The key questions of produce season: When, how, and how much?
DAT Blog
by Chris Eudy
6d ago
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 to the rest of the country. Produce season, as it always does, will have a tremendous impact on reefer volume, capacity across the board, and pricing.  Brokers across the country are asking: When will produce season hit (and where)? How will this impact capacity? How much will prices go ..read more
Visit website
Falling asleep at the wheel and how to avoid it: Sleep hygiene for carriers part 6
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
6d ago
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 asleep at the wheel? Virtually everyone suffers at least an occasional night of poor sleep. However, as the “sleep stealers” list implies, specific individuals may be particularly vulnerable. These include truckers, students, shift workers ..read more
Visit website
Dry Van Report: logistics managers index expands for the second month
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
6d ago
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 captured in the index for the second month in a row, including continued expansion in Inventory Levels (58.5), which has led to a tightening in Warehousing Capacity (52.8) and growth across all three transportation metrics. Transportation Capacity was also up this month to 60.9 ..read more
Visit website
Flatbed Report: U.S. manufacturing industry is still contracting
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
6d ago
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 above 50 indicate growth, and below indicate contraction. 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. A more worrying sign is th ..read more
Visit website
How to take the wheel: Wanda Billups
DAT Blog
by Reid Belew
6d ago
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 life where she was in charge, not someone else. It was a risk, but one that paid dividends.  Watch Wanda share her story here “Trucking has afforded me some nice things. I can take care of my family, buy a home, be in control of my time – I love to travel – I can take time off when I want,” Billups sa ..read more
Visit website
Bracing the pillars of America’s economy: a critical partnership for truckers’ well-being
DAT Blog
by Reid Belew
1w ago
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 announce a new partnership with the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. This collaboration is a commitment to develop health initiatives that serve the unsung heroes of our roads: truckers. St. Christopher’s mission is simple — save lives by cha ..read more
Visit website
Why freight brokers need a marketing strategy
DAT Blog
by Reid Belew
1w ago
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 tool for new brokers.  Here’s what we’ll cover in the guide: The basics In this guide, we break down the fundamentals: demographic targeting, branding, effective campaigns, and learning from real-world examples. These principles form the bedrock of yo ..read more
Visit website
Reefer report: Beef production drops as cattle inventories shrink
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
1w ago
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 the equivalent of 7,400 fewer monthly truckloads. U.S. cattle continue to dwindle after a drought and high input costs pressuring ranchers to sell off their herds, shrinking the national headcount to 87.2 million as of Jan. 1, according to the USDA’s Cattle report. Get ..read more
Visit website
Weekly Market Update for March 5th, 2024: Sleep hygiene part 5
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
1w ago
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 clocks twice yearly. A survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2020 found that 63% of Americans support a national, permanent, year-round routine.  The Sunshine Protection Act aims to do just that. The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by S ..read more
Visit website
Flatbed report: January’s manufacturing numbers are weak across various industries
DAT Blog
by Dean Croke
1w ago
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 utilities. The industrial sector, together with construction, accounts for the bulk of the variation in national output throughout the business cycle and is closely watched and quick to react to ..read more
Visit website

Follow DAT Blog on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR