In this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast, host Brent Hutto is joined by Lisa Haubenstock, VP of Vice President of Product, Risk & Compliance Solutions, and Joel Franke, Director of APIs and Data Products at Truckstop.

– The rise of fraud in the freight industry and its economic triggers

– Behavioral patterns of bad actors and how to identify them

– Practical tools and strategies to protect brokers, carriers, and shippers

– Leveraging real-time data to combat fraud and improve decision-making

– Building trust through technology and relationships in freight operations

– The future of fraud prevention and staying ahead in a fast-paced industry

Lisa Haubenstock brings extensive experience in customer success, operations, and product strategy. Over four years at Truckstop, she has driven initiatives to enhance security and compliance for brokers, carriers, and shippers. Previously, she held leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, focusing on training programs and early-career development.

Joel Franke specializes in leveraging advanced data tools and AI to optimize workflows and mitigate fraud in the freight industry. At Truckstop, he leads innovation in real-time data solutions and integration strategies. Before this, he managed platform services at Elsevier, overseeing educational software portfolios and operational efficiency.

[00:03:54] Lisa highlights the unprecedented rise in freight fraud since 2022, attributing it to economic downturns, the post-pandemic freight surge, and advancements in technology used by fraudsters. She explains that the freight industry faces a dual challenge: combating both cyberattacks targeting sensitive data and physical theft of goods.

[00:06:38] Lisa dives into the behavioral patterns of fraud profiles such as "chameleon carriers," who rebrand under new identities to evade detection, and "bandits," who infiltrate systems to steal loads outright. She shares specific tactics fraudsters use, such as reusing contact information and creating delays to manipulate pickup schedules.

[00:18:05] Joel discusses how real-time data, or “digital exhaust,” plays a critical role in detecting fraud. He provides examples, like identifying suspicious IP logins and monitoring unusual account activity, to illustrate how platforms like Truckstop are leveraging data to proactively flag and mitigate fraudulent behavior.

[00:33:52] Lisa discusses the critical balance brokerages must strike between maintaining a robust carrier network and ensuring compliance to safeguard against fraud. She explains the natural tension between carrier sales teams, who prioritize accessibility to carriers, and compliance teams, who emphasize strict vetting. Lisa highlights the need for tools that allow brokerages to calibrate compliance standards dynamically based on market conditions, such as tightening controls during high-capacity periods or loosening them when carrier availability is limited. She emphasizes that flexibility and proper integration of compliance tools are essential for delivering on customer commitments effectively, tailored to each brokerage’s unique strategy.

[00:36:30] Joel explains the importance of a "single pane of glass" approach to fraud prevention, where all relevant data is consolidated in one place for easy access. He highlights the need to move from descriptive analytics to predictive solutions, emphasizing that data science and AI are simply advanced tools for processing and acting on data. Joel stresses the value of flexibility in solutions like Truckstop’s Risk Factors, which evolve with changing fraud patterns and brokerage needs. He underscores the importance of customizable frameworks that allow brokerages to adapt workflows as their priorities shift, ensuring tools remain relevant and effective over time.

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