California motor carriers now face another challenge on top of requirements to meet zero-emission standards in the next decade and recent changes in labor law defining independent contractor status. If that wasn’t enough, effective January 1, 2024, intrastate motor carriers and drivers in California must use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record a driver’s…
DAT’s broker newsletter collects our top content of the month and delivers it right to your inbox. You’ll find guides, tips, and advice regarding DAT products, growing your brokerage, and current market conditions. We’re here to provide you with the information and insights to give your business an edge. From the desk of Mike Weaver,…
When the current freight market cycle ends and the next one begins, one thing is for sure: We’ll need more drivers and trucks. After the amount of for-hire carriers doubled between mid-2020 and the end of 2021, the industry has witnessed a slow exodus of carriers since. When the market turns, there’ll be fewer trucks…
Last year will go down in the books like 2019 did – an unprofitable year for carriers with the usual twists and turns. Unlike 2019, though, we have not seen anywhere near the level of carrier bankruptcies reported despite the number of long-haul carriers exiting the market. To put 2023 into context, we must go…
On the southern shores of Lake Michigan is one of North America’s largest integrated steel mills and generator of a substantial volume of steel for flatbed carriers. Gary Works is a major steel mill in Gary, IN, on the shore of Lake Michigan, and for many years, it was the world’s largest steel mill. With…
As winter sets in, shippers will increasingly add freeze protection or protect-from-freeze (PFF) to bills of lading to keep traditional dry freight from freezing. PFF is quite common in the less-than-truckload sector from November 1 through May 31, so freight that can be maintained at the shipper’s desired temperature sheltering using heated trailers, heat shelters,…
A guest post by Joe Cottone Jr. As we roll through the first of the year and into the heart of Q1, we’re starting to see RFPs come to fruition. How do you prepare for your awards? How do you develop the necessary capacity on lanes where you may not have any established? How do…
Human trafficking exploits individuals into forced labor or sex trade through deception or force. Traffickers frequent truck stops, rest areas, and interstates, making truck drivers – those who also frequent those spaces – uniquely suited to spot and call attention to dangerous situations. To help them do so, drivers can get certified to identify signs…
On last year’s final DAT iQ show, we spoke to industry experts Professor Chris Caplice and Professor Jason Miller about the 2024 outlook for shippers, carriers, and brokers. The complete version of the show can be found here. As we do at the end of every year, we ask industry experts what happened in the…
The first quarter, or “Quiet Season” in freight, is also impacted by a slowdown in Asian imports. Except for 2020, February import volumes are typically the low point each year before picking up in March and then steadily increasing to October, when import volumes usually peak. According to IHS Markit/PIERS data, February volumes decreased around…