Honest Conversations & Practical Advice for Succeeding in Trucking
Hosted by Ava Barnes, VP of Brand & Community at Alvys, Freight People is more than just a podcast — it's a platform to spotlight the real stories behind the freight industry’s most resilient leaders.
Each episode features unfiltered conversations with trucking company owners, dispatchers, fleet managers, and brokers who are out there moving freight and making things happen. These are the voices of the industry — and we’re handing them the mic.
What to Expect:
Our Mission: We’re here to uplift the freight community — especially our customers — by showcasing them as the leaders they are. When you're a guest on Freight People, you're the star. And with distribution across YouTube, LinkedIn, IG, Facebook, X, and more, your story gets amplified to thousands of Alvys followers and potential new customers.
Honest Conversations & Practical Advice for Succeeding in Trucking
Hosted by Ava Barnes, VP of Brand & Community at Alvys, Freight People is more than just a podcast — it's a platform to spotlight the real stories behind the freight industry’s most resilient leaders.
Each episode features unfiltered conversations with trucking company owners, dispatchers, fleet managers, and brokers who are out there moving freight and making things happen. These are the voices of the industry — and we’re handing them the mic.
What to Expect:
Our Mission: We’re here to uplift the freight community — especially our customers — by showcasing them as the leaders they are. When you're a guest on Freight People, you're the star. And with distribution across YouTube, LinkedIn, IG, Facebook, X, and more, your story gets amplified to thousands of Alvys followers and potential new customers.
From Combat to CEO: The Grit, Faith & Vision Behind Spartan Carrier Group | Freight People Podcast
In this episode of the Freight People Podcast, host Ava Barnes sits down with Carlos Llanes Jr., CEO and founder of Spartan Carrier Group—a man whose story will stick with you long after the episode ends.
Carlos walks us through his bold journey from musician to Marine to multi-million-dollar logistics founder—growing Spartan Carrier from $0 to $54M in just over 3 years, with no outside funding. But this isn't just a business success story. It’s a story of purpose, grit, faith, and building something bigger than money.
You'll hear how Carlos landed Toyota as one of Spartan’s first clients, what it really takes to scale with integrity, and how he views automation not as an end—but as a means to serve people better. He also shares the powerful love story with his wife, the moment he found his faith, and how he's using his business as a platform for impact—from driver retention to AI and CDL schools.
If you're a freight leader, entrepreneur, or just someone craving purpose-driven inspiration, this one’s for you.
Listen to how Spartan is flipping the industry on its head—one mission-led decision at a time.
Timestamps
0:00 — Why automation only matters if it improves people’s lives
1:00 — From musician to Marine to logistics founder
3:30 — Winning Toyota with no backing
8:00 — Walking away from corporate America
14:00 — Carlos's love story + faith journey
27:00 — Building a driver-first company
30:00 — Why Spartan chose Alvys as their TMS
33:30 — Advice for freight founders
35:00 — Carlos’s final message on peace, leadership, and letting go of worry
Learn more about Spartan Carrier Group: https://spartcargroup.com
Follow Spartan on Instagram: @spartancarriergroup
Want tech that grows with you? Check out alvys.com
Subscribe for more raw, real conversations with the people moving freight forward.
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