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…
The substantial development of new warehouses along our interstates has been hard to miss in the last two years. Newmark has conducted a report that explores factors driving accelerated sector growth and quantifies key metrics for top U.S. cold storage markets experiencing expansion. According to Newmark, national cold storage development hit an all-time high of…
One of the great joys of trucking is the joy our work brings to children. When we’re young, the image of a giant truck soaring by on the highway is a pure marvel – like you’re seeing a real-life Transformer. And if you’re the type of trucker who responds to passers-by pantomiming horn pulls with…
Produce season is upon us, and you don’t have to be hauling food to feel its effects. It’s a time of year when demand for trucks is near its highest. And when demand rises, rates follow. That’s why this is a time of year most carriers look forward to, especially when freight markets have been…
Higher levels of commercial construction activity are offsetting the well-documented slowdown in residential construction. Boosted by new developments for electric vehicles, schools, e-commerce warehouses, manufacturing plants, and more recently, infrastructure projects, flatbed and specialized carriers are seeing more robust than expected demand this year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending for non-residential projects…
The 2023 produce season starts in the Southeast but is driven by California regarding the market-wide lift truckload volume and spot rates. The multi-year drought in California suppressed the 2022 produce season; this year, it’s impacted by extensive flooding in January and March. The area worst affected by the flooding was the Salinas Valley, where…
The U.S. Bank Freight Payments Index is based on more than $46 billion in freight payments annually and provides a quarterly look at the domestic truckload and less-than-truckload freight market. There were some mixed signals in the recently published first-quarter report for 2023. Even though the volume of shipments decreased by just over 6% compared…
The transportation logistics industry has seen its fair share of ups and downs in recent years – from the COVID-19 pandemic to recent supply chain issues. Now, in response to this tumultuous environment, the logistics industry has become increasingly data-driven. To help optimize supply chains, predict and prepare for market shifts, better understand performance, and…
Shippers and carriers say, “We have long memories” when the power dynamics change in freight markets. But according to research conducted by the MIT Center for Technology & Logistics (MIT CTL) in November 2020, strong shipper-carrier relationships in a soft market do not predict how carriers will perform in the next tight cycle. As we…
In the past decade, data has become perhaps the most important tool a company can use to make strategic decisions and see success. In light of this, Dr. Chris Caplice sat down with Scott Friesen, EVP of Strategic Analytics for Echo Global Logistics, for an episode of Freightvine. In this episode, the pair discuss the…
About 84% of U.S. adults are expected to spend a record $35.7 billion this coming Mother’s Day, representing an increase of $4 billion from 2022’s record spending, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Their recently released annual survey indicates consumers plan to spend an average of $274.02 on Mother’s Day items. Whichever way you…
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 16-18,…
Although housing construction activity has slowed faster than most expected, the extensive construction of new commercial warehouses along our nation’s interstate highways is hard to ignore. The flatbed freight market has been surprisingly robust this year following two years driven mainly by record levels of housing construction. The contraction in the latter has been offset…
If you think of tulips, you’d most likely think of the Netherlands and the patchwork quilt of colored tulips this time of the year. The Netherlands now leads the global tulip trade centered around the world’s largest flower auction in Alsmeer, a stone’s throw from Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport. Such is the Dutch global dominance of…
Finding the best loads is key to your business’s profitability. Few tools in your toolbox have as much impact on your bottom line as your load board of choice, and that’s just when it comes to finding freight. When it comes to having a clear picture of your rates, a good load board can show…
U.S. single-family homebuilding increased for a second straight month in March, following a 3.36% sequential gain. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, building permits, a leading indicator of future flatbed demand, increased by 4% m/m, offering some glimmers of hope for the depressed housing market ahead of the busy spring selling season. The industry started…
Last September, we wrote about carrier profitability and operating costs when spot rates fell and diesel came off record highs. At the time, we estimated operating costs for a typical long-haul truck operator to be around $2.01/mile – that includes wages, finance, insurance … basically everything it costs to run a truck and pay a…
As we head into planting season, combine harvester sales in the U.S. and Canada continue to grow while tractor sales are tracking closely with their 5-year average, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). This is good news for flatbed and specialized carriers looking to gauge service demand this season.…
Almost every week, the USDA reports a slight shortage of trucks to haul sweet potatoes in Eastern North Carolina despite the season being well past the shipping peak in November each year. According to the USDA, the coastal plains region of North Carolina produced around 67% of total annual sweet potato production in the last…
The March reading of The Cass Freight Index shipments component fell 1.0% m/m in March as freight markets continue to work through an extended soft patch. “Mild weather this winter and Omicron a year ago supported volume comparisons in January and February, so the lower result in March was unsurprising. Soft real retail sales trends…
At last month’s Mid-America Truck Show (MATS) ProTalk sessions, numerous new carriers in the trucking industry asked what they should focus on. My answer was easy: understanding the demand for what you haul is critical to pricing, lanes, trailer type, freight market strategy, and profitability. In addition, new carriers must also invest in trusted and reliable…
For flatbed carriers and brokers, Texas has been a strong performer benefiting from the 2022 coastal shift in imports away from the West Coast. At $2.33/mile, excluding fuel, outbound linehaul rates in Texas are at the second-highest level in seven years. They are a direct result of the substantial increase in breakbulk import volumes into…
Around 10% of all containers imported into the U.S. are refrigerated, unlike their non-refrigerated counterparts, which mostly come from Asia and arrive on the West Coast—quite the opposite. According to the latest data from IHS Markit/Piers, almost half of March refrigerated imports came from Central America; 25% were loaded with bananas, with just under 60%…
The business section of your favorite bookstore is jammed with titles about navigating hard times, down markets, and “headwinds.” Many such books agree on what white-collar professionals are wise to do when the going gets tough: get back to basics. When there isn’t enough work coming in to keep you busy, use the downtime to…
The February 2023 reading of the for-hire trucking ton-mile seasonally adjusted index produced by Yemisi Bolumole and Jason Miller at Michigan State University (MSU) saw demand flat compared to January 2023 and down 1% y/y. The ton-mileage index is derived from the physical quantity output for 41 freight-producing industry sectors. According to Professor Miller, “Demand…
The unofficial start date for the 2023 produce season has been announced for truckload carriers, and it’s April 19th when the much-awaited Vidalia Onion begins shipping. Around the same time, the Florida produce season is almost halfway through, followed by the start of the peach season in Georgia and South Carolina. This creates a chain…
The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased 3.3 points in March to 61.3, it remains only slightly above its all-time low set late last year. The HPSI indicates future flatbed demand for truckload carriers based on a monthly survey of 1,000 consumers who make household financial decisions. Survey questions ask consumers whether they…
The Georgia peach season has suffered a setback this year. After a warmer winter followed by several days of freezing temperatures in March, Georgia peach farmers “fear a brutal, one-two punch may have wiped out much of their crop.” At the start of March, Georgia’s oldest operating peach packinghouse Dickey’s Farms, reported peach trees were…
The March Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) came in at 51.1, down -3.6 from February and the lowest reading for the overall index in the 6.5-year history of the LMI. The March result is driven by an all-time low in Transportation Prices, down (-5.0) to 31.1. The LMI score combines eight unique components of the logistics…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed Zac Rogers, Associate Professor, and discussed the latest results of the Logistics Managers Index. Here’s an excerpt from the interview. Ken Adamo (KA): It’s looking like we might be in for a bit of a slower year than expected. What are you seeing? Zac Rogers…
According to the nation’s supply chain executives in the latest Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), economic activity in manufacturing contracted in March for the fifth consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth. At 46.3%, the March Manufacturing PMI is at its lowest level since May 2020, when it registered…
One of the more critical dates on the annual produce calendar is the Vidalia onion “pack date,” signaling the start of the produce shipping season. Each year Vidalia onion devotees eagerly await the announcement of the pack date or time shoppers will soon be able to purchase the product, which is only available for a…
The alcohol industry produces an estimated 20,000 truckload equivalents each week, hauled mainly by truckload carriers, but it has yet to be all froth and bubbles for beverage makers. The world’s largest brewer, AB InBev, reported a fall in sales volume at the end of last year as steep price increases prompted a drop in…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, we interviewed Todd Amen, CEO and Founder of ATBS, to talk about owner-operator and small fleet viability. Here’s an excerpt: Dean Croke (DC): Now 2022 is in the books. What’s the outlook for small carriers this year? Todd Amen (TA): As you guys have been talking about, this…
It’s not peak season for tractor sales until April, coinciding with planting season, and although volumes typically decrease in February, last month’s 19.4% decrease was higher than last year. Total farm tractor sales are also down 17.2%year-to-date. Two smaller categories, 100+ HP 2WD and 4WD tractors, were up 2.7% y/y and 55% y/y, respectively. Compared…
Located in DAT’s Brooklyn, NY, freight market, the Hunts Point Produce Market (HPPM) is regarded as the largest produce market in the U.S., with roots dating back to 1790. Situated on nearly 120 acres in the Bronx, on its busiest day, typically right before Thanksgiving, it can handle 30 million pounds of produce. Thousands of…
For some time now, we’ve been wondering if and when Class 1 railroads will take advantage of the shift in imports from the West Coast to the East Coast. Wait no longer. Ari Ashe at the Journal of Commerce reports Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) will launch a new international intermodal service between the Port of…
The first significant truck show of the 2023 season is this week. Truckers, fleet owners, media, equipment manufacturers, and industry suppliers will gather in Louisville, KY, for the world’s largest, longest-running, heavy-duty trucking show. Starting this Thursday, truckers and their families will make up the bulk of attendees over the three-day event, but some truckers…
The Port of Baltimore’s six public marine terminals handles 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,…
Who would have thought that in the space of a year, California would go from a multi-year drought to a series of atmospheric rivers to devastating flooding, landslides, and inaccessible farmland? Lettuce growers are nearing the end of the season in Yuma, AZ, or what’s known as the Winter Salad Bowl, where 90% of leafy…
Seize the moment and take back control of your rates What would you give to know you’re spending the right amount to move goods and eliminate all the guesswork? The market has shifted, and shippers have more leverage than they’ve had through the pandemic. Now is the time to optimize your spend so you can…
You made the first step – you’ve got your authority and you’re off the ground as a freight broker. You’re learning the ropes, expanding both your customer base and carrier network. What’s next? How do you keep the momentum going on your journey upward? That’ll give us a good place to start our conversation on…
The February Logistics Managers Index (LMI) came in at 54.7 in February, down (-2.9) from January’s reading of 57.6. While the overall diffusion index remains in expansion territory (values above 50 indicate expansion and below indicate contraction), February’s numbers broke the streak of two consecutive readings of increased growth. Notable movers in February were Transportation…
There’s 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 has a huge problem retaining drivers and turning a driving job into a career. Why? It’s a tough job…
For the week ending on March 11, 2023, domestic steel mills made 1,677,000 net tons representing a decrease of 2% y/y or 60,000 tons or the equivalent of 2,400 fewer flatbed truckload equivalents. The capability utilization rate was 75%, down from 78.7% the previous year. The current week’s production represents a 1.9% decrease from the…
There’s a chance your produce has traveled more than you have. Consider that 2.6 million registered truck tractors are on our roads daily, and 70% of all U.S. agricultural products are shipped by truck. The average food item travels approximately 5,120 miles through the supply chain to reach your store. National Geographic reporters followed a…
By Michael Schneider, Tax Manager, ATBS. Every year there are changes to tax laws that may go under the radar for some self-employed truck drivers. Ignorance of these changes may cause carriers to miss out on significant savings when it comes time to file their taxes. That’s why we asked ATBS to provide a few…
