Behind the Hustle: How I Built DirectX After the Industry Told Me I Didn’t Belong

By Enrique Robinson, CEO of DirectX MGT Inc.

They never expected me to own anything in this industry.They expected me to move freight, not manage the system.To take the load — not control the lane.

I started DirectX because I was tired of being underestimated. Not just as a professional — but as a Black founder in an industry that’s been built to keep us in the field, not at the table.

I’ve spent the last decade in logistics, government contracting, backend software, and systems development. I've sat across from brokers who didn’t know I owned the company. I’ve led tech builds for cities while being asked if I was “with the delivery crew.” I’ve helped companies run their freight, staff their fleets, manage their compliance — and still had to prove I belonged in the room.

So I built my own.

I Didn't Start With a Freight Idea — I Started With a Problem

The problem was simple: too many Black drivers were being used for labor but locked out of ownership. Too many carriers were chasing revenue with no structure, no systems, and no way to scale. Too many of us had the grind — but none of the leverage.

I knew how to fix that.

I took everything I learned — tech systems, government logistics, startup strategy — and built DirectX not as a dispatch company, but as a platform for ownership. One where drivers become businesses, and carriers become partners — not customers.

I Had to Rewrite the Rules — Because the Old Ones Weren’t Made for Us

At DirectX, we don’t just run freight. We build the backend.

We operate through joint ventures, where if we own 35%, we invest 35%. We step in with capital, infrastructure, tech, people, and time. We help carriers keep their name and grow their company — not give it up to get ahead.

Drivers choose their payout structure. No deductions. Trailers provided. Full autonomy if they want it. The goal isn’t to “manage” them — it’s to help them scale. Whether they want to run solo or grow into a fleet, we give them the systems and access to do it.

And all of this is powered by our internal system, Omni — our tech stack that connects TMS, CRM, settlements, safety, compliance, cybersecurity, and partner integrations. Built in-house. Not white-labeled. Not borrowed.

Nobody Handed Us This. So We Built It.

There was no investor round. No accelerator. No corporate shortcut.

We earned every partnership. Every contract. Every driver. Every load.

We’ve built systems used by major municipalities. Developed cybersecurity protocols used in government work. Created launchpads for drivers who now run companies. Built equity-backed partnerships with carriers who were once about to close shop. And we’re still just getting started.

This isn’t hustle culture.It’s infrastructure.It’s strategy.It’s Black ownership — executed with precision.

My Goal Was Never to Be the Biggest

I just wanted to build a system where people like us could finally win on our terms.

Where drivers aren’t just percentages on a statement — they’re business owners.Where carriers don’t get buried under costs and compliance — they get partnered with.Where tech isn’t gatekept — it’s developed from the ground up by people who live the work.

DirectX wasn’t built to be trendy. It was built to be permanent.

If You're Reading This…

You’re either in this space or trying to get in it. Either way, let me say this:

You don’t need permission to own the system. You need a plan. You need infrastructure. You need a partner who sees it how you see it.

That’s what we built DirectX to be.

So if you’re overlooked, underestimated, or just tired of chasing equity in a game designed to keep you small — you’re not alone.

I’ve been there.I built past it.And now I build for others.

Let’s work.

—Enrique RobinsonFounder & CEO, DirectX MGT Inc.📩 media@directxtms.com | www.directxtms.com