The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) was 56.4 in August, slightly decreasing (-0.1) from July’s 56.5. The overall index has been increasing for nine consecutive months. According to Prof Zac Rogers from Colorado State University, the logistics industry is growing slowly, and there were notable movements last month. The significant change in the August report is…
On Sunday, August 25th, the last Norfolk Southern (NS) Triple Crown RoadRailer train departure ever ended an era in road and rail transport. Roadrailers are purpose-built road trailers that can be moved between highways and rails without being loaded onto a flatcar. Early Roadrailers had integrated railroad wheelsets that could be lowered into position when…
According to the Journal of Commerce, UK-based Amber Infrastructure Group is developing a $55 million cold storage warehouse near Maine’s Port of Portland. The warehouse will significantly impact transportation costs for Maine’s seafood and produce shippers, who rely heavily on the Port of Boston and out-of-state storage capacity for refrigerated cargoes. Nathaniel Shehata, vice president…
The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, reported sales of $43.2 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Comparable sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased 3.3%, and comparable sales in the U.S. decreased 3.6%. According to Ted Decker, chair, president, and CEO, “the company’s sales at stores that open…
We are in the middle of one of the largest freight recessions in history. The last few years have forced us to think differently about how we do business, build relationships, and the tools we use. An old saying applies here: hard times make for strong and resilient people (or in our case: companies). My…
Password security is a foundational element of cybersecurity. It’s your bread and butter for safeguarding your brokerage. From our data security experts, consider these best practices for managing and securing your systems. For brokers who handle sensitive data such as client information, shipment details, and financial transactions, it is essential to implement strong password policies.…
The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) reads in at 56.4, down slightly (-0.1) from July’s reading of 56.5. The overall index has now increased for nine consecutive months. The index has been remarkably consistent, reaching 55.6, 55.3, 56.5, and 56.4 over the last four months as the logistics industry has continued its slow, steady expansion. The…
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) fell sharply in July due to broad-based declines in the current situation and expectations indicators. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 97.7 in July, down 1.3% from 98.9 in June. Get the clearest, most…
Fighting fraud in trucking is a team sport, and according to Erika Voss, Chief Information Security Officer at DAT Freight & Analytics, slowing down is key. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush to book a load, but for carriers, the best advice is to take a moment to look more closely at…
A leading indicator of truckload demand, the New Orders component of the Institute of Supply Managers (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) dropped 6% in August and 5% compared to a year ago. The ISM said its manufacturing PMI rose to 47.2 last month from 46.8 in July, the lowest reading since November. A PMI reading…
Trucking is an industry that runs on trust. That’s been a bit harder to come by lately. Rates and demand plummeted in the past two years, while fraud surged. What hasn’t changed is the relationships this industry is built on, and leaning into those is one way we can start to put the trust back…
Despite a 21% decrease in fuel prices last year, carrier profitability has fallen below those in 2019. Additionally, dry van all-in spot rates have dropped to an average of $2.01/mile for August. For small carriers or owner-operators running 100,000 loaded miles and 15,000 empty miles yearly, the national dry van breakeven operating cost was just…
Fraud in trucking has gone global, according to Scott Cornell, National Practice Leader, Transportation, Travelers Inland Marine. On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we discussed the latest trends in cybersecurity and fraud; here’s a summary: Dean Croke: What are the latest trends shippers, brokers, and carriers should be watching for? Scott Cornell So…
In July, residential housing construction for single-family homes started at a rate of 851,000; this is 14.1% below the revised June figure of 991,000, a four-year low for the industry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Compared to June 2023, the latest result was 14.8% lower. For flatbed carriers looking for demand signals of an…
Onions are grown in many regions of the United States, including those similar to potato-growing regions. The four largest production regions are Washington, Idaho-Eastern Oregon, California, and West-Central Oregon. Other states that grow onions commercially include Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Georgia, and Texas. Georgia is also known for sweet onions. Washington…
Based on data from IHS Markit, U.S. container imports in July 2024 were the third-highest on record, following the peak volumes during the pandemic surge in May 2022 and March 2022. U.S. container imports in July rose 11.2% from June 2024, reaching 2,556,180 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This is the first time in 26 months…
During the recent Walcott Truckers Jamboree held on July 12, an extraordinary event was held in the super truck showroom at the world’s largest truck stop. Passers-by were invited to have a piece of cake and celebrate a journey of six decades in making the historic Iowa 80 truckstop. The dream that founder Bill Moon…
The most recent release of the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI), based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, indicates that June’s seasonally adjusted ton-mile index shows freight demand continues along the bottom of a trough with no signs of a seasonal uptick. Get the clearest, most accurate view of the truckload marketplace with…
According to the USDA, potatoes are typically the largest produce commodity shipped in the U.S., with the truckload season typically peaking in mid-November around harvest time. Potatoes are grown commercially in 30 states in the United States, but most potato farming is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho and Washington are the top potato-producing states,…
According to Bill Cassidy from the Journal of Commerce, large US truckload carriers are reducing their truck capacity by 9.5% compared to last year. The Truckload Capacity Index (TCI) shows a 2% drop from the previous quarter to 76.9, a level last seen in 2014. The index has decreased for eight consecutive quarters since reaching…
If you spend enough time on U.S. interstates, you can’t help but notice the increased volume of oversized loads, especially those wrapped in white plastic, followed by an escort vehicle. Most components include cooling systems to develop artificial intelligence data centers in specialized buildings. For specialized carriers already reeling from the slowdown in construction and…
August is the highest-shrink month for produce due to many factors: excessive heat, mature fruit, overordering, and overstocking. As one director once said, “It’s the busiest time of the year, and with vacations to cover, it’s often staffed by the least-experienced clerks.” You can’t eliminate all shrink, but by keeping an eye on the critical…
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced Aug. 25-31 dates for this year’s Brake Safety Week. Brake Safety Week is a commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection, regulatory compliance enforcement initiative, a brake-safety awareness and outreach opportunity, and a brake-related inspection and violation data collection project. For this year’s Brake Safety Week, inspectors will…
From the desk of Mike Weaver, VP of Sales and Partnerships It seems that everywhere you turn these days people are asking to fill out surveys. And we at DAT aren’t any different. What IS different is that we really listen, and truly value your feedback. Please take a few minutes and check out our…
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in July for the fourth consecutive month and the 20th time in the last 21 months, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). In the latest July report, Timothy R. Fiore, ISM Chairman, said, “The Manufacturing PMI registered 46.8% in July, down 1.7 percentage points from the…
The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) recorded 56.5 in July, up (1.2) from June’s reading of 55.3, marking eight consecutive months of expansion. This is a far cry from last July when the overall index read in at 45.4, its lowest score in the LMI’s eight-year history. The report notes that this more subdued level of…
The invention of the CAT Scale gave drivers a better way to weigh trucks and trailers in the 1970s. You see them at truck stops across North America. Blazoned with a stylish or stylized cat face, those bright yellow signs signal a chance to pre-weigh a tractor-trailer and avoid unpleasant surprises at the weigh station. …
It’s a foregone conclusion that there will be weather events that throw even the best supply chain plans a curveball. When disruptions occur and major metro areas or shipping routes are impacted by flooding, power outages, fires, or deep freezes, what can you do to lessen the impact to your business, or increase your ability…
The United States is currently the 7th largest watermelon producer globally. Watermelon is grown in warm regions, spanning from Florida to Guatemala, making it available throughout the year in the United States. Florida, Georgia, Texas, and California are the leading states for domestic watermelon production. The typical growing season is from April to September, with…
Recent research highlights strategies to attract more women to the trucking industry. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the challenges identified in the research were industry image and perception, training school completion, truck parking shortages and restroom access, and gender harassment and discrimination. The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) is America’s leading industry…
After conducting extensive tests on its second-generation hydrogen-powered prototype truck, Daimler Trucks has unveiled a remarkable technological feat. The trial results reveal an astounding 600-mile range while carrying a substantial load of 80,000 pounds. Daimler Trucks is now focusing on hydrogen-powered fuel cells as the future of long-haul truck models, a strategic move bound to…
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported that oil production from major shale regions in the United States reached a six-month high in June. The EIA anticipates that production in the leading shale basins will rise to 9.85 million barrels per day (mbpd), marking the highest output since December 2023. Get the clearest, most…
The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) remained below 100 in contraction territory in May. However, with a slight increase from April’s 98.8 to 99.1, there is potential for growth. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are expanding, while index values below 100 represent a period of contraction. Excluding the pandemic…
Product engineers at DAT keep their ears to the ground – our customers are vocal and give feedback that we turn into new features and improvements. So what’s been cooking lately with the product team? Let’s check in. Watch the video with full feature updates here DAT One search improvements Recently, some users may have…
Professor Jason Miller, a respected supply chain expert at Michigan State University, emphasizes the need for more positive developments in the trucking industry as demand remains subdued. The most recent release of the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI), which are based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, indicates that May’s seasonally adjusted ton-mile…
In May, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This could have a significant impact on the trucking industry. The Department of Justice (DOJ) suggests moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports…
According to the USDA, net farm income is expected to drop by 25.5 % from 2023’s forecast of $155 billion to $116 billion in 2024 – a decrease of nearly $40 billion. This will likely lead to reduced agricultural machinery expenses, with tractor sales already 30% below the five-year average in May. However, the shift…
The National Cherry Festival, held in Traverse City, MI, is annually rated as one of North America’s top 100 Festivals and Events by the American Bakers Association (ABA). This year, the festival is scheduled from June 29 to July 6 and is expected to welcome over 500,000 visitors. Traverse City also proudly houses the world’s…
All Hammonton, NJ, blueberry farmers will answer the same regarding weather and geographic location. The blueberry picking and packing season usually begins around mid-June and ends in early August, punctuated by the annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival in the Blueberry Capital on June 30, 2024. Hammonton, NJ, a town that we can all be…
The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) recorded 55.3 in June, slightly down (-0.3) from May’s reading of 55.6. The index has expanded for seven consecutive months and 10 of the last 11 months. Inventory Levels (+0.8) contracted for the second month at a rate of 47.4. With inventories down, we also saw associated dips in the…
Commercial vehicle inspectors put 570 commercial motor vehicles out of service for brake-related violations during the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual unannounced Brake Safety Day on June 10. This year’s Brake Safety Day data found that of the 4,898 inspections conducted, 4,328 commercial motor vehicles had no brake-related out-of-service violations—88.4% of the total vehicles…
According to the USDA, net farm income is expected to drop by 25.5 % from 2023’s forecast of $155 billion to $116 billion in 2024 – nearly $40 billion. Decreasing farm revenues due to moderate crop prices and increased borrowing expenses are prompting a reassessment of significant purchases by farmers, creating an uncertain demand landscape…