By Michael Schneider, Tax Manager, ATBS. Every year there are changes to tax laws that may go under the radar for some self-employed truck drivers. Ignorance of these changes may cause carriers to miss out on significant savings when it comes time to file their taxes. That’s why we asked ATBS to provide a few…
It’s been a tough few years for shippers. With little to no leverage, shippers were forced to pay the rates demanded of them by carriers. They had their hands tied, and they didn’t have much choice except to pay the piper if they wanted to get products to market. But now things are changing. You’ve…
While overall truckload freight volume is holding steady for now, according to the latest ATA Truckload Tonnage Index, recent less-than-truckload (LTL) earning calls point to market softness following two years of volume increases. According to the Kearney 2022 Logistics Report, LTL freight transactions account for around 10% ($83 billion) of the $830 billion motor-carrier freight…
When you look at where and what comes into the U.S. in loaded import containers and what goes out as exports, there’s a common thread that may surprise you. While the freight mix and volume vary from port to port, trees, the biggest plants on the planet, are the common thread for imports and exports.…
The flatbed sector is off to a bustling start in 2023, boosted by significant projects resulting from the Infrastructure Bill and warmer weather, particularly in the Northeast. While the housing construction sector remains the wild card for flatbed carriers assessing the 2023 demand outlook, recent earnings calls from home improvement companies Lowes and Home Depot…
Located just an hour’s drive from Detroit on the shores of Lake Ontario is the produce-growing region in Leamington, ON. At the region’s heart is the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), established in 1967 and representing approximately 170 members who grow greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers year-round on over 3800 acres. According to Richard Lee,…
The American Trucking Association’s advanced, seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.7% in January following the 1% m/m gain last December. Compared with January 2022, the SA index increased by 1.5%, the seventeenth year-over-year gain almost identical to early 2020 levels just before the pandemic took hold. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is…
On a recent FreightVine podcast hosted by Prof. Chris Caplice, Senior Editor at the Journal of Commerce (JOC), Ari Ashe discussed the intermodal industry, including the drayage sector, where complex alliances, legal rulings, and a shortage of chassis trailers have plagued the sector for decades. Here’s an excerpt from the interview. Chris Caplice (CC): Demand for…
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. agriculture tractor sales finished January 2023 in the negative, while in contrast, all segments of agriculture equipment grew in Canada. The January AEM report notes total U.S. agriculture tractor unit sales fell for the month of January in all segments except one, with 100+hp 2WD tractors…
We’re almost midway through Lent, and those observing the religious tradition will also abstain from eating meat on Fridays up to Easter. As a substitute, many turn to various fish recipes, and fish, including the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, a popular option during Lent for decades. According to McDonald’s, which uses wild-caught Alaska Pollock in approximately 300…
What’s step one to kick off your business’ next growth stage? It all starts with the right TMS. Click here to see the TMS that scales with you. But let’s level the playing field – what is a TMS? A transportation management system (TMS) is a software platform that allows logistics professionals to streamline the…
The question most are asking is about the 2023 freight outlook following what can only be described as an unprecedented and volatile three-year period. Two-thirds the way through the first quarter of 2023, traditionally the quietest on the freight calendar, some early signs are emerging. Last week the Cass Shipments Index reported shipment volumes were…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics iQ show, Ibrahiim Bayaan, Director Americas Industrial at Nuveen, discussed the 2023 economic outlook for the commercial warehouse development. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. Dean Croke (DC): Where do you think commercial warehouse development is headed…
Home builders feel more confident as the year progresses based on The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which increased by the highest sequential amount years. Homebuilder confidence for newly-built single-family homes in February rose 7 points to 42, according to the NAHB HMI, the highest reading since September and the most…
This week, the strawberry shipping season ramps up in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, centered around Plant City, FL. Even though most U.S. strawberry production comes from California (68%) and Mexico (21%) over the course of the year, Florida and Mexico produce the bulk of the winter strawberry crop for U.S. consumers, according…
Portrait of an African American female truck driver, viewed from the outside of her commercial truck. Smart businesses take advantage of every opportunity. They act proactively because more opportunities means more business. If you could guarantee you had more opportunities to grow and scale, wouldn’t you? DAT One offers 2.5x as many opportunities as the…
“Don’t bet against LA,” was the message from Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka following the steep decline in imports, according to the AJOT. A softening in consumer demand, a loss of cargo to East and Gulf coast ports, and the stalled dockworker contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics iQ show, Dustin Jalbert from Fastmarkets discussed the 2023 economic outlook for the lumber and housing construction industry. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. Dean Croke: Flatbed and dry van carriers have benefited substantially from the housing…
Fastmarkets report a record-setting surge in Southern Pine exports to Mexico propelled total U.S. softwood lumber shipments to a 30-year high in 2022. Shipments of all species to Mexico climbed to 385 million board feet last year, up 8% from 2021 and the third-highest annual total on record. For the first time since 2016, Mexico…
Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN), one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein with brands including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, and Ball Park, reported lower earnings in the first quarter due to falling beef and pork sales. Chris Casey at Fooddive reports, “In a call with analysts, CEO Donnie King said supply…
A beam of bright sunlight washes across Chamaine Jeffers’ face as she steers her truck through a wide left turn onto another Iowa highway. A ribbon of rhinestones forms a bejeweled band around her straw cowboy hat, culminating with a big heart right in front. The light that illuminates Jeffers’ face is perfectly timed to…
The tree of market conditions is bearing ripe fruit for shippers. With rates falling, carriers can’t demand higher prices – there’s room to negotiate and wiggle, which means you’ve got all the cards you need to play some winning hands. There’s good news incoming: the market is handing shippers some leverage, and you’re poised to…
