The September Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) came in at 52.4, up 1.2 from August. This is the second consecutive month of expansion following three straight contraction readings from May-July. While this is the fastest expansion rate since February, a reading of 52.4 is still well below the all-time average of 62.9 and represents a very…
International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event when certified Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement, and educational initiatives targeting various motor carrier, vehicle, and driver safety elements. It is the most extensive targeted enforcement program of commercial motor vehicles worldwide. Since its inception in 1988, more than 1.8 million vehicles have been…
Manufacturing accounts for around 60% of truckload demand, making the most recent data good news for flatbed carriers. Data published by the U.S. Census Bureau reported that new orders for manufactured goods – Factory Orders – increased $6.7 billion, or 1.2%, to $586.1 billion in August. This follows the 2.1% decrease recorded in July and…
The fall holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving signal harvest time for pumpkins, creating more demand for reefer carriers. Smaller pumpkins are already on farm stands around the country. Pumpkin is used to make soups, desserts, and breads, and many Americans include pumpkin pie in their Thanksgiving meals. What’s lesser known is the history of pumpkins…
by Joe Cottone One of the most critical aspects of any broker-customer relationship is the consultative approach – customers desire to work with knowledgeable brokers. Market knowledge is key when it comes to pricing loads and forecasting your cost, but also explaining market trends to your customers. Within DAT iQ, Ratecast and the new iQ…
Protecting your identity and sensitive information is more crucial than ever. At DAT, we understand these challenges and are continually working to enhance security measures for our customers. Here, we will discuss the steps we’ve taken to combat spoofing, introduce multi-factor authentication (MFA), and strengthen password complexity. Taking on spoofing Spoofing, or faking one’s identity…
The growing world of new artificial intelligence capabilities has made its way to freight and logistics, and it’s poised to begin altering how the industry works. Though machine learning and traditional AI have been around for years, with new technologies like generative AI, processes and norms will change quickly. What does that mean for your…
Although the Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increased by 1.4% month-over-month (m/m) in September, economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the eleventh consecutive month. Last month’s PMI reading came in at 49%, with a manufacturing reading above 48.7% over an extended period, generally indicating an expansion of the overall…
DAT iQ recently spoke to lumber and housing expert Dustin Jalbert from Fastmarkets to better understand flatbed demand, particularly in the single-family construction market. Dean Croke (DC): Residential construction numbers for August were just released this morning by the U.S. Census Bureau. Are you surprised by the 4% decrease in single-family housing statistics? Dustin Jalbert…
For flatbed and specialized carriers, construction spending reveals how much the government and private companies spend on projects, from housing to highways. The more the U.S. spends on construction, the higher the level of economic activity. According to the Commerce Department, spending on construction projects increased 0.5% in August to $1.98 trillion, falling short of…