The Future of Freight Is Here: Introducing Karat TMS | Jeremy Cate | Episode 17

What happens when a logistics company decides the technology it needs doesn't exist—and builds it themselves? In Episode 17 of Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics, Kevin, Steve, and Elise welcome Jeremy Cate, CEO of eTac Cloud, for an inside look at the development of Karat TMS, American Diamond's new LTL transportation management platform. Years in the making, Karat TMS represents a major step forward in American Diamond's mission to simplify freight management, eliminate unnecessary costs, and create a better experience for customers, carriers, and logistics professionals. Jeremy shares his journey from writing his first video game at just eight years old to becoming a technology leader, along with the lessons he's learned about software development, problem-solving, and building systems that actually work for the people using them. The conversation explores the challenges of developing technology for the complex world of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, where inconsistent carrier data, complicated integrations, and unexpected freight charges can create expensive problems. Steve and Jeremy explain how Karat TMS is being designed to address those challenges through smarter data management, streamlined workflows, better integrations, and safeguards that help users avoid costly mistakes before shipments are booked. They also discuss the team behind the technology, including the developers, logistics specialists, and quality assurance professionals whose combined expertise has helped bring the platform to life. And in true Around the Diamond fashion, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns—from Jeremy's experience playing competitive poker to childhood video games, golf rivalries, and the competitive mindset that drives both business and innovation. Around the Diamond Powered by American Diamond Logistics explores the intersection of sports, business, leadership, logistics, and innovation through conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and the people building what's next. Check out American Diamond Logistics: https://www.adldelivers.com/ Become an Agent: https://www.adldelivers.com/become-an... Follow Around the Diamond: IG:   / aroundthediamondpodcast   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@around.the.di... 00:00 – Welcome Back to Around the Diamond 00:23 – World Series Predictions & Baseball Talk 01:30 – Golf, Vacations & Traveling the World 04:24 – Meet Jeremy Cate, CEO of eTac Cloud 05:37 – How the American Diamond Partnership Began 08:18 – Jeremy's First Video Game at Eight Years Old 12:29 – Why Great Software Starts With Problem-Solving 14:49 – From Programming to Competitive Poker 17:26 – Jeremy's Journey Through Texas A&M 19:34 – Mentorship, Speed & Accuracy in Technology 21:28 – Building Karat TMS With the Right Team 25:46 – Why LTL Technology Is So Complicated 28:10 – The Vision Behind Karat TMS 31:07 – Creating Better Tools for Customers & Employees 33:54 – Meet the Team Behind the Technology 35:31 – Building Software With Passion & Precision 39:08 – Solving LTL's Biggest Data Challenges 42:43 – What Makes Karat Different From Other Platforms? 45:34 – Preventing Costly Freight Rebills 48:34 – Bringing Developers Into Customer Conversations 50:13 – Early Feedback From the Karat TMS Rollout 53:15 – Why LTL Is Like a 2,000-Piece Puzzle 56:09 – Changing the Future of Freight Management 58:36 – Old-School Video Games & Friendly Competition 1:05:48 – Closing Thoughts & What's Next for Karat TMS