The latest releases of manufacturing survey data for January are encouraging as we look ahead to what 2023 has in store. Although S&P Global and the Institute of Supply Management ISM manufacturing indexes show a decline in their respective diffusion indexes for the prior three months after 28 months of growth, we are not seeing…
Truckers used to joke that there were two seasons in the U.S. – winter and construction. No one is laughing now as congestion worsens along key interstates while the nations aging infrastructure is upgraded year-round. Spending on new projects resulting from the historic and bipartisan $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill signed in 2021 is now evident…
The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is uniquely located on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico — with access to 30-plus major inland hubs such as Memphis, Chicago, and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, six Class I railroads and interstate highways. The trucking industry plays a vital role in the daily…
Regarded as the fasted growing and largest refrigerated port in the U.S., the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) is home to the Packer Marine Terminal, adjacent to the Interstate 95 and 76 freight corridors. Processing around 300 reefer trucks daily, PhilaPort is within a day’s drive by truck to a third of the U.S. population, making…
February can be a slow month for truck drivers. Combine that with the market being sleepy in general right now and you have a scenario that could rattle your confidence. But there is reason for optimism. There is a rhythm to the trucking market. A cycle. And maintaining profitability is an exercise in timing those…
The growth in warehouse capacity in Phoenix is something to see, and one truckload carriers must keep an eye on. Current developments are hard to miss as you travel along I-10 west leading to Ontario and Los Angeles, as are the traffic snarls caused by never-ending highway construction. Current warehouse development extends 37 miles west…
Next week sweethearts of all ages will exchange cards, flowers, candy, and gifts in the name of St. Valentine. According to the latest National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, consumers are expected to spend $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $23.9 billion in 2022 and one of the highest spending years on record.…
Last week’s release of the U.S. Bank National Shipments Index reported contracted a 4.6% decline during the final quarter of 2022. That drop is the most significant sequential decline since the first quarter of 2021 after decreasing for the last five quarters. Compared to the final quarter of 2021, the index contracted 7.1%, the most…
This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles square off in the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. The big day also coincides with peak shipping of the delicious Hass avocado from Mexico. Michoacán, the only Mexican state with certification to export avocados to the U.S., exports 84% of the avocados grown to the…
Intermodal provides a valuable complement to truckload regarding a shipper’s choice of transport mode for long-haul freight. Intermodal is typically slower than full truckload shipping (transportation takes at least one day longer on most lanes) and is more complex (it involves multiple parties). The benefits are considerable, though. They include cost-savings on high-volume lanes, especially…
Most truckers agree that driver behavior has changed in the last few years. The pandemic seems to have put everyone on edge, and anyone who has been driving long enough has felt like the lone sane driver in a sea of maniacs. The problem is that most drivers tend to overestimate their own driving ability.…
Texas flatbed carriers are enjoying some of the best outbound spot rates in the past seven years. At an average linehaul rate of $2.19/mile, only last year has been higher for the third week of the year when rates were $2.54/mile. Boosted by more substantial imports across the southern border and through the Port of…
After years of drought, rain is welcome news for California farmers of every commodity. Within 12 months, Californian farmers have gone from the grips of a multi-year drought and reduced crop acreage to concerns about the amount of water running off into the ocean. In just a few weeks, historic storms have hammered California, resulting…
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia’s deepwater ports, together with inland terminals in Chatsworth, Bainbridge, and Columbus, are Georgia’s gateways to the world. According to data from IHS Markit, Savannah exported the second-highest number of reefer containers in December last year (14% of the total) behind Oakland, CA (17%). Savannah ranks number four on…
Record-level wage increases over the past three years continued well into the fourth quarter of 2022, according to data compiled by The National Transportation Institute (NTI). Gains in base wages — mileage and hourly pay — were reported across fleet type, industry segment, driver job type, and all experience levels. Likewise, motor carriers and private…
The high cost of diesel got everyone’s attention in the second half of 2022, but Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) was already way ahead of the game. Based in Las Cruces, NM, the 2,100 truck fleet is as eye-catching as it is energy efficient. Al Muskewitz, Editor in Chief at HireMaster, the job search engine for…
After the pandemic pushed truckload rates into record-setting highs, the freight marketplace entered a down cycle in 2022. This puts motor carriers in a very different position entering the new year. Higher expenses affect all businesses, but motor carriers operating in the spot market have felt the pain more than most, caught between falling linehaul…
On top of the solid report on mortgage volume earlier today comes another hopeful report from the construction industry. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says builder confidence in the new home market has improved for the first time in January after 12 straight months of declines. According to NAHB’s chief economist Robert Dietz,…
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, we were talking about constrained truckload capacity and surging demand, as disruptions and bottlenecks piled up to wreak havoc on supply chains. A year later, transportation providers and purchasers have a different cloud of uncertainty hanging over them – the economy. Is a recession coming (or…
The current inverted market – where contract rates are well above spot rates – has presented plenty of opportunities for brokers. The historic gap between those rates has allowed for larger profit margins than were possible during the height of the pandemic. That gap will not continue indefinitely, and the shifting markets put a greater…
The results from last year’s Operation Safe Driver Week give carriers and drivers of preview of what’s in store this year. Last July, Canadian and U.S. officers pulled over more than 35,000 commercial motor and passenger vehicles. They issued 26,164 warnings and citations to commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in unsafe…
Last December, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to require every commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with electronic identification (ID) technology. This proposed technology could wirelessly communicate a unique ID number when queried by Federal or State motor carrier safety…
