Arial view of heavy truck on a narrow twisting road. Autumn colorful trees by the sides of the road. As we enter 2024, the transportation and logistics sector is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an analytics revolution and marked by unprecedented market dynamics. Click here to access “Freight Focus,” our annual report reviewing 2023…
The rate of long-haul carriers exiting the industry slowed in November following the exodus reported by the FMCSA in October. As has been the case over the last few years, whenever there is a significant surge in diesel prices, carrier exits accelerate in the ensuing weeks as the cash flow crunch hits. The third-highest number…
On a recent DAT iQ show, we spoke to commercial warehouse and economics expert Ibrahiim Bayaan from Nuveen about the 2024 outlook for trucking. The complete version of the show can be found here. Get the clearest, most accurate view of the truckload marketplace with data from DAT iQ. Tune into DAT iQ Live, live…
The November Logistics Managers Index (LMI) dipped into mild contraction territory following a 7.1 drop to 49.4 following three months of expansion. November’s dip was largely triggered by a decline in inventory levels (-9.1), attributable to fourth-quarter holiday sales. After a noticeable absence, just-in-time shipping appeared this holiday season because a lot of freight moved…
Winter and citrus fruits are paradoxical, but here we are in peak season for oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, clementines, lemons, and limes as winter grips much of the nation. According to the USDA, truckload shipments of citrus fruits peak in November in California and Florida, accounting for 94% of domestic citrus production and 64% of total…
Everyone can succeed when the sun is shining. But when there’s a downpour, you need a metaphorical umbrella and the tools to plan the adventures you’ll have when the sun shines. If you’re reading this, it means you have the largest umbrella on the planet, DAT analytics. Pricing It’s no secret that spot pricing has…
We’re a few weeks away from the official start of winter, but we’re already seeing the annual shift in produce farming to warmer southern latitudes. At the start of December, the number one domestically produced commodity being hauled by truckload carriers is, not surprisingly, potatoes (18% of weekly volume). After all, it is harvest season…
The contract freight market continues to soften despite the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increasing by 1.1% in October. ATA’s tonnage index, which includes truckload and LTL freight, is dominated by contract freight with minimal spot market loads. “After hitting a floor in April, tonnage has slowly and…
Sales of farm tractors and combine harvesters continue to track closely with the 5-year average, even though last month’s volume was almost 6% lower than in September 2022. In contrast, heavy-duty four-wheel drive (4WD) crop tractor sales continued to improve, recording a 12.6% y/y and 36% year-to-date (YTD) increase. Get the clearest, most accurate view…
The McAllen freight market is located on the southernmost tip of Texas, right on the U.S.-Mexican border, and is one of the busiest for Texas reefer carriers. On the U.S. side of the border is the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), and to the south is the Mexican border town of Reynosa, one of the three…