In this episode of Industry Insights, Josh Gregory sits down with Lance Mize, CPA, to discuss how successful business owners approach taxes as an ongoing strategy, not a last-minute scramble. From choosing the right business entity to working with your CPA throughout the year, Lance explains how proactive tax planning can help reduce surprises, improve cash flow, and position your business for long-term success. Whether you're starting your first business or preparing for your next acquisition, this episode offers practical guidance every business owner should know.

In this episode of Industry Insights, Josh Gregory sits down with Leland Mize, CFO of Patton Logistics, to discuss how successful business owners build, manage, and adjust budgets that drive better decisions and long-term growth.

Whether you're buying your first route business or managing an established operation, you'll learn how to create a practical budget, identify costly problems before they grow, track the right KPIs, and make smarter financial decisions with confidence.

In this episode of Industry Insights, Route Consultant's Production & Compliance Director, Leah Neilson, breaks down the business valuation process from start to finish. Learn how EBITDA, multiples, fleet condition, management structure, financing, and operational performance all impact value, along with the red flags buyers should never ignore.

Whether you're purchasing your first route business or preparing to sell your company, this conversation will help you make more informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

In this episode of Industry Insights Live, Josh Gregory is joined by Leah Nelson to share key 2026 benchmarks and trends in the FedEx contractor market, including pricing multiples, asking prices, margins, and how deal sizes have changed since 2021. 

They explain why P&D businesses have grown in revenue, route count, and valuation while linehaul listings have fallen, and they highlight how closing-price gaps, financing availability, and operational stability are shaping today’s buyer and seller dynamics. 

Leah also breaks down expense benchmarks for P&D and linehaul, efficiency ratios for strong margins, and regional differences in activity and profitability.

Whether you're considering buying your first vending machine or looking to grow an existing operation, understanding what makes a vending business successful is key. In this episode of Industry Insights, Josh Gregory sits down with Steve Caldwell and Stephanie Paha to break down what it really takes to build a profitable vending business. From finding the right locations and managing inventory to choosing equipment, avoiding common mistakes, and understanding the reality behind "passive income," this conversation provides practical insights for anyone exploring the vending industry. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the vending industry, this episode offers valuable advice from operators with decades of combined experience.

Host Josh Gregory interviews Bryan Duhl and Fernando “Nando” Martinez of Phoenix Aviation Solutions about applying special operations aviation logistics to civilian business. They describe their Army backgrounds at Fort Campbell, the unseen planning and coordination behind mission success, and how that translates into aviation logistics, contracted pilot solutions, and risk management for ultra-high-net-worth and high-performance clients.

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, Josh Gregory interviews security industry veteran Andy Willis on why private security is a growing investment opportunity. Willis explains the security space (guards, technology, threat detection) and argues demand is rising as municipalities struggle to recruit and retain police, pushing more non-emergency and even patrol functions to private firms in the U.S. and Canada, with businesses often required by insurers to budget for security. They discuss starting vs. buying a firm, state licensing via a qualifying agent, required insurance (GL, workers comp, auto, umbrella), and why the business isn’t “hands-off,” with nonstop recruiting and careful hiring. Willis outlines profitability drivers like reaching about 10,000 billable hours per week, contract best practices, handling pay risk (including factoring), leadership and culture, and ways to diversify clients.

On Industry Insights with Route Consultant, host Josh Gregory interviews Grace Bay, CEO of Hello Truck Lease, about Ford discontinuing the F-59 chassis with no new production after 2027 and what that means for FedEx Ground contractors who rely on Ford-based step vans. Grace explains what the F-59 is, why the change affects new purchases, parts availability, and long-term maintenance costs, and why used step van values may keep rising as supply tightens. She shares near-term options to secure remaining production (including allocation through 2026 and into 2027), discusses contractor orders being canceled elsewhere, and outlines alternatives like a Mercedes sprinter-front box unit with cab access, roll-up door, diesel efficiency, and longer service intervals. They also cover how leasing and subleasing can reduce risk amid other changes like FedEx 2.0, common mistakes like panic buying, and the importance of matching the right truck to the right route.

Route Consultant’s Josh Gregory and guest Amy Byers (COO of Slicker Trucking) host an Industry Insights Live webinar where they give an update on FedEx Express/2.0 changes affecting five P&D contracts, describing territory and stop shifts, truck up-sizing, staffing, and a building move, plus coordinating with co-contractors while designing their own operating plans. They discuss ongoing workforce challenges, retention through tailored benefits and support programs, and managing performance expectations. The episode explains how FedEx fuel supplements float versus a base rate and why they don’t fully cover fuel, and breaks down large-package pay as a prior-month percentage affected by small-package injections and seasonal sales. They cover operational tactics for bulk/IC surges, planning for Prime Days and peak, scale considerations, and typical route-business valuation multiples based on EBITDA.

On Industry Insights with Route Consultant, Josh interviews Michael Jones and Jeff Jones of Routeway 360 about insurance in bread and snack distribution and why many owners misunderstand their coverage until a claim happens. They break down Routeway 360’s platform for distributors, including incorporation, banking, accounting and tax support, and their new “Drive My Route” app for finding route relievers. The episode covers common insurance requirements, the risks of relying on personal auto policies, compliance and COIs, and major exposures like uninsured motorists and 1099 worker injuries without workers’ comp. They also explain how proper rating, garaging, remarketing, and telematics can help route owners manage premiums and reduce risk.