The tools and features right under your nose From the desk of Mike Weaver, VP of Sales and Partnerships As we work furiously on evolving our industry-leading DAT One and DAT iQ platforms I think it’s important to ensure that our customers have the knowledge and agility to operate in our current toolset. We often…
The following is a guest post from Joe Cottone Jr., Customer Solutions Architect at DAT. As a freight broker, your success hinges on the strength of your carrier network. Ensuring that you work with reliable, safe carriers is not only good business, it’s essential for maintaining your reputation and safeguarding your clients’ cargo. A strong…
Many traffic safety experts consider Memorial Day through Labor Day the “100 deadliest days” for teen drivers. Those 100 days are typically when there is a spike in teen traffic fatalities, resulting in a 20% increase in teen traffic deaths, averaging seven every day. According to David Reich, the director of public relations at the…
The 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard provides valuable insights into the changing traffic patterns in major U.S. freight markets. It identifies the most congested freight corridors in the nation. The busiest stretch of highway was I-4 Westbound near Orlando between the Beachline Expressway and the Western Beltway. Commuting on this route daily at 5:00 PM…
The 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard provides valuable insights, a crucial tool for understanding the ever-changing traffic patterns in large U.S. freight markets. It’s not just about traffic; it’s a barometer for the economy. The movement of people, goods, and services creates demand for road travel, and when this demand exceeds the supply of road…
The 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard reveals that Friday has the highest number of trips to downtown areas in the U.S., and urban cores also attract trips on Thursday and Friday evenings. While traffic analysts usually focus on morning and evening rush hours, attention should also be given to the increasing traffic during midday. INRIX…
The peak hot dog season is in July, National Hot Dog Month. During this time, Americans are expected to consume about 7 billion hot dogs, with 55% of the total annual hot dog production being consumed in this period. This translates to around 16,000 refrigerated truckloads. On Independence Day, Americans are estimated to eat 15…
Following a recent decline in farm machinery sales, John Deere is making strategic changes, including layoffs at its factories in Iowa and Illinois. The estimated number of job losses stands at around 890 employees this year. As part of its global expansion plans, Deere is considering a new factory location in Ramos, Mexico, to manufacture…
A driving career covering over 6 million miles hauling refrigerated freight across one of the hottest continents on the planet makes Australian owner-operator Bob McMillan well-qualified to haul temperature-controlled freight successfully. More importantly, driving millions of miles across the vast Australian Outback has meant he has had to manage load temperatures and reefer motor maintenance…
The housing market is experiencing a significant decline in housing starts and a drop in homebuilder sentiment, reaching its lowest level since December 2023. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) fell two points to 43 in June. This decline is attributed to persistently high mortgage rates, causing buyers to…
As grilling season heats up, so does the demand for all types of animal proteins, including beef. This surge in demand also affects the need for reefer equipment in the truckload sector. The USDA produces several reports that can be used to gauge truckload demand for temperature-controlled freight directly, providing a clear context for stakeholders…
California avocado production is, so far this season, the best since the start of the Pandemic in 2020. According to the USDA, shipment volumes are up 41% year-over-year (y/y), with approximately 60% of the crop already harvested and about 40% of the California avocado crop still maturing and sizing on the trees. Based on findings…
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), sales of farm tractors and combine harvesters continue to lag the 5-year average by around 30%, based on the latest numbers. U.S. sales of 4-wheel-drive tractors increased 9.4% in May compared to 2023, although total farm tractor sales are down 11.5% y/y, while combine harvester sales dropped…
We believe in caring for drivers. Recently, DAT’s Masters of Freight charity poker tournament brought industry leaders together for a night of fun and fundraising. Winning the tournament came with a $10,000 prize, and Mike Crawford, ITS Logistic’s Chief Operating Officer, took his time to choose the perfect recipient. Mike was impressed with St. Christopher’s…
The contract freight market, a key indicator of the trucking industry’s health, showed signs of life following last month’s 3.6% sequential increase in the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. The ATAs tonnage index, which includes truckload and LTL freight, is dominated by contract freight with minimal spot market…
In Stockton, home to the largest cherry-producing country in Lodi, CA, growers know that Washington, the following critical cherry-growing region on the West Coast, is early this year. While some light harvesting began at the end of April, heavier harvesting began in late May and continued through this week in CA. According to the USDA,…
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported recently that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.3 months in May, according to a member survey conducted from May 20 to June 4. The reading is down 0.6 months from May 2023. The ABC monthly Construction Backlog Indicator is a forward-looking national economic indicator that reflects the amount…
According to the IHS Market/PIERS database, May containerized imports increased by 3% month-over-month (m/m) and 7% year-over-year (y/y). Totaling 2.3m TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), May’s numbers were the highest since 2018, excluding the pandemic-influenced years 2021 and 2022. West Coast volumes were up 2% m/m but were dragged down by a 13% reduction in sequential…
We’re entering another unusual stage in the freight market as the market bounces along the bottom of a trough. The challenge is we may be here for some time to come. Not only are truckload carriers aggressively calibrating truck counts to match softening demand, but they’re also ordering more new trucks from factories ahead of…
From the desk of Mike Weaver, VP of Sales and Partnerships Our customers are hands down the best source of information for us, whether it be market conditions, UX/CX, or opportunities for product development. Our enterprise sales team just wrapped up our second 2024 ENGAGE event last week in Chicago and we cannot overstate the…
Typically, we focus on trends in freight (like produce season) and the DAT systems that can help you manage those trends. Apologies in advance, this article is going to focus on the technical. Operating a freight brokerage, 3PL, or 4PL is more than just the type of freight you manage, pricing, and carrier relationships. While…
According to Professor Jason Miller, a supply chain expert at Michigan State University, trucking demand continues to bounce along a trough. The latest release of the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI), based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, showed April’s seasonally adjusted ton-mile reading decreased by 0.5% from March and close to 1%…
The 2024 hurricane season forecast, a significant development by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), AccuWeather, and Colorado State University (CSU), is a joint effort. All three forecasts converge, pointing to a potentially ‘super-charged hurricane season’ in 2024. The Atlantic hurricane season officially commenced on June 1 and will continue until November. NOAA predicts…
Growers are reporting heavier plantings in Northern Florida, Georgia, and Indiana this year, which means the season could run through September when the fall crops start. Due to adverse weather, the season will also come into one with a very light supply out of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. For reefer carriers, especially those…
Even though U.S. non-residential construction spending has slowed this year, overall construction spending has grown over the past three years, driven by a wave of companies building manufacturing plants, warehouses, and data centers. Since the inflection point in October 2021, when commercial construction spending accelerated, the amount spent has increased by 40%. Get the clearest,…
Lower than-forecast diesel prices by The Energy Information Administration (EIA) provide truckload carriers with breathing room as we head into the summer. As spot rates continue to bounce along what appears to be the bottom of the current freight cycle, now over 24 months, lower fuel costs are most welcome. Even though dry van spot…
Like the proponents of autonomous trucks, who have struggled to demonstrate a viable economic model in the truckload sector, early adopters of electric vehicles are in the same boat. According to Ryder System, which manages 25,000 trucks and vans for thousands of retailers and manufacturers, as trucks get heavier, the difference in operating costs between…
Chemicals are essential building blocks for multiple industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and construction. And while most chemical shipments move by rail, shipment volumes indicate future truckload demand for finished goods. These include moving fertilizers to farmers, plastic resins to auto parts producers, caustic soda to pulp and paper manufacturers, and countless other chemical products…
A research report from Skyquest, a global market intelligence, innovation management, and commercialization organization, expects the U.S. cold storage market to grow from $43.2 billion in 2023 to $118.8 billion by 2031. According to the report summary, the compound annual growth rate during the forecast period is 13.5%. The U.S. Cold Storage Market is witnessing…
In April, residential housing construction for single-family homes was mostly flat sequentially but still 22% higher than last year. For flatbed carriers looking for demand signals of an improving truckload market, the April result shows the market is in a holding pattern now the Federal Reserve has indicated rate cuts may not occur this year…
According to Professor Jason Miller, a supply chain expert at Michigan State University, trucking companies need more good news as demand remains weak. The latest release of the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI), based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, showed March’s seasonally adjusted ton-mile reading decreased 0.5% from February but remains down…
Despite the current economic climate, consumers strongly feel an affinity for restaurants. A staggering 64% expressed their desire to dine at or order from restaurants daily if circumstances allowed. However, the ongoing battle with inflation has reduced their spending and staff gratuities. On average, consumers now allocate 30% of their individual or family food budgets…
Truck driving is not only a mentally and physically demanding job; it’s one of the most deadly. Transportation accidents and falls caused more than half of the on-the-job deaths reported in the United States in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. Those hazards are more common in the most dangerous occupations. …
We say it all time: The right data can transform your brokerage operations. Here’s how to get the most out of your data. Because data alone won’t get you all the way. Here’s what you should know to use the right data well. Click here to watch the webinar in full The analytics cycle Understanding…
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,…
Controlling operating costs will be the key to surviving this tough freight market for brokers and carriers alike, but for carriers, slowing down may be the fastest way to better margins. Embracing the ‘Plus one, minus ten’ strategy, as suggested by Todd Amen at ATBS, truckers can significantly boost their bottom line in this challenging…
According to an updated report from the Department of Transportation (DoT), truckers can expect The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to publish details of its controversial speed limiter proposal this month. The previous rulemaking report published in September listed the maximum speed for the mandate at 68 mph before the agency backtracked to remove…
For flatbed carriers looking for signals that demand will improve, two reliable indicators point to more of the same in the short term. The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) was unchanged in April at 71.9 and shows signs of plateauing once consumers adjust to the higher interest rate and home price environment. Get…
Understanding the demand for produce is critical to understanding supply and demand, and a great place to start is your local festival. Get the clearest, most accurate view of the truckload marketplace with data from DAT iQ. Tune into DAT iQ Live, live on YouTube or LinkedIn, 10am ET every Tuesday. Most produce-growing regions love…
The Logistics Manager’s Index recorded 52.9 in April 2024, down (-5.4) from March’s reading of 58.3, the highest growth rate in 18 months. This breaks four consecutive months of increasing expansion rates and is the slowest rate of growth observed so far in 2024. The slowed pace of growth is driven by a significant decrease…
Even though the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has yet to release its 2024 Hurricane season forecast, both AccuWeather and Colorado State University (CSU) are forecasting a “super-charged hurricane season” in 2024. The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and runs through the end of November. A super-charged hurricane season could spawn…
In April, residential housing construction for single-family homes was mostly flat sequentially but still 22% higher than last year. For flatbed carriers looking for demand signals of an improving truckload market, the April result shows the market is in a holding pattern now the Federal Reserve has indicated rate cuts may not occur this year…
