Talking to Jake Battles from REPOWR

Jim
So as we get into this, Jake, I’d really like to hear more about you. I knew getting you on this podcast would be a slam dunk because of your education in public speaking. So tell us a little bit about your public speaking. I don’t know if that ties in with your DJing, and now how it landed you here. Then finish it up with where you are right now.

Jake
Sure. Yes, I studied public speaking and rhetoric at the University of Lynchburg. I was fascinated with how to communicate effectively using verbal communication. I transitioned that into a job with the university as a sports announcer for four years. That developed into a side hustle as a DJ at fraternity parties, and as I got older, it turned into weddings and corporate events. So, I’ve been emceeing events for almost 20 years now. I’ve done everything from events for the “How to Get Out of North Carolina” to various institutions and over 250 weddings.

That’s translated into a career in sales, and now I work as the Vice President of Business Development for REPOWR, which is building the first universal trailer network—a shared trailer marketplace that allows shippers, carriers, and OEMs to seamlessly share assets in the transportation space.

Jim
That’s awesome, and it’s great to meet you. We were talking earlier, and now we get this opportunity to really dive in. You mentioned rhetoric, and we have a discourse right here, which is great. So, as we move forward, let’s talk about how REPOWR can help an organization. I always say the largest warehouse in America is our trailers. Not sure if you’ve ever thought of it that way, but understanding how many carriers and trailers we have out in the U.S., it’s more than our asset-based tractors out there, like Class 8, of course. How long have you been with REPOWR now?

Jake
I’ve been at REPOWR for almost three years. In January, it will be three years. I was the fifth employee hired, prior to our seed fundraise, and I’ve been leading our business development and sales department since the beginning. Now we’re over 30 employees, and it’s been quite the rollercoaster.

Jim
Oh, I hear you. That’s what growth is—business is a rollercoaster. Self-development is a rollercoaster. Just being human is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and it’s our responsibility to control those highs and lows. So, at REPOWR, you’re bridging the gap between asset-based companies, brokers, and more. What are the pains that carriers and brokers are running into, and how is REPOWR solving them, especially at such an early stage?

Jake
Before my time at REPOWR, I worked in equipment leasing at Covenant Transport Group, leasing trucks and trailers to carriers with fleets ranging from 5 to 500 trucks. In 2020 and 2021, everyone needed equipment, but finding it was cumbersome due to risk underwriting and analysis. Many carriers only needed trailers short-term—10 days, 20 days, 30 days—so when I learned about REPOWR’s idea of a shared trailer network, it made sense. Think of it as the Airbnb meets U-Haul for trailers. You can find a trailer for short-term use, execute an agreement, and service customers faster than traditional marketplaces allowed.

Some data that stuck with me: 97% of trailers are owned by less than 3% of the fleets, and 90% of trucking companies operate with six or fewer trucks. There’s this massive disparity between who owns the trailers and who needs them. REPOWR bridges that gap. Another interesting stat from Great Dane is that 75% of a trailer’s lifespan is spent detached from a truck. We’re using software to deploy assets in real-time and support brokers, smaller fleets, and their customers in a more fluid exchange.

Jim
That’s great. One question I have: It sounds like you’re really taking advantage of the digital footprint. Are you doing this through blockchain or APIs? How are you connecting all those pieces?

Jake
We utilize a lot of API connections. We have partnerships with Skybitz, and we’re working on Orbcomm. We also have Samsara, FleetLocate, and other telematics providers that integrate with REPOWR. This allows asset owners to post available trailers for repositioning or short-term rental and track their location while on rent. One feature I’m particularly proud of is our smart visibility. For example, if Becker Logistics needed ten trailers from Schneider, you’d have access to their visibility through REPOWR while you’re using them. Once the rental is over, the tracking stops—like a VRBO lock code that expires.

Jim
That’s fantastic. There’s a lot of time that a trailer just sits around, especially in drop-and-hook scenarios. I’ve seen customers using trailers for extra warehouse space, right?

Jake
We used to call that the dilemma of shippers holding trailers hostage. During the boom of 2020, large shippers like Home Depot or TJ Maxx required a large trailer pool to win business, and then the trailers would just sit there, loaded or unloaded, for days. That’s why the average fleet has four trailers for every one truck, and that’s why 75% of trailers spend their time detached from trucks. It’s something we’ve worked to address at REPOWR.

Jim
So how many trailers is REPOWR responsible for at this point?