According to Fastmarkets 2023 Outlook, “widespread economic turmoil, including interest rates that soared to the highest levels in more than a decade, overshadowed the fact that 2022 was a banner year in the U.S. softwood lumber industry by historical standards. Fastmarkets’ latest projections indicate U.S. housing starts will drop 12.8% from last year due to…
A series of atmospheric river events has brought much-needed rain to California and some relief to dried-out almond farmers. Multi-year drought conditions should ease boosting reservoir levels. However, according to the latest reports, levels are still below the Jan average, with a lot of excess rain expected to end up in the ocean. Produce supply…
While California’s recent storms have caused widespread localized flooding, high winds, property damage, power outages and a number of deaths, they have not yet shut down the state’s key interstates, most major state highways or its ports. The storms that have been punishing California since Christmas are being caused by atmospheric rivers, which meteorologists call…
As the retail shopping season nears the finish line, December import volumes confirm a non-existent peak season in the retail sector. According to IHS Markit, TEU, (twenty-foot equivalent unit) import volumes were down 1% m/m and 12% y/y in December, and unlike prior years, import volumes are slowing rapidly. Since the peak in imports in…
We’ve all seen them driving along our interstates and in cities, thousands of huge oil storage tanks storing various products, including crude oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and more. Refiners often have clusters of storage tanks at their locations to maintain a running inventory of crude oil and store finished products before shipment. They are…
The outlook for flatbed carriers in the housing construction industry continues to worsen. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), homebuilder sentiment in November dropped for the 12th straight month to the lowest since 2012. Regionally, the sentiment was strongest in the Northeast and weakest in the West, where prices are highest. Single-family…
As the early stages of the 2023 produce season begin in southern latitudes, including Florida and Arizona, the 2022 calendar year was a disappointment for reefer carriers. The year ended with total produce volumes at 2016 levels. According to the USDA, weekly truckload volumes of produce ended the year down by 8.5% compared to the…
Of the thousands of dry van destinations, 10 stood above the rest. For various reasons, these are the top 10 dry van markets of 2022. Do these surprise you? Atlanta, GA Dallas, TX Chicago, IL Los Angeles, CA Fort Worth, TX Ontario, CA Joilet, IL Houston, TX Columbus, OH Charlotte, NC Lucky for you,…
Though temp-control trucks are heading in every direction, we looked deeper and found the top 10 temp-control markets. Do any of these surprise you? Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Fresno, CA Fayetteville, AR Joilet, IL Los Angeles, CA Lakeland, FL Ontario, CA Lucky for you, you don’t need to be…
Despite the economic headwinds facing many industries, there are strategic opportunities for transportation professionals in the new year. Taking advantage of them will require collaboration with your trusted partners, and those relationships will prove critical in 2023. Of course, there are the usual suspects when it comes to freight disruptions – hurricanes, snowstorms, etc. –…
Flatbeds constantly crisscross the country, but 10 cities were flatbed magnets in 2022. We’ve combed through over $137B of logistics invoices from last year and found the top 10. Do any of these surprise you? Houston, TX Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Savannah, GA Birmingham, AL Cleveland, OH Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL South Bend, IN …
As the retail shopping season nears the finish line, November import volumes confirm a non-existent peak season in the retail sector. According to IHS Markit, TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) import volumes were down 9% m/m in November, and unlike prior years, import volumes are slowing rapidly. Since the peak in imports in May this year…
On the final DAT Freight & Analytics iQ show for 2022, Professor Jason Miller discussed the economic outlook for trucking in 2023. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. Dean Croke: Jason, what trends are you watching as we head into 2023? Jason Miller: So…
On top of the crash in the building market creating a gloomy outlook for flatbed carriers in 2023, news of pine trees dying in significant numbers in Oregon further complicates the Pacific Northwest demand outlook. In addition to being the number one state for producing Christmas Trees, Oregon is also a major supplier of lumber…
Avocados From Mexico are looking to make a touchdown on February 12, 2023. 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 Phoenix, AZ. Over the course of a year, U.S. truckload carriers will move around 95,000 truckloads of avocados,…
Following the import shift from the U.S. West Coast to the East Coast, some ports are well-positioned to make this permanent, with growth plans on the horizon in 2023. One such port is South Carolina’s Port of Charleston. Last year South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) opened its new 1,400-foot berth at the Leatherman Terminal, predicting…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics iQ show, Tim Denoyer, Vice President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research, discussed the economic outlook for trucking in 2023. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. Dean Croke: Let’s start with inflation, Tim. Following record highs this year,…
The latest data for new equipment orders from ACT Research for November indicate carriers continue to have a bullish outlook for 2023. Preliminary new Class 8 truck net orders continue at robust levels, with November’s 33,000 orders down 22% m/m but up 245% y/y against easy comparisons to last year when order books remained closed.…
Like most produce growers in California, grape growers also faced various challenges in 2022. Katie Driver, Technical Services Manager for UPL North America, described the year as a “wild ride for agriculture starting with a frost that came through in the spring wiping out some grape crops and forced some tough decisions for growers. It’s…
Reefer carriers still feel the aftershocks of September’s Hurricane Ian, the deadliest storm to hit Florida since 1935. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and infrastructure wind damage have delayed the start of the Florida produce season. According to the USDA, weekly truckload volumes of fruit and vegetables are currently 35% lower than at the beginning of December…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, Lee Klaskow, Senior Analyst – Transportation and Logistics at Bloomberg Intelligence, discussed the future of the trucking industry. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. DATs Question of The Week: How do you see 2023 shaping up…
The third quarter of 2022 was another excellent one for Daseke, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSKE), the largest flatbed and specialized transportation and logistics company in North America. As of September 30, Daseke’s fleet consists of 4,649 tractors (up 3.1% y/y) and 11,028 flatbed and specialized trailers (down 2.1% y/y) and has operations throughout the United States,…
