F3 | Fireside Chat: Building a Startup After Exiting Your Last

F3 | Fireside Chat: Building a Startup After Exiting Your Last

Author: FreightWaves October 28, 2025 Duration: 24:57
Prasad Gollapalli is chief executive officer, founder and chairman of the board of Qued, a pioneering cloud-based AI workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling into the future. It seamlessly automates the entire process, securing the optimal appointment times to all types of loads including multi-stop loads. By eliminating the chaos of spreadsheet management, overflowing inboxes, and cumbersome portal logins, Qued empowers 3PLs, brokers, and carriers with a streamlined workflow while delivering significant workforce optimization benefits for shippers. Through Qued, brokers build trust by guaranteeing on-time deliveries, enhancing communication, and fostering transparency, thereby strengthening industry relationships and enhancing efficiency and reliability. Qued's innovative approach has earned recognition from industry leaders such as McLeod Software, a premier freight management and transportation software provider, which has certified Qued as an integration partner. With nearly three decades of industry experience, Prasad is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his success in start-up ventures and leadership roles within trucking and shipping software companies. Prior to Qued, Prasad founded and led Trucker Tools, the industry's premier digital freight management platform with the most popular Trucker Tools driver app. As the CEO of Trucker Tools, he led the team in implementing innovative solutions including capacity management, predictive freight matching, automated booking, and real-time GPS-based visibility. Prasad sold Trucker Tools to ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors, in June 2021. In December of 2024, DAT (a Roper Industries company) acquired Trucker Tools making ASG extremely happy with the outcome.  Prior to his tenure at Trucker Tools, Prasad held various leadership positions focused on the design and implementation of advanced transportation technology solutions. As Director of Product Management at Getloaded.com, later acquired by DAT, he led business and product strategy efforts. Prasad's expertise extends to the shipping industry, where he served as a product manager for the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR, LLC). Prasad holds an MBA with a focus on strategy and entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, as well as a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Madras, India. Prasad resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife and daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes at major industry gatherings, or wish you could catch a keynote you missed? FreightWaves LIVE: An Events Podcast turns those moments into an audio experience, pulling back the curtain on the conversations that shape the worlds of logistics and freight technology. Produced by FreightWaves, this series does more than just recap events; it immerses you in the atmosphere and urgency of live discussions. You'll hear directly from founders, analysts, and media experts as they debate the future of supply chains, dissect new business models, and explore the unexpected intersections of freight and entertainment. Each episode serves as both a time capsule from past conferences and a preview of what's to come, capturing the spontaneous questions and insights that often happen off the main stage. It’s designed for professionals who need to stay ahead, entrepreneurs looking for their edge, and anyone curious about the complex systems that move our world. Tune in to this podcast for an authentic, front-row seat to the ideas and personalities driving change, all delivered with the clarity and depth you’d expect from industry insiders. Whether you're commuting or just need a break from the screen, these recordings bring the energy and intelligence of a live event directly to you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FreightWaves LIVE: An Events Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Small fleets and their role as government contractors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:41
Being a government contractor is commonly thought of as something for large fleets and massive enterprises. Melanie Patterson, Founder and Managing Director at Team Integrity Knowledge Center & Integrity Global Logistics…
Empowering and Protecting Carriers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
​​In this fireside chat, FreightWaves’ Grace Sharkey sits down with Brittany Graft of Highway to discuss how carriers can empower and protect themselves in today’s logistics industry. With fraud running rampant and broke…
The Future of Broker Transparency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:56
Matt Leffler, the Armchair Attorney, joins Grace Sharkey to break down the Pink Cheetah Express v. TQL lawsuit and the ongoing debate about what information should be shared between brokers and carriers. Join the Owner O…
AI on the Road: How Small Fleets Can Leverage AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:50
In this fireside chat, Grace Sharkey sits down with the founder and CEO of Hey Bubba to explore how small trucking fleets and owner-operators can harness the power of AI in their everyday operations. From automating back…
From Load Boards to Direct Deals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
In this fireside chat, Justin Lu of Truckpedia will explore how small carriers can find and connect with direct shippers, overcome common challenges and use technology to maximize revenue with those customers. Get expert…