Jake
REPOWR executes between 1,500 to 1,800 transactions monthly. Through our carrier partners, we have access to over a quarter-million trailers. However, we don’t have access to them all at once. The platform helps carriers manage trailer imbalances in different regions by allowing them to rent trailers short-term. For example, you could pick up a trailer in Phoenix, use it for a month, drop it in Dallas, and then get another trailer there. This helps bridge the gap between power-only and leasing, giving people on-demand access to trailers.

Jim
That’s awesome. In this deflationary market, scams are becoming more prevalent. Are you seeing any issues like that, and how is REPOWR addressing those?

Jake
In the early days, we used tools like Carrier 411 and SaferWatch to vet carriers, but now we’ve integrated with Highway to focus on carrier identity and ensure legitimacy. Highway tracks digital activity and verifies email and phone numbers, helping us vet carriers more effectively. This integration allows asset owners to see detailed information about the carriers requesting trailers, such as how long they’ve had their authority and how many reservations they’ve completed.

Jim
What challenges is REPOWR facing as you grow to 30 employees?

Jake
One of the biggest challenges is diversifying our renter base. Initially, owner-operators made up a large part of our base, but as the market changed, we needed to make the product more appealing to freight brokers and shippers. We’re also focused on educating companies like Costco and McKee Foods on how they can use REPOWR to improve operational efficiency.

Jim
What are some of the goals REPOWR has for the rest of the year and heading into 2025?

Jake
Our main goal is to get more supply, especially different types of equipment like reefers, flatbeds, drop decks, and specialized trailers. We’re also focusing on saturating key markets like Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, and Southern California to meet the demand. We want to ensure we have the assets in place to meet customer needs, whether it’s 100 trailers in one location or 50 in another.

Jim
Are you able to integrate with most TMS systems, and which one are you primarily working with?

Jake
We haven’t done TMS integration yet, but it’s on our list. We’ve been focused on telematics so far. McLeod is one we’d love to work with. I’ve also talked to people at TMW and Tremble. What TMS does Becker Logistics use, and which ones do you think we should reach out to?

Jim
I’ve been on McLeod for the last 13 or 14 years.

Jake
I’ve spoken to Bruce McLeod a few times. I live in Chattanooga, and REPOWR’s headquarters are here too, though our founders are from Birmingham. It’s a great place to live, especially if you’re into college football.

Jim
So, are you a UT fan or Roll Tide?

Jake
I’m an Alabama fan. My dad played baseball at Alabama in the early ’80s, so I grew up watching Alabama games. I moved to Chattanooga and have enjoyed living in SEC country. Chattanooga is a melting pot for college football fans.

Jim
I used to be a Tennessee Volunteers fan in high school, but the orange got faded over time, washed out by the tide! But I’m a Northwestern guy, Big Ten.

Jake
I’ve seen pictures of Northwestern games, and all I can think about is how cold it must get by the end of November. I don’t know how many people are brave enough to sit in those stands.

Jim
Yeah, it’s cold up here! Between that and Chicago Bears games, it gets brisk!

Jake
The Bears are due for a good season!

Jim
So back to your DJing—do you still do special events on the side?

Jake
I do, but not as much as before. I’ve got two young daughters now. I still do some Christmas parties and fundraisers around Chattanooga. I’ve done weddings for years, but in my heyday, I traveled up and down the East Coast doing fraternity parties. Those gigs eventually turn into weddings because people remember you, and weddings definitely pay better than fraternity parties!

Jim
I wanted to circle back because not only are you helping companies with trailers at REPOWR, but you’ve also got this DJing side gig. How old are your daughters?

Jake
They’re four and two. My life is run by two little blondes telling me what to do!

Jim
Same here! I’ve got a 14-year-old who just made varsity cross-country, running a 6.5-minute mile in a 5K. I also have an 11-year-old in sixth grade, both blondes, and my wife is blonde too. I used to be blonde, but now I shave my head!

Jake
Little girls are the best! They’re so sweet, and I love that I’ll have two girls to take care of me when I get old instead of chasing boys around!

Jim
Well, it’s been a pleasure having you on. Thank you for sharing about REPOWR and your role as VP of Development and Sales. Any final words?

Jake
If you’re curious about how to access or deploy equipment, feel free to reach out. We love talking to people about ideas. It’s free to create an account on REPOWR, and you can see over 1,500 trailers available today. If you have any questions, our team is here to help.

Jim
Thanks, Jake, and thanks everyone for tuning in. Have a blessed day!