The third quarter of 2022 was another excellent one for Daseke, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSKE), the largest flatbed and specialized transportation and logistics company in North America. As of September 30, Daseke’s fleet consists of 4,649 tractors (up 3.1% y/y) and 11,028 flatbed and specialized trailers (down 2.1% y/y) and has operations throughout the United States,…
According to USDA, weekly truckloads of citrus at the start of December were down 19% y/y underscoring what a difficult year the California produce market has experienced. It’s not just citrus that has been impacted by the West Coast pandemic, port congestion, truckload supply, and weather; total state produce volumes are down 54% y/y over…
Recent months have been rough for small carriers and owner-operators. The impacts of high fuel costs, inflation, and more have made it especially challenging to keep operating costs low and maintain the same profit levels. DAT’s analysis shows that costs today are around $2.01/mile, up from approximately $1.77/mile a year ago. This represents a 14%…
Running a freight brokerage is one of the most exciting jobs in the country – it’s a complex, interesting industry full of opportunity that’s essential to the worldwide economy. Alongside the allure of brokering freight is the necessity of smart business practices, like insuring your business. Admittedly, talking about brokerage insurance is less exciting than…
Company reviews are standard fare for purchasing decisions. Smart businesses leverage them to entice and inform potential buyers, to great effect: 77% of consumers always or regularly read company reviews before making a purchase. But now, reviews have moved away from consumer-facing spaces. They’ve put down roots in the B2B world, too. Thousands of brokerages…
Before you make any decisions about insuring your business or changing your current coverage, I urge you to speak with your own insurance agent -and possibly your accountant and attorney, as well. That said, here are a few “do’s and don’ts” that apply generally to the major insurance products that are offered to freight brokers…
Truckload demand may well be cooling unseasonably in the fourth quarter, but according to the American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, truck tonnage increased by 2.8% in October compared to the previous year. This was the fourteenth straight year-over-year gain, although tonnage decreased sequentially by 2.3% in October after rising 0.8% in September. The…
According to the USDA, weekly truckload volumes of produce are currently around 2016 levels and down by 13% compared to the previous year. In the Pacific Northwest, where the Fall produce season is still underway, weekly volumes before Thanksgiving were up by 13% compared to last year and almost identical to 2020 volumes. In Idaho’s…
For flatbed carriers looking to demand indicators through year-end and into 2023, the recent Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) October report and fourth-quarter results for Deere & Company (DE (NYSE) are important indicators to evaluate. According to the AEM, construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers face supply chain disruption for input components. However, a resolution of…
Unlike last season’s natural and artificial Christmas tree shortage, this year’s supplies look good, with U.S. consumers planning to decorate their homes for Christmas earlier this year. According to a Wakefield Research survey of 1,000 Americans, 79% of participants agreed that the earlier they decorate for Christmas, the more holiday spirit they experience. This time…