In this episode of Tell Me Everything, Danielle Spinelli sits down with longtime friends Annalise and Param, co-founders of Chain, to talk about their unexpected journey from science and trucking into freight tech, AI automation, carrier visibility, and cargo theft prevention.

Annalise shares how she went from preparing for medical school to helping dispatch trucks, teaching herself to code, and building a company designed to solve real operational problems in logistics. Param talks about leaving chemical engineering, buying trucks, learning freight the hard way, and eventually building technology that helps brokers automate manual work without losing the human side of the business.

Together, they break down how Chain evolved from a visibility platform into an AI-powered automation tool for freight brokers. The conversation covers AI agents for track and trace, exception management, carrier communication, carrier sales support, offer logging, driver verification, secure mobile tracking, spoofing detection, and how AI can help brokers work smarter without replacing the relationships that make freight move.

They also dive into one of Danielle’s favorite Fraud Girl topics: cargo theft and spoofing. Chain explains how bad actors are using technology and AI to manipulate freight systems, why visibility providers need to be honest about spoofing risks, and how stronger verification workflows can help protect brokers, carriers, and shippers.

If you are in freight brokerage, carrier sales, logistics technology, cargo theft prevention, or transportation operations, this episode is packed with real-world insight on where AI is actually helping the industry and where the human touch still matters.

Thank you to our sponsor, Tallgrass Freight Co. If you are a broker agent looking for a new home, visit tellmeeverythingpod.com and check out the freight agent opportunity section, or email TME@tallgrassfreight.com.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Chain’s origin story
• From trucking company to freight tech startup
• AI agents for freight brokers
• Track and trace automation
• Carrier sales automation
• Why carrier relationships still matter
• Visibility technology and spoofing prevention
• Cargo theft risks in freight
• Driver verification and secure tracking
• How AI is changing logistics operations
• Building freight technology for brokers and carriers
• Why context matters in AI automation

Connect with Chain:
Website: trichain.com
Connect with Annalise and Param on LinkedIn to learn more about Chain and their AI automation platform for freight brokers.

Watch more episodes of Tell Me Everything for conversations with logistics leaders, freight tech founders, cargo theft experts, brokers, carriers, and supply chain professionals.

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