and bridging the gap between potential and performance.”

Bridging the Training Gap in Transportation

Jenkins identifies training as the freight industry’s biggest untapped opportunity. Without it, operational costs rise, relationships with carriers and shippers suffer, and businesses struggle to stay competitive.

“Proper training gives companies a competitive edge,” he says. “It’s the foundation for long-term success and growth in a challenging industry.”

Journey’s training programs focus on equipping teams with practical skills, ensuring they can deliver exceptional results in today’s dynamic freight landscape.

Building a Personal and Professional Brand in Freight

For professionals and companies in the trucking industry, Jenkins emphasizes the importance of authentic branding. Whether it’s a freight broker working with carriers, a trucking company serving shippers, or an individual building a career in logistics, authenticity and consistency are key to long-term success.

“Be yourself because that’s what your audience wants to buy. That’s what gets them engaged,” Jenkins advises, highlighting the importance of genuine relationships in the transportation industry.

Inspiring the Future of Freight

Will Jenkins’ journey from sales representative to successful freight entrepreneur exemplifies the opportunities available in the trucking and transportation industry. His story demonstrates that with the right combination of relationship building, strategic thinking, and authentic leadership, success in freight is achievable – whether you’re a broker, carrier, or someone just starting a career in transportation.

Through Journey, Jenkins continues to impact the industry by addressing crucial needs in talent development and training, helping ensure the next generation of freight professionals has the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

To hear more of Will Jenkins’ insights, listen to this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.