Blueberry bushes can grow all over the U.S.; farmers in 26 states produce blueberries commercially. However, more than 98% of that production happens in just ten states, spanning the country from coast to coast: Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Michigan, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Minnesota. In Canada, British Columbia is the primary producing…
Outbound flatbed volumes in the New Orleans freight market are currently running around 36% higher than last year, boosted by a surge in breakbulk imports into the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA). Despite NOLA’s position just outside the top 20 for containerized imports, it stands out as the third-highest port for breakbulk import tonnage…
At the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, radio legend Dave Nemo announced his retirement from full-time hosting duties of The Dave Nemo Show on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Channel 146. After over 50 years of entertaining truck drivers, Dave is slowing down a little so he can travel some more as he celebrates “The Last…
The cherry season in California, a crucial period for the agricultural industry, has already begun its peak which will stretch into mid to late June. This intense period lasts for a mere six weeks, contributing a significant 22% to the national annual volume. The heart of this production is Lodi, CA, in the Stockton freight…
The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) short-term outlook for diesel prices around $4 per gallon is holding for the moment and providing truckload carriers with some breathing room. Despite the harsh operating conditions, small carriers are showing remarkable resilience. As spot rates continue to bounce along what appears to be the bottom of the current freight…
We’re fortunate enough to work with the brightest minds in logistics, not least of these, Dr. Chris Caplice. Dr. Caplice is DAT’s Chief Scientist. He also works as a logistics and transportation researcher at MIT. Recently, Dr. Caplice led a discussion of how data science is poised to revolutionize trucking. If you were lucky enough…
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) annual consumer survey, spending on Mother’s Day is expected to be the second highest in the survey’s history, following last year’s record $35.7 billion. At an expected $33.5 billion, spending could be around 6% lower than last year, with 84% of U.S. adults expected to celebrate the holiday.…
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), domestic raw steel production was 1,716,000 net tons, while the capability utilization rate was 77.3% for the week ending April 20. Compared to last year’s period, when production was 1,769,000 net tons at 78.6% utilization, raw steel production is 3% lower year-over-year (y/y). Production for the…
As was the case with Valentine’s Day, when truckloads started moving two weeks prior, this week is the peak shipping week for flowers ahead of Mother’s Day. Most activities center in Miami, just 3.5 hours of flying time from where most Mother’s Day roses and carnations are grown. According to the USDA, in 2023, 63%…
The contract freight market, a key indicator of the industry’s health, continues to soften despite last month’s slight increase in the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. The ATAs tonnage index, which includes truckload and LTL freight, is dominated by contract freight with minimal spot market loads. Compared to…
On April 24th, DAT’s panel of experts hosted another broker Launch & Learn webinar. This session was packed with demonstrations and updates designed to empower freight brokers and logistics professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. If you couldn’t make it or just need a summary of what you heard, look…
According to Professor Jason Miller, a supply chain expert at Michigan State University, trucking companies need more good news as demand remains weak. The latest release of the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI), based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, showed February’s seasonally adjusted ton-mile reading jumped 1.5% from January’s low reading (which…
Las Vegas has been going through a construction boom for almost a decade, with much more to come when the 2028 Olympics start in Los Angeles. On the drawing board or already underway are a high-speed rail link to Southern California, a new MLB ballpark, an NBA arena, two new mega-resorts, a 690-megawatt solar/battery storage…
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), sales of farm tractors and combine harvesters continue to lag the 5-year average by around 10 to 12%, based on the latest numbers. Even though unit sales of 100+ horsepower agricultural tractors increased for the second straight month, up 3.2% year-over-year (y/y), total farm tractor sales were…
Typically, the Mexican produce season will peak over the next two weeks before cooling off until the cycle starts again in September. As of the middle of April, imported truckloads of produce were 1% lower than last year. However, there are signs the season may have peaked early due to weaker consumer demand in the…
The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI), produced by Zac Rogers at Colorado State University, came in at 58.2 in March 2024, up (+1.8) from January’s reading of 55.6; this is the fastest rate of expansion in the overall index since the reading of 61.2 from 18 months ago in September of 2022. Rogers said, “The change…
Memorial Day is just five weeks away, and even though cargo thieves won’t be taking time off, it is a time of the year when supply chain professionals should be on high alert. Highlighting just how big a problem cargo theft is in the U.S., New York District Attorney Damian Williams announced a multi-year beer…
U.S. single-family homebuilding tumbled in March as a resurgence in mortgage rates pushed potential buyers to the sidelines. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts dropped by 14.7% in March to 1.321M vs. 1.480M expected and 1.549M prior (revised from 1.521M). Single-family housing starts ran at a rate of 1.022M, 12.4% below the revised…
Typically, the season sees the first fruits ripening by the end of April, with shipments wrapping up by mid to late June, and winds down quickly after contributing around 22% to the national annual volume in a very short 6-week season. Nearly all of the cherry production is centered around Lodi, CA, in the Stockton…
From the desk of Mike Weaver, VP of Sales and Partnerships The Baltimore bridge collapse proved – at great cost – what we already knew: our industry is a complex, sporadic web of interactions that can be difficult to navigate. Below, you’ll find examples of DAT tools that make that navigation simpler. You’ll see demos…
The US manufacturing sector is in its strongest position since 2022, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The March Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) indicated that the sector moved into expansion for the first time since September 2022. According to the ISM, the Manufacturing PMI registered 50.3% in March,…
The same week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China that Washington would not accept new industries being decimated by Chinese imports. In March, import data showed that Chinese imports were 26% higher than last year. Nationally, containerized import volume, as measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), increased by 4% month-over-month (m/m) and 23% year-over-year…
Leafy green production in “The Winter Salad Bowl” in Yuma, AZ, is drawing to a close as growers transition back to the Salinas Valley in California. Yuma, also known as America’s winter lettuce capital, produces just under 90% of the lettuce, citrus, and many other vegetables for the United States every winter. Get the clearest,…
DAT’s crew had a great four days in Phoenix mixing and mingling with our friends at TIA Capital Ideas 2024. Like every year, we learned so much and came home with new ideas and perspectives to implement at the office. Our in-house experts were busy at TIA, too, leading panels and discussions during the entire…
The unofficial starting date for the 2024 produce season has been announced. The unofficial starting date for the 2024 produce season has been announced for truckload carriers, and it’s April 17th when the much-awaited Vidalia onion begins shipping. Around the same time, the Florida produce season is almost halfway through peaking in May, followed by…
Truckers are the lifeblood of the economy. Their work is difficult, essential, and often goes unrecognized. As a result, they’re often underserved by the services and help many of us take for granted, mainly physical and mental health resources, financial aid, and emotional support. That’s why DAT is excited to announce a new partnership with…
Based on the operating status data supplied by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the rate of interstate carrier exits slowed considerably in the first quarter. Surprisingly, the number of new entrants increased over the same timeframe—eight joined for every ten carriers that exited the industry last quarter. The number of carrier exits dropped…
International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event when CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement, and educational initiatives targeting various motor carrier, vehicle, and driver safety elements. It is the most extensive targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles worldwide, inspecting more than 1.8 million vehicles since 1988. The next International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 14…
According to energy services firm Baker Hughes, U.S. energy firms have reduced the number of natural gas rigs operating to the lowest level since January 2022. The combined oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by three to 621 in the week to March 28. The Baker Hughes Rig Counts…
Peach trees are blossoming, and strawberries are ready to pick, according to Lee Dickey from Dickey Farms in Musella, GA, indicating we are not too far from the official starting line of the 2024 produce season. Dickey says, “We are getting excited for strawberry season, although we’ve got some hurdles ahead of us with some…
For the first time in many months, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) report a slight surplus of trucks following last week’s 1% week-over-week (w/w) increase in produce volume. The PNW has had a solid season, with apple, pears, potatoes, and onion volumes 18% higher than last year. According to the USDA, there was a slight shortage…
March is typically the peak of imports for farming machinery and construction equipment in the Port of Baltimore, receiving just over 12% of the annual volume. For auto haulers and flatbed carriers, the port closure is a big deal, considering the port is the largest port in the country for the import of roll-on/roll-off cargo,…
Despite the rollercoaster ride in diesel prices in the last two years, so far this year, we’ve seen a relatively stable market in comparison. At around $4.00/gal, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices are $0.24/gal lower than last year and just over 30% lower than the record-high set in June 2022. For owner-operators and small long-haul…
Baltimore has 110 million people, or ⅓ of the US population, within a 500-mile radius or a day’s drive by truck and is a key freight hub for many shippers, brokers, and carriers. The bridge collapse in Baltimore following last week’s collision with the Maersk-operated container vessel “Dali” has resulted in the closure of the…
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,…
The constant market fluctuations can be overwhelming. That’s why industry veterans rely on proven strategies to navigate the ups and downs, making sure they stay profitable either way. We’re here to share a few of them. To make money, your business needs good relationships with freight brokers, tools to operate efficiently, and quick ways to…
The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index increased by 7.3% m/m in February, impacted by weather impacts on freight markets and a Leap Day, the main factor behind the 2.0% m/m increase in seasonally adjusted (SA) terms. Compared to last year, the index was 4.5% lower, and the smallest decline in ten months, according…
In the post-ELD Mandata era, the time available for drivers has become the primary factor in heavy vehicle productivity, and that time is increasingly impacted by traffic congestion. Each year, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) provides insight into the trucking industry’s national, state, and metro area congestion cost trends based on vehicle operating costs,…
The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased 2.1 points in February to 72.8, inching higher for the third consecutive month, due primarily to increased optimism around home-selling conditions. The HPSI is a reliable indicator of demand for flatbed carriers invested in the residential construction market. Each month, approximately 1,000 American adults (age 18…
Most potatoes in the United States are now sold in processed forms such as frozen, chipped, dehydrated, or canned. With the introduction of french fries as a critical side dish in quick-service restaurants, the share of potatoes that go into frozen products has risen in each decade since 1979 (from 33% to 45% in 2021).…
You know firsthand the challenges of controlling operating costs while keeping your margins healthy. Salaries, fuel, equipment, tolls, insurance, licenses – it’s a lot. Let’s take a look at strategies that will give you more control over those costs. At the end of the day, your business is a margins game. Here’s how to keep…
The industry is changing fast. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unable to keep up. There are new tools, new metrics, new technologies, and the hottest topic in town: artificial intelligence. In a new article in 3PL Perspectives, DAT’s Jeff Hopper urges the freight industry to embrace innovation, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). With the 2024…