According to USDA, weekly truckloads of citrus at the start of December were down 19% y/y underscoring what a difficult year the California produce market has experienced. It’s not just citrus that has been impacted by the West Coast pandemic, port congestion, truckload supply, and weather; total state produce volumes are down 54% y/y over…
Recent months have been rough for small carriers and owner-operators. The impacts of high fuel costs, inflation, and more have made it especially challenging to keep operating costs low and maintain the same profit levels. DAT’s analysis shows that costs today are around $2.01/mile, up from approximately $1.77/mile a year ago. This represents a 14%…
Running a freight brokerage is one of the most exciting jobs in the country – it’s a complex, interesting industry full of opportunity that’s essential to the worldwide economy. Alongside the allure of brokering freight is the necessity of smart business practices, like insuring your business. Admittedly, talking about brokerage insurance is less exciting than…
Company reviews are standard fare for purchasing decisions. Smart businesses leverage them to entice and inform potential buyers, to great effect: 77% of consumers always or regularly read company reviews before making a purchase. But now, reviews have moved away from consumer-facing spaces. They’ve put down roots in the B2B world, too. Thousands of brokerages…
Before you make any decisions about insuring your business or changing your current coverage, I urge you to speak with your own insurance agent -and possibly your accountant and attorney, as well. That said, here are a few “do’s and don’ts” that apply generally to the major insurance products that are offered to freight brokers…
Truckload demand may well be cooling unseasonably in the fourth quarter, but according to the American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, truck tonnage increased by 2.8% in October compared to the previous year. This was the fourteenth straight year-over-year gain, although tonnage decreased sequentially by 2.3% in October after rising 0.8% in September. The…
For flatbed carriers looking to demand indicators through year-end and into 2023, the recent Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) October report and fourth-quarter results for Deere & Company (DE (NYSE) are important indicators to evaluate. According to the AEM, construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers face supply chain disruption for input components. However, a resolution of…
According to the USDA, weekly truckload volumes of produce are currently around 2016 levels and down by 13% compared to the previous year. In the Pacific Northwest, where the Fall produce season is still underway, weekly volumes before Thanksgiving were up by 13% compared to last year and almost identical to 2020 volumes. In Idaho’s…
Unlike last season’s natural and artificial Christmas tree shortage, this year’s supplies look good, with U.S. consumers planning to decorate their homes for Christmas earlier this year. According to a Wakefield Research survey of 1,000 Americans, 79% of participants agreed that the earlier they decorate for Christmas, the more holiday spirit they experience. This time…
Truckload demand remains strong despite the headline-grabbing talks of a freight recession. All reputable and representative truckload demand indicators point to volumes being up year-over-year, not down. If you have significant exposure to retail freight, volumes are certainly lower than in previous years, but that’s just one segment of the truckload industry. According to the…
On a recent DAT Freight & Analytics show, Matthew Leffler, The Armchair Attorney, discussed the top three legal issues facing our industry today. Here’s part of the interview with Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst. Please note that this content is not a substitute for a legal opinion. Please seek…
The Baker Hughes oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output and flatbed demand, increased by three units to a total of 782 in the week of November 18, the highest since March 2020. Compared to the previous year, the rigs count is up 219 or 39%, although current levels are still…
Last week, Church Brothers Farms in Salinas, CA, made the annual migration south to Yuma, AZ, where they will produce salad vegetables over the winter. From November to March each year, Yuma, AZ, becomes the Winter Salad Bowl, where 90% of leafy greens are produced for domestic consumption. Church Brothers uproot their farm team and…
The latest data from IHS Markit for the month of October shows imports overall are up by just under one percent y/y, while the split between various coasts tells a very different story. For at least the last six months, we’ve seen a noticeable shift of import volumes away from the West Coast, where labor…
As lumber prices retreat and housing construction demand softens, flatbed carriers with substantial exposure to single-family housing face the prospect of a slow start to 2023. Higher mortgage rates, and construction costs for concrete and other building materials, continue to drag on single-family housing production, which decreased by 6.15% m/m and 20.4% y/y, according to…
You might be surprised to find some winter vegetables in tight supply this Thanksgiving weekend. The list includes celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce. Supplies of lettuce, in particular, have been impacted by both a change in seasons and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (NSV), which kills lettuce when it’s in its mature stage, just before harvest.…
When it comes to getting paid for your work, factoring and invoice processing are exceptionally valuable. But the process for administering these processes can sometimes seem highly complex. To support our valued carriers in simplifying these processes, DAT Freight & Analytics and OTR Solutions are excited to announce the launch of a new factoring and…
Cargo theft has been around as long as I’ve been in the trucking industry, extending to the last century. The techniques and technology may have changed, but the threat and opportunities haven’t. In 1987 a sophisticated crime ring was running the dock at a large air freight company in Sydney, Australia, when they spotted an…
Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The 2022 tree will come from the National Forests in North Carolina. After almost a year of planning, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, a 78-foot red spruce affectionately…
Even the most experienced drivers struggle with icy roads and sub-zero temperatures as winter delivers a mix of nasty weather and road conditions. For drivers, the miles get more complex and slower compared to summer, and any hidden equipment fault is exposed almost immediately, making now the time to prepare for winter. DAT Freight &…
U.S homebuilders get more than a quarter of their lumber from Canada, making the recent slump in lumber prices worth noting. Hardest-hit is lumber sawmills in British Columbia, one of the continent’s most prominent timber-producing regions. Lumber futures fell 4% to $433 per 1,000 board feet last week, 62% lower than the record-high of $1,310…
Following Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida, strawberry growers are still assessing the fallout as strawberry planting restarts. According to Robert Wilhelm of Bova Fresh, based in Boca Raton, Florida, “Our southern farms took the brunt of the storm, but luckily we had not laid any plastic yet down south. However, our Plant City farms…
