533: Navigating The Freight Downturn, with TSG Fleet
Trace Haggard is the CEO and co-founder of TSG Fleet, a full-service provider for large private fleets offering terminal services, maintenance, and repair. Drawing on deep industry experience, Haggard explains how the freight recession prompted TSG to re-evaluate its strategy and return to its foundational maintenance business. He stresses the importance of listening to customers and leveraging existing assets to innovate, citing TSG's pivot to providing EV charging services as a key example. Haggard advises other businesses to analyze their current operations and collaborate with their entire ecosystem to navigate tough economic landscapes and identify future growth.
Today I’m joined by TSG Fleet, the one-stop-shop for large private fleets.
TSG boasts an expansive industrial real estate portfolio, operating over ten million square feet of indoor and outdoor logistic terminal space. And, as a full-service center for local, regional and national private fleets and intermodal carriers, TSG also provides maintenance and repair to a range of vehicles.
Today, Trace Haggard, Founder and CEO at TSG Fleet, joins me to talk all about navigating the freight downturn. We’ll be taking a closer look at the reasons behind the prolonged recession and what 2026 will bring. We’ll be sharing how to convert what you already own to the next big opportunity. And how an honest review led TSG back to their roots.
Guest Bio:
Trace Haggard is an accomplished entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio spanning multiple industries. He operates TSG Fleet Services, a prominent transportation services firm with operations in California and TX; and oversees Intermodal Shippers Group Inc., a trucking company with strategic locations in California, Texas and currently expanding to other metro intermodal hubs. Beyond transportation, he is a dynamic real estate entrepreneur active in both California and Texas markets. Trace also leads Asama Solutions, a company specializing in international business process outsourcing based in Bucaramanga, Colombia. His business philosophy centers on creating employee-centric companies that uphold their commitments to customers, ensuring excellence and reliability in every venture. Residing on the coast in South Orange County, Trace is deeply involved in his community as an active father supporting youth sports, he enjoys playing golf and long walks on the beach with his wife Nanda and their two Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
A re-introduction to Trace and TSG Fleet.
An overview of the prolonged freight recession: where it started, the factors driving it, and the impact on the industry.
Why businesses weren’t prepared for just how long the freight recession has lasted.
What the freight recession has meant for TSG Fleet, and how it led Trace to look at his business in a different way to review what was and wasn’t working, and pivot.
The evolution of technology in fleet management, and what TSG’s investment in maintenance and repair visibility solutions means for customers.
How TSG converted what they already own into their next big opportunity, why communication and collaboration is critical, and the importance of challenging the status quo to position for the future and identify new opportunities, without huge investments in time and money.
TSG’s approach to creating impactful, long-lasting strategic partnerships.
Trace’s advice for other businesses, looking at their operations in a tough landscape, for how to start identifying opportunities to pivot.
What businesses with aging assets need to do next to keep their fleet moving, when budgets and new equipment availability are tight and replacement lead times are long.
The future for TSG Fleet, and what we can expect from the market in 2026. “There’s been a huge surge in volumes in domestic freight. Usually, when the tide changes and we’re on an upward swing, we see a lot more port activity and we haven’t seen that yet. But that could be tariff uncertainty. I’m optimistic.”
Resources & Links Mentioned
- Head over to TSG Fleet’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TSG and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Trace on LinkedIn.
- If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from TSG Fleet, check out 431: Fleet Logistics Made Easy, with TSG Fleet.
- Check out our other podcasts HERE.