As they typically do each February, U.S. containerized import volumes dropped following the multi-week closure of factories during Chinese New Year celebrations. Imports dropped 7% month-over-month (m/m) but were historically high compared to prior years. Most notably, imports are up by 4% or just over 84,000 containers compared to 2020, right before the World Health…
There needs to be more debate as to whether there’s an actual net shortage of truck drivers to drive available trucks or a shortage of drivers wanting to make trucking a career. One thing is for sure, though: The industry needs help retaining drivers and turning a driving job into a career. Why? Long-distance trucking…
Since the Great Recession in 2007, Las Vegas has sought to “recession-proof” itself and, in the process, started a construction boom that created significant demand for flatbed carriers to haul millions of tons of freight into the city each month. In addition to local demand for belly dumpers, construction, and earthmoving machinery, long-haul flatbed demand…
Washington State is by far the largest producer of onions nationally (25% of annual volume), followed by Mexico (18%) and Idaho (11%). Yerington in the Mason Valley is not so well-known and widely regarded as one of the country’s most extensive onion-growing operations. It is located 70 miles south of Reno, NV, and 370 miles…
The manufacturing industry, a vital driver of the U.S. economy, and flatbed demand dropped at a faster-than-expected rate in February, making it the 16th consecutive month of declines. The Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) came in at 47.8 for February, down from 49.1 in January. The PMI is a diffusion index; readings…
It takes a heavy dose of courage to go out on your own and make a life for yourself. For many, the volume of “what if”s and “what about”s is enough to keep them in their comfort zone, never venturing out, never exploring what all is possible. But that’s not Wanda Billups. She wanted a…
The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI), produced by Zac Rogers at Colorado State University, came in at 56.5 in February 2024, up (+0.9) from January’s reading of 55.6 and is tied with October 2023 for the highest reading for the overall index in the last year. This growth is bolstered by expansion in all eight sub-metrics…
The United States imports hundreds of millions of lithium-ion batteries each year, and according to IHS Markit/PIERS, refrigerated import volumes through the Port of Mobile, AL, have increased 62% year-over-year (y/y). Lithium batteries account for 20% of import volume, with over 70% imported in the last 12 months, arriving on the Gulf Coast in the…
by Chris Eudy In certain parts of the country, the grass is starting to turn green and buds are beginning to appear on the trees. Spring will soon be upon us, and with it, the produce season. Tomatoes, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables are set to make their way from the Southeast and California…
Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll take a deep dive into how to avoid falling asleep behind the wheel. Who’s at risk of falling…
We believe truckers, brokers, and shippers are the lifeblood of the economy. Their work is difficult, essential, and often goes unrecognized. As a result, they’re often underserved by the services and help many of us take for granted, mainly physical and mental health resources, financial aid, and emotional support. That’s why DAT is excited to…
According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), manufacturing production edged down 0.6% in January after recording no change in December. Compared to January last year, manufacturing output declined 1.3% year-over-year (y/y). The Federal Reserve’s monthly index of industrial production and the related capacity indexes and capacity utilization rates cover manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas…
It’s time to “Spring Forward” as Daylight Saving begins this Sunday, March 10th Despite many Americans’ aversion to having to “spring forward” and “fall back” each year because of daylight saving time (DST), recent attempts by states to switch to permanent DST have gone dark. That is despite growing support to eliminate the changing of…
The contract freight market continues to soften following last month’s 3.5% m/m drop in the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. The ATAs tonnage index, which includes truckload and LTL freight, is dominated by contract freight with minimal spot market loads. Compared to January 2023, the SA index fell…
In the fast-paced world of freight brokering, marketing often takes a back seat. But here’s the truth: it’s not just about promoting your business; it’s about securing your future success. We tackle the nuts and bolts of freight broker marketing in our new guide, “Marketing 101: A no-nonsense guide for freight brokers.” It’s an indispensable…
According to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), contributing to lower reefer volumes of fresh and frozen beef is the shrinking inventory of cattle, down 2% year-over-year (y/y) and the lowest in 73 years. For reefer carriers, the truckload volume of beef has dropped by 14% since the 20-year record high in March 2022, or…
According to Professor Jason Miller, a supply chain expert at Michigan State University, there’s some good and bad news for trucking companies based on the December data from the for-hire trucking ton-mile and revenue indexes (TTMI). December’s TTMI, based on output across 41 freight-generating industries, was down 0.1% from November, which is effectively unchanged sequentially.…
The myths and facts behind sleep Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll take a deep dive into myths and facts about sleep. Myth: Your…
A bitterly cold January most likely contributed to fewer housing starts breaking ground last month, with single-family homes, which account for around 75% of monthly construction, down 4.7% month-over-month (m/m). Multi-family homes recorded the sharpest decrease in January, falling 35.8% m/m. According to the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau, permits for future single-family construction, a leading…
The Port of Savannah consistently ranks as the fourth largest port for U.S. imports, accounting for 9.3% of the national total. However, it ranks number two for refrigerated exports (10.1%), behind Oakland, CA, with 14.7%. Besides its proximity to Atlanta, the Port of Savannah enjoys superior road and rail connections, with Interstates 95 and 16…
Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll deeply dive into the big four sleep stealers. Who and what is stealing your sleep? Energy drinks Energy…
Flatbed report: Texas leads the way in manufacturing and infrastructure investments According to Goldman Sachs, Texas is the leading state in terms of projects that have broken ground (about 25% of all projects in the US), driven in part by semiconductor plants from major manufacturers. The research firm is tracking over $1 trillion in manufacturing…
Two weeks of rain and powerful winds in California led to mudslides, flooding, widespread power outages, and a state of emergency declared in eight Southern California counties. Farmers are preparing to survey the damage contingent upon the ground drying out to allow field access. Citrus, almonds, avocado, and strawberry crops are expected to be impacted…
According to ISH Markit/PIERS data, January containerized import volumes were 5% higher than in December, growing fastest in seven years. The total TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) volume reached 2.284 million units, 8.7% higher than last year and the highest since 2018, except for the pandemic-impacted years of 2020 and 2021. West Coast TEU volume continues…
Traditional capacity procurement strategies are out – they aren’t enough anymore. Shippers are adopting a flexible approach, one that isn’t “one size fits all”, but quick, adaptable, and catered to their unique business needs. Agile procurement strategies are the newest tool in shipper’s toolboxes. Get agile and ahead of the market with DAT iQ. Now…
The Port of Baltimore’s six public marine terminals handle autos, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo), containers, forest products, and project cargo. The port also handles more RoRo farm and construction machinery than any other U.S. port. Baltimore’s proximity to the Midwest’s major farm and construction equipment manufacturers has helped it become the leading U.S. port for combines, tractors,…
Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll examine driver scheduling in depth. Are you a night owl or a morning lark? We’re all born with…
Inbound truckload spot market volumes into Ft. Worth, TX, have increased by 23% since 2019, driven primarily by the surge in imports into the Gulf Coast as shippers diverted freight volumes away from the congested West Coast during 2021 and 2022. Houston, the fifth largest import port, recorded a 25% increase in December containerized volume…
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,…
Miami is the epicenter of dozens of 747 Jumbo jets loaded with flowers arriving from South America, including Colombia and Ecuador. According to the USDA, 90% of roses, carnations, tulips, and orchids arrived from these flower powerhouses last year. Both are just 3.5 hours from Miami by air freighter, making it the ideal distribution for…
The combined Ports of Los Angeles (LA) and Long Beach (LB) are typically the number one and three ports for total monthly import containerized volume, respectively. They’re also in the top five freight markets nationally, accounting for 4% of weekly truckload post (LP) volume. Around a third of imports arrive in Los Angeles monthly, with…
Sun-drenched Western states have a solar energy boom, which means a substantial volume of inbound freight for flatbed carriers. As of July last year, nearly 100 solar plant applications were pending in Nevada, creating what conservationists call an energy industrial revolution. According to Greg Helseth, renewable energy branch chief at the Nevada state office of the…
As Valentine’s Day rolls around, observe the logistical ballet that unfolds in Miami, a city that temporarily sheds its “freight desert” moniker to become a pivotal hub for the holiday. The weeks leading up to February 14th see a remarkable surge in truckload freight activity, primarily driven by one item: flowers. See seasonal trends happening…
New Jersey, representing around 2% of weekly spot market truckload volume, provides a critical link in the national freight network and provides direct access to the major freight markets on the East Coast and Midwest. Truckload carriers can quickly move freight on major U.S. highways, including I-87, I-95, I-84, I-78, I-80, I-280, and I-278. The…
Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll explore sleep physiology and how to get better quality sleep from less time in bed. How much sleep…
You’re only as powerful as your tools allow. That’s why we’re constantly reworking and improving industry-standard tools in DAT One and DAT iQ to help our customers thrive. January’s Launch & Learn covered new product changes and showed brokers how they can thrive in 2024. Below is a recap of the new updates we’ve made: …
The Columbus freight market, the largest of four in Ohio, is poised to become an even larger one for truckload carriers following a series of major construction projects. According to U.S. Commerce Department officials, Intel’s decision to build two factories near Columbus is becoming one of two semiconductor manufacturing clusters being developed as part of…
Welcome to DAT Freight & Analytics’s six-part series on napping, sleep physiology, scheduling, and trip planning. While aimed at truckers in high-risk operating environments, the information will benefit anyone in the logistics industry equally. This week, we’ll start the series by exploring the art of napping. Some progressive companies encourage sleeping on the job, while…
Flatbed demand remained soft in December, impacted by a cooling demand for oil and gas exploration and lower single-family housing construction. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau reports that single-family starts plunged in December, dropping by 8.6% compared to November. The rate of single-family home construction is still 16% higher than the prior…
Avocados From Mexico wants to make a touchdown on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The Super Bowl is the biggest occasion of the year for Avocados from Mexico, with peak-shipping season coinciding with the NFL end-of-season event in Las Vegas, NV. Over the course of a year, U.S. truckload carriers will move around 95,000 truckloads of…
Memphis is known as the “Supply Chain Capital of the World” and “America’s Distribution Center,” a strategically centered transportation hub intersected by Interstates 40 and 55, the Mississippi River, and the convergence of east–west rail routes with north–south routes. Memphis is primarily an outbound distribution freight market for truckload carriers, with 20% more outbound spot…
During a recent stop at a major truck stop on Interstate 90 in upstate New York, I was pleasantly surprised to see a small driver health display incorporating a map of a walking track around the location. But that was the extent of it. A small picture on a wall near the entrance before unhealthy…
The Philadelphia freight market is home to the largest third-party reefer terminal in the United States, the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. Offering over four million cubic feet of refrigerated cargo space and 2,200 reefer plugs, the terminal offers 200,000 square feet of on-dock storage space for auto, steel, and project cargo. Located right under Interstate…
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…
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) analysis of the recently released 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database finds that 36% of all U.S. bridges—over 222,000 spans—require major repair work or replacement. Placed end‐to‐end, these structures span over 6,100 miles – and would take over 110 hours to cross…
Two West Coast hurricanes in August and October have resulted in higher onion prices in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) in December, according to Owyee Produce in Parma, ID. Hurricane Hillary hit the West Coast of the United States in late August, followed by Otis in October, making landfall near Acapulco, on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast.…