Nearly 10% of truck drivers are veterans, and transportation and logistics is one of the most popular destinations for veterans entering the civilian workforce. We’re proud to work in an industry that serves as a safe, reliable place for veterans to work after their service. DAT is taking time to honor our nation’s veterans –…
Shippers in the U.S. saved more than 30% on intermodal contracts in the third quarter, according to the latest JOC Intermodal Savings Index (ISI). “Still, sagging truck rates have created intense competition on the spot market and caused shorter hauls to shift to the highways,” according to Ari Ashe, Senior Editor at the Journal of…
The agricultural industry relies heavily on the flatbed industry for the movement of tractors. Although volumes are tracking slightly higher than the 5-year average, we don’t expect to see peak volume until March next year. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. total farm tractor sales decreased 12.8% y/y in September and are…
Around this time of the year, the production of leafy greens moves from major growing regions, including Salinas, CA, to Yuma, AZ, in California’s Imperial Valley. This southernmost part of California and Arizona transforms into the “Winter Salad Bowl,” where an estimated 90% of lettuce demand is met between November and March each year. Due…
The U.S. is the world’s largest turkey producer and exporter of turkey products by far, accounting for 52% of global production, followed by Germany and Brazil with 10% each. But all is not well in the U.S. domestic market this year, and there’s a good chance frozen and fresh turkeys will be in tight supply…
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 means he has had to carefully manage load temperatures and reefer motor…
The Operation Airbrake program is this week courtesy of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). While it’s scheduled to run from Aug. 21 to 27, there will be a second one-day event, which may be held any time this year. Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe commercial motor vehicle operation, so carriers and…
Every year the American Trucking Association celebrates the hard work of the 3.6 million professional men and women who not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time but also keep our highways safe. Nearly every aspect of daily life is made possible because a truck driver delivers the goods and resources people need.…
As news of severe droughts seems to be a yearly concern, some farmers are looking to technology for alternative ways of producing some of our nation’s favorite produce. Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It conserves space while at the same time amplifying yield per square foot compared to…
Florida’s orange crop this year will be nearly a third smaller than last year and one of the smallest in decades after Hurricane Ian devastated citrus groves the previous month. According to the USDA, all-orange production for the 2022/23 season is estimated at 3.19 million tons, down 8% from the 2021/22 final numbers in the…
In a recent study, the U.S. Department of Transport (USDoT) found that the truck parking shortage exists in every state and region and is most acute along major freight corridors. There are about 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States and approximately 313,000 truck parking spaces nationally, according to the USDoT; for every 11…
Traveling to the recent Truckload Carriers Association Refrigerated conference in Traverse City, MI, it was hard to escape just how different trucks are in the state. Michigan truckers take it for granted, but to everyone else worldwide, the 11-axle truck/trailer combinations look like centipedes on wheels. Michigan truckers DAT interviewed said they have limited backhaul…
After a period of record revenues, this year small carriers and owner-operators have felt their profits squeezed by skyrocketing fuel prices, a softer spot market and rising operating costs. In times like this, it’s important to recognize that the market is cyclical. For owner-operators who optimize their business and weather the storm, this means reaping…
Overhyped talk of a freight recession in recent months seems to have missed the mark, for the time being, anyway. Nearly all freight marketing indicators have demand higher than the previous year and substantially higher than in 2018. According to the leading freight demand for-hire trucking ton-mile index (TTMI) published by Yemisi Bolumole, Ph.D., and…
Houston is one of DAT’s top markets, recently boosted by the surge in imports impacting capacity for all equipment types – more volume means more options for carriers and brokers. Traditional West Coast shippers have increasingly shifted imports to Gulf Coast ports to avoid potential labor disruptions and port congestion in the Ports of Long…
Hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean typically begins to ramp up in earnest around mid-August. But things had been eerily quiet without a single storm to be seen anywhere in August. After predicting an above-average hurricane season, many forecasters were left wondering about their initial predictions of a busy season. According to Phil Klotzbach, a…
September 27th, 2022–Determining the cost of operating a truck in 2022 depends on who you ask, plus a range of other factors, including the type of business (for-hire, private fleet, power-only, etc.), length of haul, fleet size, truck and trailer type, customer base, accounting methods, debt levels, and commodity hauled, to name just a few. It’s…
Flatbed carriers are seeing a softening demand driven by seasonal factors and, unlike in recent years, a dramatic slowdown in consumer confidence in the building industry. A reliable flatbed demand indicator for many years has been The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI), which captures home buying/selling consumer sentiment and other indices. The HPSI…
On the Central Californian Coast, where temperatures are mild year-round, lettuce is planted from late December to mid-August for harvest from early April to November. So far, California’s less-than-optimal weather (extreme heat and heavy rain) limits supplies of iceberg and romaine lettuce, and green leaf varieties. The problems are expected to continue through the end…
The wild blueberry season winds down in Maine, pumpkins roll into farmstands around the country, the sugarbeet harvest wraps up in Minnesota, potatoes are dug up, processed, shipped, and stored in Idaho and Prince Edward Island (PEI), apples are picked in Washington State and also imported from China, and watermelon season runs out of juice.…
This year, the focus of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck Week was on wheel ends. Out of the top 10 vehicle out-of-service violations, tires ranked second, and wheels came in seventh. Of the 18,213 total vehicle out-of-service violations, there were 3,374 out-of-service tire violations, accounting for 18.5% of all vehicle out-of-service violations,…
Supply chain disruption has been a hot topic over the past 2.5 years, and although there are signs it could be improving, measuring the level of disruption and improvement remains elusive. Ari Ashe, Senior Editor at The Journal of Commerce, recently wrote about “box turns” in his weekly Please Haul My Freight newsletter, where he…
How much does the average person spend on apps? As much as $200 per month. A lot of times the person doesn’t even know that they’re paying for some of those apps. And if you’re like most truckers, you often bounce back and forth between several apps to get the job done. Would it be…
