Back by popular demand, Colton Lawrence, CPA, President & CEO of the newly rebranded Trucker CFO is back on the pod to talk about all things 2022 tax season. Trucker CFO understands trucking, transportation, and logistics. They are proud blue-collar accountants who are dedicated to the success of their independent contractor clients.  Tax season is upon us which means many people are scrambling to find a tax preparation resource who understands the nuances of 1099 workers in the transportation industry, or they’re struggling to get organized, or worse – they're sticking their hea ..read more

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Openforce is raising awareness in partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a non-profit organization that is raising up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking, to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.    In this powerful episode, host Nick Hancock interviews Liz Williamson, TAT training specialist, and trafficking survivor. They discuss: New training opportunities available with TAT Liz’s ..read more

Join in on a lively roundtable discussion featuring Openforce executives Wendy Greenland, CEO; Natalie Putnam, CRO; and Doug Grawe, General Counsel.   Host Nick Hancock interviews Wendy, Natalie, and Doug to learn more about current transportation industry trends and how they will potentially affect businesses engaging with independent contractors in 2023.   And to our listeners near and far, have a wonderful holiday season! The Gig Academy host Nick Hancock, Openforce Gig Academy Podcast Host and Customer Success Manager of Key Accounts Nick monitors all areas that pertain to and af ..read more

A couple of months ago, we had a highly anticipated conversation with Openforce Chief Revenue Officer Natalie Putnam, where we learned about the leverage of transportation companies in negotiating payment terms with retail customers.   As a follow-up to that conversation, our host, Nick Hancock, learns how transportation businesses can utilize OTR Solutions’ Cash Float program, a benefit exclusively offered to Openforce clients.   Cash flow in any business is important, but especially in trucking and transportation businesses that are responsible for paying drivers weekly, or ev ..read more

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its proposed rule that updates its definition of an independent contractor (IC) under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This proposed rule proves what we already knew to be true: the DOL strongly favors finding a worker is an employee vs. an IC, making adhering to compliance with IC status rules more critical now than ever.           In this brief but information-packed podcast, our host, Nick Hancock, chats with Openforce General Counsel Doug Grawe to learn more about what the new DOL rule actually is ..read more

Cash flow in any business is important, but especially in trucking and transportation businesses that are responsible for paying drivers weekly, or even daily. 90-day, 60-day, or even 30-day payment terms from retail clients can force small businesses to struggle with cash flow or worse yet, shut down entirely.   However, businesses offering transportation services have a lot of leverage. Pinpointing the value you provide to your retail clients is key in payment term negotiations.   Our host, Nick Hancock, chats with Openforce Chief Revenue Officer and renown industry execu ..read more

Although AB5 was signed into law in 2019, it resurfaced again when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take the California Trucking Association’s challenge to California’s AB5 independent contractor status test. Which means AB5 still stands, even in transportation.     This is not ideal for drivers who want to be independent and for companies that like the service they receive from independent contractors.    However, this is not the end of independent contractor work as we know it. Our host, Nick Hancock, chats with Openforce General Counsel Doug Grawe to lea ..read more

The impacts of the gig economy are impossible to ignore. 68 million people were, at least for one shift, self-employed in 2021. Economists predict that the majority of the workforce will be independent contractors by 2027.   This means the insurance industry must evolve with the new American dream to protect everyone's best interests. At the forefront of this movement is Matthew Bagley, Vice President of Crum & Forster's Accident & Health Division. Our host, Nick Hancock, interviews Matthew about this shift in the economy and the role technology plays in managing insurance for ind ..read more

Non-compete agreements. Non-solicitation agreements. Inventions. And confidentiality.   As a company that relies on independent contractor workers, are there any implications in requiring these legal agreements?   Or, as an IC or gig worker, are you required to sign these agreements if it hinders your independence?      Our host, Nick Hancock, breaks it down for us in his interview with Kristen Johnson, managing partner of the Taylor Johnson law firm litigation group. Kristen’s law resume is beyond impressive, having studied law internationally as w ..read more

Selecting the best health insurance coverage is difficult for anyone, especially for independent contractors who are usually too busy on the road to do extensive research and price comparison. That’s why Openforce partnered with The Insurance Desk, a team of licensed health coverage consultants who help inform ICs of the options available to them in a direct, no-nonsense approach.      In this episode, host Nick Hancock interviews Matt Deskins, the owner of The Insurance Desk. As a licensed health coverage consultant, Matt and his team help ICs find the best health ins ..read more