The DAT Freight and Analytics Freightvine Podcast provides the latest insights on the state of freight transportation and logistics. Hosted by DAT Chief Scientist Dr. Chris Caplice, it’s an authoritative source of guidance for shippers, carriers, and brokers to optimize transportation costs, streamline supply chain processes, and navigate market volatility. With a new year on…
With a market turn coming in 2024, it’s time for shippers to prioritize the power of freight data. Implementing data-driven decision-making across key supply chain functions is critical to planning for market volatility. However, it’s important to remember that leveraging internal data alone isn’t enough to effectively navigate the evolving nature of spot/contract rates, demand…
Homebuilders and buyers share a gloomy outlook for residential construction as we head into 2024, creating some headwinds for flatbed carriers. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI), based on the sentiment of NAHB members, registered 34 in November, the lowest level since the end of last year. Many homeowners are…
In addition to being a large military town and a hot spot for winter tourism, Yuma, AZ, is the Winter Salad Bowl, the Sunniest City in the World, and the focal loading point for reefer carriers in the Southwest. The local lettuce harvest is in full swing in the nation’s winter capital, and combined with…
The latest IHS Markit/PIERS import data for November reports a 9% month-over-month (m/m) volume decline. Notably, West Coast volumes are returning at the expense of the East and Gulf coasts, which were the recipients of a shift in volumes away from the West Coast throughout 2021 and into 2022. Led by an 18% m/m decline…
On a recent episode of DAT iQ Live, we spoke to Todd Amen from American Truck Business Services (ATBS) about the 2024 outlook for owner-operators and small fleets and how they’ve been able to weather the perfect storm of low rates and higher diesel costs during 2023. The complete version of the show can be…
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,…
Over four million tickets sold. 151 shows. Nearly $1B in revenue. Hydraulic platforms, laser lights, pyrotechnics, fireworks, jumbotrons, multiple shape-shifting stages – that’s Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in a nutshell. After each show, it’s all carefully packed onto trucks and sent to its next stop, creating one of the most technical and overwhelming logistics challenges…
Shippers enjoyed savings throughout 2023. As a national average, contract rates for dry van shipments fell 15% from January to November, according to data from DAT iQ. And with the inverted market, shippers were able to use the spot market strategically for deeper savings. Click here to access “Freight Focus,” our annual report reviewing 2023…
There’s no two ways about it: The current market is unsustainable for small carriers. Low rates and high costs spell trouble for any business in any industry, but with the traditionally tight margins associated with operating a motor carrier business, the current climate has many trucking companies operating on a razor’s edge. Click here to…
As we find ourselves in the final phase of a familiar cycle, shippers are currently enjoying a market that tilts in their favor, but the winds of change are on the horizon. Click here to access “Freight Focus,” our annual report reviewing 2023 and looking ahead to 2024 The current landscape: A shippers’ market Almost…
In the ever-changing landscape of transportation procurement, major shippers are abandoning the traditional annual bid approach. Instead, they’re adopting more dynamic strategies to ride pricing waves, balancing flexibility with predictability in the volatile truckload marketplace. Click here to access “Freight Focus,” our annual report reviewing 2023 and looking ahead to 2024 Evolution in strategy Shippers…
Looking back at 2023, the logistics landscape underwent profound shifts, altering the strategies and priorities of brokers across the industry. Here, we’ll delve into the top trends that defined the broker space this year and offer a glimpse into what the future might hold. The state of play The current market scenario is characterized by…
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…
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…
DAT has partnered with KnowBe4, a leader in security awareness training, to offer our customers an exclusive discount on their first year of services. This partnership aims to provide businesses of all sizes with valuable resources to enhance their online security and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness. KnowBe4 offers a comprehensive suite of affordable…
Overtime pay for truckers gains momentum It’s hard to believe that in 2023, truckers, one of the most essential elements of a functioning supply chain, have been denied overtime protection for nearly 100 years. On top of that, their minimum work week starts at 60 hours and is often as high as 70, depending on…
Developing a flexible and agile procurement strategy has always been critical to success in freight. However, the heightened market volatility of the past few years has put a spotlight on the process. Procurement teams are tasked with doing more while spending less as belts tighten and market pressures rise. In a keynote session at CSCMP…
We could be witnessing a reversal of last year’s diversion of import volumes away from the West Coast to the East and Gulf Coasts. Shippers fearful of labor disruptions and port congestion diverted imports to ports like Houston and Savannah via the Panama Canal in 2021 and 2022. The 2024 International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) labor…
You can’t always stay below I-40 when it’s below 40° Even the most experienced drivers struggle with icy roads and sub-zero temperatures when winter delivers a mix of nasty weather and road conditions. For drivers, the miles get more complex and slower than during summer. Moreover, any hidden equipment fault is exposed almost immediately, making…
Demand for flatbed carriers continues to be the flattest in the last seven years, as spot market load post volumes continue below 2019 levels, a notoriously poor year for carriers. As we start November, flatbed load post volumes are 41% lower than in 2019 and 66% lower than in 2018, considered by most to be…
According to Wells Fargo’s Chief Agricultural Economist Michael Swanson, Midwest and Southwest reefer volumes in the frozen food category are being impacted by the “smallest beef herd in decades” due to prolonged drought in essential cattle-ranching states like Texas and Kansas. Drought conditions have regularly occurred in many beef-producing areas, but a prolonged drought in…
Mature businessman working on a laptop. He is sitting at a desk looking serious. He is wearing a tie. Increased freight demand, market volatility and supply chain disruptions over the past two years have created freight market imbalances that forced shippers to enter the spot market in droves. Freight contracts resulting from annual RFP events…
With a transportation market turn on the horizon, supply chains will be a key area of emphasis for executive leaders in 2024. The urgency is high after pandemic-driven disruptions revealed the fragmented state of the U.S. supply chain and the ramifications of lacking resilience. From steep financial losses to brand reputational damage, lessons learned during…
Two important factors of any broker-carrier relationship are trust and familiarity – brokers desire to work with carriers they know to be reliable. Freight matching with trusted carriers allows brokers to spend more time cultivating a robust carrier base and move more freight for their customers. When brokers moved from DAT Power to DAT One,…
Protecting yourself from fraud is more important than ever. Fraud is a changing and complex topic, but we believe in making things simple. We’ve distilled basic fraud protection down to four key areas: Know your customer: We’ll walk you through the steps to ensure you know exactly who you’re interacting with, reducing the risk of…
With gratitude for your service to America today and every day, DAT Freight & Analytics wishes all veterans a Happy Veteran’s Day. George Marshall, Secretary of State under President Harry Truman, said: “The soldier’s heart, the soldier’s spirit, the soldier’s soul, are everything.” We honor that sentiment and the men and women who inspired it…
Futuristic HUD digital graph interface over blurry dark blue background. Concept of stock market and trading. 3d rendering double exposure The holiday season is just around the corner and for freight brokers, that means one thing: it’s about to get busy. As the demand for goods surges during this time of year, freight brokers play…
The American Trucking Association’s seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 1.1% in September after increasing by 0.2% in August. Compared with September 2022, the SA index fell 4.1%, the seventh straight year-over-year (y/y) decrease and the largest over that period. “After hitting bottom in April, tonnage increased in three of the previous four…
My local farmstand proprietor in New England told me last week he had considered not selling Christmas trees this year due to recent drought conditions and the substantial impact on cash flow. In this case, the business owners had to place their 2023 order of trees in August and pay in complete, causing an enormous…
There was some positive news for flatbed demand from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) last week – raw steel production increased by 0.2% w/w and was up 3.8% compared to the same period in 2022. That news fell somewhat flat compared to prior years, including 2018, when flatbed demand came off a robust…
The tomato harvest in the Sacramento Valley has just finished, along with the late harvest of almonds, grapes, onions, figs, olives, and plums. Tomato volumes have been substantial, according to Aaron Giampietro from Morning Star, with an estimated 12.9 million tons for the 2023 five-month season, 15% higher than the five-year annual tonnage. Despite the…
Kevin Yen’s team is stranded in an ancient desert, being hammered by relentless heat and blinding sandstorms. The team’s mission, should they choose to accept it, is to locate the scattered components of an ancient flying machine – its only hope to survive this unyielding and life-threatening ecosystem. Is Kevin an extreme tourist? A death-defying…
We celebrate Halloween this week, and there are signs dry van carriers have benefited somewhat through higher spot market volumes. Of course, these loads were already positioned in freight markets before this week’s big event. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion. That exceeds…
The title of this entry is a common road trip question and one of the most frequent at DAT Freight & Analytics. Of course, the question concerns the bottom of the freight market. Low freight rates are dragging on for far too long, according to brokers and carriers. On the other hand, shippers have enjoyed…
Against the backdrop of the worsening Middle East crisis, global oil markets are being impacted, driving up oil prices. Many energy firms remained focused on returning money to investors and paying down debt rather than boosting oil and gas production. Going against the trend, energy firms added two oil and natural gas rigs for a…
Remember to be thankful for Minnesota, the so-called “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this year. Minnesota is the number-one state for turkey production by a wide margin. So it’s no big surprise that the Minneapolis market area will also be the land of 1,000 loads per day this Thanksgiving…
At a time when trucking businesses nationwide are cutting costs in order to weather the current economic climate, a recent article in Transport Topics highlighted an emerging threat that could thwart those efforts: fuel fraud. The primary form of fuel fraud is card skimming, where devices that illegally capture credit or debit card information are…
It’s always over before we know it, and this year is the same story: DATCON23 was an absolute blast, and we loved connecting with you all in Houston. To relive the magic, check out this short recap video: This year’s DATCON covered a lot of ground but put a special focus on fighting fraud –…
Today’s truckload transportation market has a lot of moving parts. Between various economic modes, constantly shifting rates, different procurement strategies and pervasive uncertainty, it can be difficult for shippers to feel confident and prepared. Earlier this month at CSCMP Edge 2023, DAT Chief Scientist Dr. Chris Caplice hosted a presentation alongside Steve Raetz, Director of…
The 2023 JOC Inland Distribution Conference took place in Chicago from Sept. 26-28. DAT Freight & Analytics Principal Analyst Dean Croke was among the featured speakers over the annual three-day event, serving as a panelist during the Trucking’s Route to a Rebound keynote session. Croke was joined on the panel by industry experts Chris Jamroz…
Shippers navigate a variety of risks across their transportation network. Severe weather, fluctuating capacity, demand swings, labor issues, mechanical failures, and infrastructure obstacles disrupt deliveries and lead to delays. In addition, cyberattacks and digitally-enabled cargo theft have emerged as new risks amid the rise of interconnected supply chains. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting digital supply chains…
As the hope of freight market recovery in 2023 fades, even the forecast scenario for improvement in Q2 2024 is in doubt, according to Prof. Jason Miller of Michigan State University, in releasing the latest Trucking Ton-Mile Index (TTMI). The index is calculated as a weighted geometric mean of physical output, inflation-adjusted sales, or total…
Despite many Americans’ aversion to having to “spring forward” and “fall back” each year with daylight saving time (DST), recent attempts by states to switch to permanent DST have gone dark. There is growing support to eliminate the changing of clocks twice yearly, with a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2020…
