A soft truckload freight market is driven by factors including U.S. shippers’ increasing use of privately operated fleets and favorably-priced intermodal rail capacity. According to Ari Ashe, Senior Editor at the Journal of Commerce (JOC) and author of the latest JOC Intermodal Savings Index (ISI), “Intermodal shippers in the U.S. saved almost 26% under annual…
Fall produce season mixed with holiday season festivities typically provides a much-needed boost for reefer carriers in November. This year, though, truckload volumes nationally trailed last year by around 3%, impacted mainly by the prominent California produce market, where volumes are down 26% year-over-year (y/y). In the smaller Pacific Northwest (PNW) produce region, truckload volumes…
The current flatbed market is one of the softest in many years, and the second half of this year has mirrored 2019, a poor year for truckload carriers. The national average flatbed linehaul rate, at $1.83/mile excluding fuel, has tracked closely with 2019 levels for the last three months and, as of this week, is…
In a recent DAT Freight & Analytics blog post, I wrote about preparing for winter driving. This week, we’re exploring how to winterize diesel fuel. Winter is fast approaching, and fleet owners and operators should already be starting their winter fuel preparation. The top concern for winter truckers is ensuring diesel fuel doesn’t gel, which…
Jeff Hopper is the Chief Marketing Officer at DAT. In that role, he oversees the customer service department, which houses DAT’s Network Integrity Unity, a team dedicated to preventing fraud within the DAT ecosystem. Their role is crucial – they work tirelessly to prevent fraudulent actors from infiltrating our system, ensuring your business is protected.…
Logistics is a fast-paced and always-changing industry. Understanding market dynamics is crucial for staying ahead. Artificial intelligence (AI), in all its forms, is all the rage. Now, logistics professionals can harness the power of AI plus other advanced data solutions and pair it with their existing analytics capability to unlock value and optimize efficiency in…
The flatbed market has been flat for most of 2023, with very little good news on the horizon. Still, Daseke, Inc., the largest flatbed carrier nationwide, delivered excellent results in the third quarter against some challenging headwinds. Jonathan Shepko, Chief Executive Officer of Daseke, said, “Adjusted for fuel and equipment gain on sale, the company…
Demand remains uncertain for carriers as we move through the peak season in trucking. In the latest Trucking Ton-Mile Index (TTMI) release, Professor Jason Miller of Michigan State University said, “Demand continues to move along the bottom of a trough. While September saw a 0.6% seasonally adjusted increase from August, this arises because not-seasonally adjusted…
Around this time of the year, the production of leafy greens moves from major growing regions to California’s Coachella and Imperial valleys and into Arizona – from Salinas, California, to Yuma, Arizona. This southernmost part of California and Arizona transforms into the “Winter Salad Bowl,” where an estimated 90% of lettuce demand is met between…
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