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, host Josh Gregory and broker Steven Rhine break down what it really takes to run and scale bread routes, covering staffing strategies like vacation runners, referrals, and retention, along with retail execution including merchandising, Walmart relationships, and display placement. They also explore fulfillment KPIs tied to online ordering, hiring pipelines, compensation structures, handling sales and overages, holiday planning using historical data, and how to grow through independent accounts, offering a practical look at the day to day realities of route ownership. 

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, Josh Gregory and Andrew Polito (CFO at GoHQ) break down the realities of owning an Amazon DSP, including the application and “bench” process, stand-up timelines, and the capital needed to launch. They cover key cost drivers like payroll, fleet/rentals, insurance deposits and renewals, and how claims management and safety culture impact long-term premiums. Andrew explains Amazon’s pay structure (route-hour blocks, per-package pay, and fixed monthly fleet payments), the scorecard tiers and bonuses tied to safety and quality metrics, and why controlling labor hours versus allotted route hours is critical. They discuss staffing models, dispatch/rescues, management roles, cash forecasting, typical profitability and revenue ranges, growth opportunities like rural expansion, popups and the Pinnacle Program, and the outlook tied to Ship with Amazon and new terminal investment.

This week, we compare two paths in the delivery business: Amazon DSP and Bread Route Investments. Stephen Rhein and Luke Price join us to break down the core differences between these models, what sets them apart, and what prospective operators should consider when evaluating each option. Tune in for a clear, high-level overview to help you understand how these opportunities differ and which may better align with your goals.

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026 in Nashville, this keynote panel—hosted by Rahmel Wattley, founder of Truck N’ Hustle—features logistics leaders Amy Byers, Adam Angell, and Nick Hafen on how to crisis-proof route and transportation businesses amid constant change. They discuss major disruptions across FedEx and Amazon networks, including evolving safety equipment requirements, shifting fleet maintenance responsibilities, and the impact of larger package volume and FedEx 2.0 integration. The panel shares practical lessons on protecting profitability through strong vendor relationships, disciplined cash-flow management, operational KPIs, building in-house maintenance capabilities, and developing management layers and cross-training to reduce risk. Audience Q&A covers scaling timing, recognizing readiness to grow, finding distressed opportunities, and considerations for operating routes in other markets.

This week on Industry Insights with Route Consultant, we focus on business exits and how to prepare long before a sale to maximize value and make the business transferable. Josh is joined by Steve Alverson and Austin Coley of McCall Wealth Advisors, who explain how they help owners plan through and beyond a sale by first clarifying personal goals and the “why” behind the business. They discuss why exit planning should start early, how buyers pay for future cash flow, and common value killers like taxes, fees, unrealistic expectations, and debt. 

This week on Industry Insights with Route Consultant, we focus on business exits and how to prepare long before a sale to maximize value and make the business transferable. Josh is joined by Steve Alverson and Austin Coley of McCall Wealth Advisors, who explain how they help owners plan through and beyond a sale by first clarifying personal goals and the “why” behind the business. They discuss why exit planning should start early, how buyers pay for future cash flow, and common value killers like taxes, fees, unrealistic expectations, and debt. 

In this Industry Insights LIVE episode, Josh Gregory of Route Consultant is joined by Alex Frum, owner of Alpha Kilo Logistics, to share a state-of-the-industry update for FedEx linehaul contractors and buyers. They discuss how rising diesel prices impact settlements, how the Schedule C fuel table and fleet MPG assumptions affect profitability, and why idle time matters. Alex explains what he’s seeing from Network 2.0, including more airport and night runs, plus how rail can shift long-lane freight and lead to redesignations or spares. They cover operational best practices for safety and availability, recruiting structure as a business scales, and vehicle planning amid technology requirements, the 10-year rule discussions, and CARB 27 cost increases. The episode also highlights the upcoming free New Investor Workshop (April 16) and Linehaul Pro Series (Friday, April 17).

Recorded live at the Route Consultant Expo 2026, this special episode features Kevin Brunner, owner of SellMyFDX and Q Companies, sharing practical tax strategies for business owners planning an exit. Kevin explains how a 537 Installment Sale Trust can defer taxes by routing sale proceeds through a trust, allowing sellers to reinvest more capital, create flexible income streams, and potentially improve deal terms for both buyers and sellers. He covers key concepts like installment notes, ordinary-income treatment of distributions, step-up in basis at death, and how the trust can support reinvestment, retirement income planning, and legacy goals. Kevin also outlines his firm’s investment approach focused on consistent income and risk management, plus options for structuring complex transactions and coordinating with CPA-led tax planning.

In this special episode of Industry Insights LIVE, Josh Gregory is joined by Amy Byers, COO of Slicker Trucking, to answer audience questions on today’s biggest contractor topics. Amy shares her experience running P&D and linehaul operations across multiple terminals, including operating under FedEx 2.0 and what contractors should expect around service expectations, late dispatch challenges, communication with FedEx, and opportunities for growth. 

In recognition of Women’s History Month, host Josh Gregory sits down with Annalee Cate, CEO of the RCPA Fuel Card, and Grace Bay, CEO of Hello Truck Lease, to discuss their paths into the male-dominated logistics industry and what they’ve learned as leaders.