Flatbed carriers looking for market direction received good news last week following the new single-family homebuilding rebounded in September. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, single-family housing starts, which account for most homebuilding, increased 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 963,000 units last month. In contrast, single-family building permits, a leading indicator of…
Halloween is next Tuesday, October 31, culminating in peak pumpkin shipping season for reefer carriers, especially out of midwest freight markets in Illinois. This year’s commercial Midwest Region pumpkin crop was in doubt over the summer following 50 days in May and June without rain, raising concerns the crop would not germinate. Despite a challenging…
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…
It’s sweet potato season, meaning reefer capacity could tighten in North Carolina, the leading producer in the United States, accounting for 76% of annual tonnage. For the last eight weeks, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also reported a slight shortage of trucks in Delaware, Maryland, and the eastern Virginia region, one of…
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the perfect time to learn more about protecting our digital lives. With cybercrime causing over $8 trillion in losses worldwide this year, it’s more important than ever to take steps to secure your devices and data. This post covers the risks you’re facing, and practical tips to mitigate those risks. …
Sales of farm tractors and combine harvesters continue to track closely with the 5-year average, even though last month’s volume was almost 5% lower than in August 2022. In contrast, heavy-duty row crop tractor unit sales continued to increase in the U.S. According to Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Industry Sectors and Product Leadership…
Fall is the busiest time of the year in Central California; workers at the vineyards and wineries hurry to pick grapes. The peak season lasts from August until October, but some grape varieties can be harvested as late as December. But this season may be a little different – grape prices are expected to be…
The American Trucking Association’s (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.2% in August after rising 1.1% in July. In August, the index equaled 115.3 (2015 = 100) compared with 115 in July. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello states, “The evidence is growing that tonnage hit bottom in April and continues its…
On a recent DAT iQ Live, we hosted two Ohio State University alums, Ken Adamo and Terry Esper, joined by Michigan State University professor Jason Miller to discuss Buckeye football, logistics, and supply chains. The complete version of the show can be found here, but here’s a quick excerpt of their conversation as they discuss…
Newly built single-family properties comprised a record share of homes on the market in the second quarter of the year, making up nearly one-third of housing inventory nationwide, according to new research from Redfin. New home sales typically make up only about 10% of the market. Low inventory levels of existing homes have kept demand…
Lower import and export levels of temperature-controlled freight contribute to the soft demand reported by reefer carriers. According to data supplied by IHS Markit, both levels are the lowest in five years. In August, national refrigerated import container volumes totaled 148,152 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), down 12.6% y/y or 21,327 fewer TEU. The top port…
There is no market recovery coming in 2023, and the best-case scenario is for improvement in Q2 2024, according to Prof. Jason Miller of Michigan State University in the release of the latest Trucking Ton-Mile Index (TTMI). The index is calculated as a weighted geometric mean of physical output, or inflation-adjusted sales, or total labor…
Truckload freight volumes increased in August as shippers positioned freight ahead of the fourth quarter. Buoyed by shipments of retail goods and fresh food, the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI) increased for van, refrigerated (“reefer”), and flatbed freight compared to July: Van TVI: 241, up 8% from July but down 8% year-over-year (y/y) Reefer TVI:…
The Network Integrity Unit is a specialized team within DAT dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our network. Dedicated employees work around the clock, resolving 100% of network complaints. Their role is crucial – they work tirelessly to prevent fraudulent actors from infiltrating our system, ensuring that your business remains protected. Our team employs advanced…
Despite apple production numbers in the Pacific Northwest falling slightly compared to last year, growers expect final volumes to be up around 20% y/y by season’s end, according to Ignacio Vidales, sales manager for Salix. After two years of shrinking export volumes, Vidales says some factors should help reverse this trend, including “a bigger crop,…
Despite forecasts of a muted peak season for imports, August container import volumes were surprisingly higher than July. This was surprising because of recent reports of excess inventories that still need to be whittled down. However, TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) volumes were only up 0.6% month-over-month (m/m) and remained down by 14% year-over-year (y/y). To…
Futuristic HUD digital graph interface over blurry dark blue background. Concept of stock market and trading. 3d rendering double exposure The blueprint for effective supply chain management (SCM) has evolved. It’s not just about saving money anymore. While financial considerations and budget optimization will always be facets of SCM planning, customer-centric value creation is the…
Steel output in the U.S. in the week ending September 2, 2023, was up by 1.2% compared with the same time frame in 2022, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Year-to-date production through September 2, 2023, was 59,844,000 net tons (NT) at a capability utilization rate of 76.0%. That is down 1.8%…
Truck drivers find their work fulfilling; however, nearly 75% state the job is physically and emotionally stressful, according to a new DAT Freight & Analytics survey. Moreover, few drivers can take care of their well-being and seek support when needed. “As the country wraps up the 2023 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week celebrating the vital…
Cybercrime is an evolving threat, and DAT is ready to lead the industry’s fraud prevention efforts. With over 40 years of experience, DAT understands the industry’s complex challenges. At the heart of this defense is DAT’s Network Integrity Unit, a dedicated team committed to keeping fraudulent actors at bay and safeguarding your business. A legacy…
Systems engineer Tanya Gamaley recently sat down to share her thoughts on DAT Freight & Analytics, her role, and her delicious first job. Why DAT? What did you know about DAT prior to working there? Tanya Gamaley (TG): When I was looking for jobs, what caught my attention was DAT’s long history of bringing together…
Structurally deficient bridges adversely impact all carriers but none more so than flatbed carriers; load securement is critical for flatbeds. “The good news is that states are beginning to employ these new resources to address long-overdue bridge needs,” American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Dave Bauer said. As the end of…
In the post-pandemic world, many truckers find themselves in truck stops where restaurants have not yet re-opened. If they are open, they’re typically so short-staffed the delays can become frustrating. Gone are the days of home-style cooking at privately owned truck stops where everyone knew each others’ names. Today, many truck stops have been inundated…
California produce volumes were not doing well before Hurricane Hilary hit the West Coast, but now that the damage assessments are in, growers expect to lose around one-third of this season’s grape crop. According to the USDA, this comes at peak-harvest time, when volumes are already 5% lower than last year. “The impact of the…
The $0.71/gal surge in diesel prices since July 4 has devastated small carriers operating in the spot market, especially those lacking access to a fuel surcharge recapture program. Never has there been a more critical time to understand operating costs – diesel has increased to 37% of total costs or $0.69/mile. More carriers elected to…
For brokers, margins are the name of the game. You’ve got to price loads so shippers are happy to work with you, while keeping enough wiggle room to pay carriers and profit yourself. It’s a difficult needle to thread. Advanced analytics tools like RateView make it easy, though. RateView is a powerful benchmarking tool based…
Are you a broker looking to optimize, grow, and scale your business? Do you want to maximize your profits and learn innovative strategies to help your brokerage succeed? If so, there’s a conference you can’t afford to miss – DATCON, taking place on October 10-12 at Houston’s Westin Galleria. DATCON isn’t just another industry conference.…
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) began in 2009 with the understanding that truckers are critical frontline observers in a unique position to disrupt human trafficking. “…research shows that traffickers wanting to make fast money often target truckers at truck stops and rest areas (because they’re everywhere and easy to reach right along highways) to sell their…
Recent studies have shown that a strikingly large percentage of truckers suffer from serious health conditions. One report suggests more than 70% of the estimated 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. have at least one “serious health problem,” ranging from obesity to diabetes to heart disease. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund…
No segment of America is immune from hunger and food insecurity, and that includes the trucking community. Carriers nationwide face difficulty in finding basic nutrition on a daily basis (particularly during down markets), and Meals for 18 Wheels was established to combat that very problem. Meals for 18 Wheels is based on Facebook and operates…
It’s no secret that long hauls are a breeding ground for loneliness and isolation. And when phone calls or conversations at truck stops aren’t enough to break through that loneliness, some truckers elect to add four legs to their 18 wheels. Operation Roger Trucker’s Pet Transport is a 501(c)(3) charity that matches pets in need…
In November 1992, a truck driver named Gary King contacted a grade school in Williams Bay, WI, and asked the principal for permission to write to a class of students as “pen pals” And so began Trucker Buddy, a program that matches truck drivers with school children nationwide (screening and background checks are conducted to…
We’ve all heard the tales of truck drivers falling ill, suffering an injury, or tragically passing away while out on the road. These are the natural pitfalls of a life lived on the highways of North America. But if these or other life-altering experiences occur, there is a charity dedicated to providing help. Truckers Final…
In the always-changing world of technology, staying ahead of the curve is essential. User conferences are a vital resource for tech enthusiasts, professionals, and businesses alike to stay ahead of the game. These events offer opportunities to learn, connect, and excel in an evolving landscape. DATCON offers you the chance to connect with North America’s…
Since the Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) Mandate went into effect in December 2017, just under 1,000 devices from a variety of manufacturers have been registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to act as logging devices for the hours of service regulation. Of the 994 registered, an amazing 159…
Cybercrime is a global issue plaguing nearly every industry. Bad actors are growing more sophisticated by the day, and it takes talented security teams to keep up. Freight 360’s podcast team sat down with Jeff Hopper, DAT’s Chief Marketing Officer, to discuss the global rise in cybercrime, what’s behind it, what can be done, and…
After a relatively uneventful Atlantic hurricane season to date, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has upgraded its 2023 forecast through the end of November. This comes just as the first landfalling hurricane of the 2023 season slammed the Florida Gulf Coast. Scientists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National…
The outlook for flatbeds assumes no substantive improvement in current freight market conditions, confirmed on the recent second-quarter earnings call with Daseke, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSKE), North America’s most extensive flatbed and specialized transportation and logistics company. Daseke’s fleet consists of approximately 4,839 total tractors (up 4.1% year-over-year, or y/y) and 10,886 flatbed and specialized trailers…
Food-related products rank at the top of the commodities hauled by reefer carriers. So far this year, protein foods are delivering a different volume than carriers would expect. Data for the first six months of this year showed a distinct lack of herd rebuilding due to lingering drought conditions and higher feed costs. Overall, beef…
New manufacturing orders contracted for the 11th consecutive month in July, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). The July New Order Index reading came in at 47.3%, up 1.7% m/m. New order level contraction slowed compared to June as ISM survey panelists’ companies continued to deal with uncertain customer…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed supply chain expert Professor Jason Miller from Michigan State University to discuss the outlook for the truckload sector in the coming year. Question of the week: What’s your outlook for the next 18 months in trucking? Jason Miller (JM): My best-case scenario for recovery would…
The recent U.S. Census Bureau release of residential construction for July surprised most of us who watch this data as an indicator of future flatbed demand. Climbing mortgage rates to near-two-decade highs continue to slow the overall housing market improvement. Meanwhile, new home construction continues to grow amid an acute shortage of existing homes. Single-family…
Hurricane Hilary, the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, flooded roads and toppled trees, prompting flood watches and warnings in half a dozen states. The storm hit parts of California’s San Joaquin Valley, bringing rare August downpours that could significantly affect the region’s crops. California’s Central Valley supplies 8% of the…
