Tallgrass Freight didn’t start with a grand plan to build one of the best freight brokerages in the country. We started with a simple idea and a whole lot of conviction.
Like most good things, it began small. The early days were full of long hours, problem-solving on the fly and figuring things out as we went. We didn’t have a polished playbook or a shiny tech stack to use. There was just a belief that freight could be done better and that if you treated people the right way, the rest would follow.
This same mindset still drives everything we do today as one of the best freight agent networks. The difference now? We’ve taken what worked early on and built real systems around it.
A Look at Our Roots
Tallgrass Freight was founded in 2012, not in a corporate office but in a farmhouse in Kansas. From the start, founder Damon Anderson set out to build something that felt different from the traditional freight model.
Damon knew that a thriving freight agent network had to be rooted in partnership, integrity and real support for the people moving freight every day.
In the early years, Damon did just about everything himself, like booking loads, building relationships, setting up processes, and learning what worked and what didn’t. As Tallgrass expanded, Damon brought in people who shared his values and weren’t afraid to do the work alongside him.
One of those early additions was Mike Clemmons, a longtime friend who now leads product development. Another was David Barnes, who originally came on as a consultant and quickly became a full partner. Together, they helped Tallgrass grow from a small operation into a national brokerage while keeping the culture grounded in the same principles it was built on.
We never lost sight of why we started, and that focus has taken us far. Tallgrass has seen exponential growth, and we’ve been honored on lists like the Inc 5000’s Midwest’s Fastest Growing Private Companies more than once.
Growing With Intention and Better Tools
As Tallgrass grew, it became clear that the old way of doing things would not support where we were headed. If we wanted to give freight agents real freedom and real support, we needed freight agent technology built for how freight actually works. That led to the development of our custom CRM. It wasn’t built to check a box. It was built to solve real problems for freight agents. We sought to give freight brokers more clarity and control over their business without forcing them into clunky systems or workarounds.
Today, technology is a core part of how Tallgrass supports its independent freight agents. It helps them move faster, stay organized, and focus on relationships instead of busywork.
And we’ll keep building on it, adding new tools, strengthening the CRM, and listening closely to agent ideas through our What If? program.
Leadership That Shows Up
As Tallgrass entered its next phase of growth, leadership evolved too. Sean Richardson stepped into the role of President with a clear focus on building for the long term without losing what made Tallgrass work in the first place.
Sean believes leadership should be accessible, practical, and grounded in real conversations. His role is not about dictating from the top but about listening, adjusting, and making sure Tallgrass continues to grow in ways that actually benefit the people here.
Under his leadership, Tallgrass has continued to invest in technology, strengthen internal teams, and focus on building systems that support agents instead of slowing them down. It’s all part of being the best independent freight agent network.
Building Real Support Around Our Agents
If you ask any independent Tallgrass agent what makes this place different, one of the first things they will tell you is the support. And that support goes far beyond a weekly check-in or occasional training session. Led by Bob Brown, VP of Growth and Development, and Jordan Brady, Senior Director of Agent Development, this team exists to help agents grow their business and navigate the realities of freight.
That support shows up through ongoing development, agent roundtables, coaching, and day-to-day guidance. It’s not a one-time onboarding or a quarterly check-in. It’s an ongoing relationship built around helping agents think strategically, solve problems, and keep moving forward.
Bob and Jordan bring experience, perspective, and a genuine investment in the people they work with. Their role is not to micromanage independent freight agents, but to support them as business owners.
Still Grounded in Who We Are
Through all the growth, we never lost sight of the culture that made this such a great place to be. That culture shows up here every day in how teammates collaborate, how leaders communicate and how independent freight agents are treated like partners instead of cogs. It’s why so many agents choose Tallgrass not just to start their careers, but to build their futures here.
It all started in a farmhouse, but it has become something so much bigger than we could ever imagine. And we are so far from being done. We’re still growing, still innovating and still proving that freight can be done better.
If you’re curious about what it looks like to build a freight business with the right tools and the right support behind you, give us a shout. We’d love to talk about how you could be part of what we’re building next.