November means a focus on drowsy driving after daylight saving ends as the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) gears up for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (DDPW) from November 6-13. It’s also the perfect time to focus on sleep deprivation and drowsy driving as it coincides with the end of Daylight Saving this Sunday at 2:00 AM…
American teenagers aren’t getting enough sleep these days, nor are their parents, and that’s especially dangerous when there’s a long-distance trucker involved. Since the iPhone was released onto the market in June 2007, we’ve all been subjected to an increasing amount of light pollution, severely disrupting our sleep. In more recent times, teenagers who already…
Port Houston handled 353,525 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, an increase of 26% compared to last year, according to the recent release of September data. This is the second-highest month ever for containers at Port Houston, following only August 2022. The increase in volume is largely due to demand for imported goods and a…
Even though it’s Florida’s slack season for truckload volumes of fruit and vegetables, the damage resulting from Hurricane Ian is expected to ripple through the economy for many months. Florida will kick-start the 2023 produce season early next month, typically peaking in May, but the season start may be delayed, according to some growers DAT…
The recently released traffic fatalities report from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projects that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020. The projection is the highest number of deaths since 2005 and the largest annual percentage increase in the…
Hurricane Season officially starts this week. If you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, now’s the time to replenish hurricane emergency supplies and prepare your home for the coming hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website has an 8-step plan to guide you through the process. The Atlantic hurricane forecast calls for…
Last week on DAT iQ Live we interviewed Professor Jason Miller of Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. He reports that the sky is not falling in regard to the economy, contrary to popular belief in some sections of the media, and he’s seeing a very strong trucking economy at the moment. Get…
Summer officially starts this week, and for truckers, that means construction season starts also. There are only two seasons for commercial truck drivers – winter and construction. We desperately need an upgrade to our highway infrastructure, so we have to take the good with the bad; better roads and bridges mean more delays in the…
By Christina Ellington Steel output in the U.S. in the week ending June 11 fell by 3% compared with the same time frame in 2021, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). As a result, domestic raw steel production was 1,784,000 net tons, while the capability utilization rate was 81.7% compared to 1,834,000…
By Christina Ellington Produce peak season is underway. However, this season is not off to a strong start due to factors ranging from increased input costs to climate challenges. California is in its third consecutive year of drought and experienced a late frost this season. Mexico is also experiencing drought conditions, and the Southeast and…
By Christina Ellington Import volumes are rising, and port congestion may not be far behind. The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) indicates that approximately 5% of domestic truckload freight tonnage comes directly from Imports. According to the latest data from PIERS, Imports for May are up 3% m/m and 6% y/y. For the CA ports of…
Just over two years ago, U.S. consumers embarked on a spending spree that initially began with overstocking pantries with daily essentials and then quickly transitioned into buying record levels of physical goods for working, living, eating, and sleeping more at home. The pandemic changed many things in our daily lives but none more so than…
By Christina Ellington As fuel prices continue to rise with no apparent end in sight, oil companies can’t drill wells quickly enough to meet the growing demand. According to Baker Hughes, the national count shows a 61% y/y increase of weekly active drilling rigs as drilling companies react to recent supply and demand challenges. Oil…
By Christina Ellington Even with record sales of grills this summer, the volume of goods in cold storage (meats, dairy products, poultry products, fruits, nuts, and vegetables in public, private, and semi-private refrigerated warehouses) is much lower to start the grilling season. According to the USDA, volumes in cold storage are down 13% year-to-date (YTD)…
A widespread discussion we are witnessing on almost every trucking forum is mainly approaching the difficulties rookies have when they are trying to decide what will be their next trucking company to begin their journey. Being a newbie, it is very easy to get lost in the process, and getting confused considering all the suggestions…
Usually, a rookie would go ahead with a very optimistic attitude and such a workaholic behaviour. This happens because they want to feel that freedom given by the open road and prove that they can also be full-time truckers. Unfortunate for them, because this hype can very easily lead to accidents or some wasted time.…
Any trucker that just ended their training or CDL has been through some emotions and various heart rates. Before you even jump in your first truck cabin, you are nervous, and you might feel some fear, which is understandable considering what actions are required in this industry If you would go and listen to the…
After many inspections and accidents that happen all the time, it is a fact that beginners have a bigger chance to get involved in accidents. But, it does not mean that if you are an experienced truck driver, you cannot make an accident. The more experienced you are, the more risks you take. Do accidents…
What is right, what is wrong? What should you do when you are starting your trucking career, and what are the secrets that nobody will tell you? How can you take care of yourself? In this article, we are going to give you five tips on how to manage in a better way your career…
If you just finished your training and the last couple of months were not so enjoyable maybe you would want to read this article to the end. You`ve been feeling frustrated about solo trucking? Are you tired of working with someone and share the truck? We know for sure that those moments can make you…
If you think that being involved in the trucking industry means that freedom will be with you every day, you should think twice. Do you need some truck driving tips? Yes, freedom is associated with trucking, but we are not talking about that type of freedom that you are used to. Let`s stay focused and…
Safety is an important aspect when it comes to our jobs. We call ourselves truckers, but we are also humans, and we have to stay away from events or even people that might hurt us or our existence. If you are aware that you can be in danger, we are writing this article to help…
In today’s extremely competitive economic environment, trucking is a very dynamic and also important business, as the supply chain costs are reflected in almost every product we spend our money on. Substandard transportation services could, indirectly, cause transportation companies to spend more money just to stay in business. If the trucking company has owner operators,…