Three of four truckers believe their job is mentally and physically stressful A new survey of truck drivers by DAT Freight & Analytics is the latest that highlights the pros and cons of being a truck driver – particularly a long-haul – or “over-the-road” trucker. According to Indeed, the worldwide employment website, “The trucking industry…
Recent news of vessel and draft restrictions on the Panama Canal due to drought conditions has not affected most shippers — at least not yet — but the resulting queue of container ships waiting to transit the canal does bear watching for importers moving goods into the U.S. for the coming fall and winter seasons,…
Traveling throughout Europe (EU), it’s hard to miss the continent’s largest semi-trailer manufacturer on major highways. Schmitz Cargobull is that manufacturer, with approximately 26% of the market. Krone is next on the list and the most innovative. Together, these two companies account for more than 40% of trailer production in the EU, making technological advancement…
Although the flatbed and specialized carriers market is past peak season, imports of tractors, agricultural machinery, and garden equipment are down 17% y/y and trending close to 2021 levels according to the latest data from IHS Markit. Baltimore is still ranked number one, handling 18.3% of the total tonnage with July volume up 19% y/y…
At $1.68/mile excluding fuel, refrigerated outbound spot rates in Washington state are almost identical to this time in 2019 – but as usual, they are expected to increase at least another 20% by the end of the year. Over the next few months, during late summer and fall, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) produce season ramps…
If you’re ready to shift your business into another gear, there’s a solution for that — and you’re already in the driver’s seat. When you look beyond DAT One’s load board and basic features, you’ll find the most valuable link to finding the best loads, protecting profits, and navigating markets with confidence. We weren’t kidding…
Mature businessman working on a laptop. He is sitting at a desk looking serious. He is wearing a tie. As a freight broker, you solve problems. When things don’t go according to plan, shippers rely on you to save the day. The crux of your business becomes knowing how to turn that opportunity into growth,…
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through every industry. While most have regained some sense of normalcy, the transportation and logistics sector continues to experience lingering effects that significantly impact shippers, carriers, and brokers. This June, DAT hosted “A Logistics Jam Session” with Dr. Chris Caplice, Chief Scientist at DAT, and Anbu Kuppusamy, Director…
As shippers are well-aware at this point, the transportation and logistics industry has experienced a significant shift over the past few years as mounting financial pressures and spiking demand pushed the old ways to their limits. Willingness to adapt operations to the new demands of the modern market carried shippers and carriers through as they…
As we look to demand signals through the second half of this year and into 2024, manufacturing changes will be vital to estimating truckload demand. One such demand indicator is the Cutting Tool Market Report prepared by the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT). The report provides a monthly…
There aren’t many occupations that do not provide immediate access to restroom facilities, except for the few in construction with temporary job sites lacking long-term facilities. One that isn’t temporary yet lacks adequate access to restrooms, if at all, is trucking. Drivers often spend as much as a quarter of their workday unloading and loading…
Logistics metrics such as transportation, warehousing, and Inventory are leading economic indicators and can point toward potential movements in the overall economy. As we look for signals the freight economy is improving, the monthly Logistics Managers Index (LMI) gives us an insight into what to expect. The LMI surveys logistics professionals who are CSCMP members…
Peak blueberry shipping begins next month, with South American shipments arriving from Peru, Chile, and Colombia, mainly at the Port of Philadelphia. This also coincides with the start of the Pacific Northwest season, which runs from July to the end of September. Imported blueberries account for 75% of annual production, with Peru (36%) the number…
Working with a broker or carrier for the first time can lead to a successful and profitable relationship that will last for years. But in this digital age where carriers and brokers rarely meet in person, it’s good to follow some common-sense rules to ensure your new business partner is who they say they are.…
Diesel price hikes in the last few weeks are beginning to impact the industry. DAT Freight & Analytics’ pessimistic modeling scenario was for this year to shape up just as it did in 2019, while on the optimistic side, forecasts called for an uptick in freight activity in the fall, coinciding with peak shipping ahead…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed former owner-operator and industry expert Adam Wingfield from Innovative Logistics Group to discuss strategies carriers use to survive the soft freight market. Question of The Week: What should carriers do when brokers have turned them down for loads because they don’t have enough inspection data…
Steel output in the U.S. in the week ending July 29, 2023, is up by 1.6% compared with the same time period in 2022, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Adjusted year-to-date production through July 29, 2023, was 51,111,000 net tons at a capacity utilization rate of 75.8%. That is down 2.4%…
Within the next three months, we’ll see the seasonal transition where our fruit and vegetables are grown and hauled. The overarching trend is from traditional domestic produce growing regions as the domestic seasons wind down to imports from South and Central America at port markets such as Los Angeles or Philadelphia. Chile and Peru start…
As the backbone of the transportation industry, trucking carriers play a crucial role in ensuring goods are delivered across vast distances. With such responsibility comes a need for robust protection and risk management. Insurance serves as a lifeline, safeguarding carriers from potential financial setbacks. However, not all insurance agencies are created equal. For those seeking…
Since the new 1,400-foot berth Leatherman Terminal opened in April 2021, much larger container vessels have been calling on the Port of Charleston, South Carolina. Additional capacity has also resulted in more volume through the port. If we look closely at the number of TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) imported before the new terminal and after,…
The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and with it comes a new wave of cyber threats. Like industries around the globe, DAT is no stranger to the uptick in cyber crime. DAT’s Network Integrity Unit (NIU) has partnered with the FBI to help end fraud such as double brokering or phishing attacks on DAT’s network. …
From the spectacular mountains of the Pacific Northwest to the myriad rock formations in New Mexico, truckers see some of the most impressive sights in America. Topping some lists of cool places to go is “The Caves” in Springfield, Missouri. Formally known as the Springfield Underground, an Erlen Group Company, is an underground industrial park…
Lower oil prices generally help truckload carriers through lower diesel costs, but they also point to lower truckload freight volumes directly related to drilling activities. Flatbed carriers in large freight markets like Texas have benefited substantially from higher drill pipe and casing demand, particularly in recent years. More drilling rigs translated into more freight volumes…
The United States ranks 7th in worldwide watermelon production, with Florida, Georgia, Texas, and California leading domestic production. Watermelon is grown in warm places, from Florida to Guatemala, making it available throughout the year in the U.S., with a typical season spanning April to September, with shipping volumes peaking in June – right around the…
Let’s face it, there are only so many loads to go around. A lot stands between you and booking your next load, but the most important one by far, is time. In partnership with OTR Solutions, DAT Load Board offers integrated credit checks right on the main load board. Simply look for the Blue Checkmark to…
With aftershocks of COVID-19 still rippling across industries, it’s safe to say that “unprecedented” is the official buzzword of the decade. However, according to DAT Chief Scientist Dr. Chris Caplice in a recent conversation with Supply Chain Brain at the Gartner® Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2023, the reality of today’s transportation and logistics market isn’t unprecedented…
Marquee Insurance Group (MIG) was established within the transportation industry, specifically by leading freight & factoring companies (Nolan Transportation Group & OTR Solutions). After being founded in 2014, MIG quickly established itself as a powerhouse in the trucking insurance industry expanding into multiple offices nationwide. MIG has become a trusted partner throughout the ever-changing insurance…
The two-week strike by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) workers in British Columbia was initially over and is now back on. The strike is causing supply chain disruptions because import containers are delayed or diverted to other ports. According to third-party logistics provider ITS Logistics, the labor strike at the ports of Vancouver…
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes in July posted a one-point gain to 56, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Low inventory levels of existing homes have kept demand solid for new homes even as the industry grapples with rising mortgage rates,…
The Port of Oakland is a central hub for exports in Northern California. Its strategic location and modern infrastructure make it popular for companies shipping goods overseas. The Port of Oakland handles various exports, from agricultural products to manufactured goods. Most container ships sailing from the Port of Oakland are specifically heading to China and…
As a data architect, one could say Jeremy Lowell puts the D-A-T-A into DAT. Jeremy recently sat down to share his thoughts on DAT Freight & Analytics, his role, and which data architecture job positions he’s looking to fill. Why DAT? And did you know about DAT prior to working there? Jeremy Lowell (JL): Transportation…
Since last October, the number of long-haul interstate carriers leaving the trucking industry has been around twice the rate of those joining the industry. The long-haul freight market is in the process of rebalancing. In the absence of any significant increase in demand, changes in the number of trucks in the market will become the…
The transportation and logistics sector is currently in flux amid ongoing reports of a potential UPS labor strike on the horizon. Negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters Union are expected to resume on Monday, with UPS reportedly ready to “sweeten their offer” in an effort to avoid a major work stoppage. In a recent poll…
The school year may have just ended, but shoppers are already getting ready for the start of school in the Fall. According to the June National Retail Federation (NRF) report, 25% of back-to-school and back-to-college shoppers are already placing orders compared to 17% five years ago. Also, 68% plan to take advantage of major retailer…
Owner-operator and small fleet profitability defied all odds and improved in June due to rising spot rates and falling diesel prices. After several months of teetering on the edge of a 2019 repeat (when the trucking industry saw record numbers of bankruptcies), long-haul carriers breathed a sigh of relief last month. It could be short-lived,…
Capacity migration is a subject often underestimated and misunderstood by industry experts. Most successful small fleets and owner-operators have a variety of trailer types at their disposal, enabling them to switch between modes based on spot rate and demand levels. An example could include a reefer carrier that changes to bulk liquid haulage in winter,…
Demand for temperature-controlled equipment is typically at its highest during the summer months, peaking right around Independence Day. That’s when spot rates increase and produce volume peaks, but within the space of a month, volume can drop by as much as 25%. From the start of July, the reefer market goes into maintenance mode until…
Stuck in your factoring contract? The thought of switching factoring companies can be a complicated process. However, our partner, OTR Solutions, makes switching factoring companies easy with their dedicated buy-out task force. This guide will walk you through key considerations to help you identify the following: Should you switch from your current factoring company? The…
Truckload carriers have been experiencing considerable growth in freight volumes in the Southeast and Southwest since the pandemic began in early 2020, and it is likely being sustained based on recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Northeast, traditionally a GDP powerhouse, now contributes less to the national GDP than six fast-growing states in…
The summer months often come with an uptick in severe seasonal weather that leads to delays, damage, and safety concerns. Fortunately, shippers can leverage freight market intelligence and data-driven decision making to better prepare for severe weather. Seasonal weather is responsible for 23% of all roadway delays, costing American shippers over 32 billion vehicle-hours and…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed Grace Maher, COO at OTR Solutions, to talk about ways that carriers are handling the current soft freight markets and how factoring is helping them manage cash flow. Here’s an excerpt from the interview. Dean Croke (DC): How can factoring help carriers survive this soft…
Flatbed carriers have moved around 42,000 fewer truckloads of steel this year compared to the first six months of 2022, based on data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Excluding 2020, when global demand crashed, year-to-date steel production tonnage is the lowest since 2018. The AISI reports steel output in the U.S. in the…
The long Independence Day weekend traditionally marks the peak in produce shipping volumes, and after a slow start, national volumes recovered to be up 11% y/y for the week ending July 4. National volumes were almost identical to 2018 and 2019 volumes halfway through 2023. Like last year, weather has significantly impacted this year, with…
Expecting the unexpected is imperative across the transportation and logistics sector. The fragmented state of regional supply chains leaves shippers susceptible to major disruption and operational downtime in the wake of disaster. Whether it’s severe weather or poor infrastructure, all it takes is one event to amplify supply chain risk. The recent I-95 bridge collapse…
As shippers seek to contend with the ever-evolving transportation market landscape, the evolution of data is causing major shifts to the procurement process. On May 8, 2023, DAT Chief Scientist Dr. Chris Caplice gave a presentation at the Gartner® Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2023 discussing the rise of data analytics and its impact on transportation procurement.…
Supply chains finally have the C-suite’s full and undivided attention. Amid inflationary pressures and rising supply chain complexity, shipping leaders can utilize freight analytics to contextualize their operational challenges and inform internal stakeholders of the risks and costs associated with their transportation network ecosystem. From 2020-2021, mentions of “supply chain” increased by 412% during earnings…
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to be 22% lower during the first half of 2023 than last year despite increased consumer spending, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy…
Two years ago, DAT Freight & Analytics wrote about the significant shift in freight volumes into and out of the Phoenix market, traditionally known as a backhaul market for truckload carriers. The increase in outbound freight has been driven by the pandemic-driven shift in consumer buying patterns to more online retail purchases, which has driven…
According to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Four-Wheel-Drive Tractors and Combine Harvesters continue to grow while some other segments continue to decline. Compared to the 5-year average, 2-4WD Tractors and Combine Harvester sales were 6% lower in May. Total farm tractor sales in the U.S. fell 0.7% versus May 2022…
The cherry season in California peaks in mid to late June and winds down quickly after contributing around 22% to the national annual volume in a very short 6-week season. Nearly all of the cherry production is near Lodi, CA, and the Stockton freight market, where the famous Bing cherry variety is grown. This region…
In the last 30 days, watermelons, potatoes, onions, apples, tomatoes, and strawberries have dominated truckload produce volumes but with a twist. Due to the weather-impacted late start to the West Coast season, more volume is coming from Mexico to offset lower volumes in California. Still, national volumes are down around 4% y/y, according to the…
Almost a month into Hurricane Season, the U.S. has seen its first tropical storm with a second forming, two of 12 to 17 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) predicted by NOAA this season. NOAA’s outlook for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to November 30, indicates a…
The most successful owner-operator truck drivers in the industry didn’t get where they are because of sheer luck. These drivers are successful because of what they do each and every day. To improve your trucking business, start practicing these habits today. 1. Understand Your Costs. Know how to use your knowledge of costs, especially fixed…
Fraud is everywhere. From phishing and spyware to identity theft and hacking, fraud comes at us from every angle, and scammers have more tools at their disposal than ever before. It impacts our personal lives and puts every business in every industry at risk. DAT is no different. As the operator of North America’s largest…
Over the past two months, hundreds of wildfires have spread across Canada, resulting in mass evacuations and the destruction of millions of acres. From May to September, Canadian wildfires or forest fires are common in forested and grassland regions. According to locals in British Columbia, such widespread destruction this early in the season is rare. According…
As a new broker, you’re going to do some cold calling. The tried and true method of connecting with potential customers hasn’t gone out of style, but you can’t go into it without the proper prep work. Let’s talk about what all needs to happen before you hop on the phone. Pick your spot Prospecting…
Read our free ebook, “Finding Shippers,” and grow your business Strong carrier networks are the bread and butter of any freight brokerage. Without them, you’ve got nothing. No way to move goods, no way to make money. Brand new brokers face obstacles in building a network at the beginning. Typically, it takes a new brokerage…
What do you do once you’ve secured consistent shippers as your customer base? Now that you’re operating on solid ground, built on long-term partnerships and organizational efficiency, this is a good time to step out and tackle new areas of business. The stability you worked so hard to create fuels your expansion now. Expansion can…
A late start to the spring construction season as weather conditions improve and wildfires in critical lumber-producing regions in Canada, including Alberta and Nova Scotia, could impact lumber volumes for flatbed carriers. Focusing on the freight-intensive single-family home building segment, higher interest rates, and construction costs have slowed development significantly. According to the National Association…
Hunt’s Point Produce Market (HPMM), the largest produce market in the U.S., has outgrown the facilities’ storage, using diesel-powered reefer trailers as extra storage. Around 1,000 of them, to be precise. Old reefers being used as storage at produce markets across the county is not new, but at this scale, it starts to cause significant…
Depending on who you talk to, the economy is headed for a recession or, more recently, a “soft landing,” as outlined by the National Retail Federations (NRF) June edition of the Monthly Economic Review. In the last year, we’ve heard economic pundits describe the state of the economy using terms such as the U.S. is…
It may be a relatively small part of California, but the tract of land known as the Salinas Valley grows almost half of the nation’s lettuce (including head, leaf, and romaine) and a third of its spinach, hence the title “America’s Salad Bowl.” Known for producing around a third of the nation’s strawberries, it also…
Since last October, the truckload sector has seen more carriers leave the industry than join. Since 2014 DAT Freight & Analytics has been tracking the spread between carriers obtaining new authorities or reactivating existing ones (green bars in the chart below) and those exiting the industry (red bars). The spread or difference between the two…
Flatbed carriers are moving around 37,000 fewer truckloads of steel compared to the start of June last year, based on data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Excluding 2020, when global demand crashed, year-to-date steel production tonnage is the lowest since 2018. The AISI reports steel output in the U.S. in the week…
In the last 30 days, watermelons have dominated national truckload tonnage as the number one commodity shipped, a spot usually held by potatoes. In May, almost 765 million pounds, or nearly 18,000 truckloads of seedless watermelons, were shipped, followed by potatoes (596 million pounds) and apples (445 million pounds). According to the USDA, 55% of…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed Tim Denoyers, Senior Analyst at ACT Research, to talk about the long-term outlook for the truckload sector. Here’s an excerpt from the interview. Dean Croke (DC): Now that more definitive employment trends are emerging, how many jobs will the US trucking industry contract this year, and…
As the weather warms up, suppliers can expect the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables to spike, highlighting the need for real-time data and analytics to better determine rates and stay nimble during both predictable and unexpected ebbs and flows in demand and product availability. The current state of the industry Unlike previous years, we’re…
The siloed nature of traditional shipper-carrier relationships is officially in the rear view mirror. From socioeconomic volatility and rapid demand swings to seasonal supply chain disruptions and rising fuel costs, organizations are navigating more complexity than ever during day-to-day operations – making effective collaboration between shippers and carriers increasingly critical to success. In a…
Each year the United States freight market generates about $750 billion. That figure equates to significant personal success for many who make their living in trucking – but it also makes our industry an attractive target for fraud. One of the most common variations of cargo fraud is “double-brokering.” That’s when a company posing as…
Phishing and fraud is a growing concern in every part of our lives – both personal and professional. As an organization, DAT prioritizes the security of our products, data storage infrastructure, and corporate environments, but that doesn’t stop fraudsters from trying to reach users directly in order to compromise their accounts. To help you flag…
Does your trucking business need to find another gear? Unlocking the DAT One app is the first step to getting back to why you got into this business in the first place: freedom, the open road, and honest pay for honest work. With a full DAT One subscription, you get unlimited access to tools that…
The transportation logistics industry is no stranger to uncertainty. With seasonality shifts, demand fluctuations, rate volatility, and severe inclement weather, organizations have a wide range of variables to consider when designing their operational models. And while these variables are oftentimes outside of their control, what can be controlled is how prepared shippers respond to them.…
The American Trucking Association’s advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 1.7% in April after decreasing 2.8% in March. Compared with April 2022, the SA index decreased 3.4%, which was the largest year-over-year decrease since February 2021. “While the broader economy continues to surprise and thus far stave off an expected recession, the…
Due to a significant annual increase in fatal car accidents during the 100-day span between Memorial Day and Labor Day, that period has become known as “The 100 Deadliest Days”. Over the past five years, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during that time. Crash data from the National Highway…
For flatbed carriers, especially those in Texas and neighboring states, the falloff in oil and gas drilling activity is something to be concerned about. According to Baker Hughes, the U.S. oil and gas rig count fell by 44 in May, the biggest drop in three years as energy firms curtail investment in new drilling rigs.…
Traditionally the impact on spot rates over the summer resulting from increased demand for fruit and vegetables is significant. In a typical year, reefer spot rates increase on average by $0.29/mile between mid-April and July 4. Last year that didn’t happen mainly due to the multi-year drought in California, resulting in national reefer rates increasing…
Nowadays, your profitability as a carrier is tied to your ability to identify the best available loads before your competitors do. Having ready access to timely, comprehensive load information helps you save time and grow your business – and that’s where DAT comes in. Here are two ways you can leverage your DAT One subscription…
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes in May increased by five points to 50, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This marks the fifth straight month that builder confidence has increased and is the first time sentiment levels have reached the midpoint mark of…
Understanding the demand for produce is critical to understanding supply and demand, and a great place to start is your local festival. Most produce-growing regions love to celebrate their annual harvest and typically hold a significant festival each year around the peak harvest time. Here are some key dates to watch: Florida Strawberry Festival –…
Some recent truckload demand indexes align to paint a gloomy picture for truckload carriers looking for a rebound in freight demand this year. So far, many of the publicly traded trucking companies reported that they didn’t see the usual seasonal bounce in freight volumes in March that they expected, according to Prof. Jason Miller at…
On a recent cross-country road trip the entire length of Interstate 80, it was obvious that speed isn’t the issue regarding road safety. From a driver who has 2 million over-the-road miles behind them, it’s not speed that’s the problem; it’s the inappropriate speed for the current conditions. And it’s not linear (i.e., the faster…
The Spring 2023 Semiannual Economic Forecast by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) forecasts the U.S. economy will continue to expand softly for the rest of 2023. The ISM expects the remainder of 2023 “are similar to those expressed in December 2022, despite continued inflation and geopolitical uncertainty”, according to Timothy R. Fiore, Chair of…
Truckload freight volumes declined, and national average spot rates for dry van and refrigerated (“reefer”) loads fell for the fourth consecutive month in April. The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), a measure of loads moved during a given month, was lower for all three equipment types: Van TVI was 206, down 15.5% from March and…
The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased in April to its highest level since May 2022, jumping 5.5 points to 66.8. Year over year, the full index is down 1.7 points. All six of the HPSI’s components increased monthly, most notably the component associated with consumers’ expectations of mortgage rates. While the component…
