DAT Freight & Analytics

06/05/2026

Freight volumes may be holding steady, but transportation costs are telling a different story🚚

According to the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index:
📦 Shipment volumes remained relatively flat
💰 Freight spending increased
🚛 Higher transportation costs continue to put pressure on shippers

It's another sign that market conditions are shifting, even without a significant increase in freight demand 👉 https://bit.ly/4ftSqLs

Freight volumes were essentially unchanged in the first quarter, but what shippers paid to move their goods tells a very

06/04/2026

Flatbed freight continues to show signs of resilience🚛

Despite ongoing uncertainty across the freight market, flatbed demand remains relatively steady.

What's supporting activity?
🏗️ Construction spending remains elevated
⚙️ Manufacturing demand is holding up
🚚 Capacity remains relatively balanced in many markets

The latest ATA truck tonnage data points to continued stability for flatbed carriers 👉 https://bit.ly/4ukTS6C

The broader freight market is showing more resilience than the headlines suggest. The ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index came in

06/03/2026

Brokers are under more pressure than ever to document their carrier management decisions.

To help simplify that process, CSA percentile scores are now available on the Company Profile page in DAT One for Carrier Management Suite users.

Having carrier safety data available in the same place brokers are already managing carrier relationships can help:
📋 Streamline documentation
⚡ Reduce the need to switch between systems
📝 Create a clearer record of carrier evaluation

One less gap between due diligence and getting the load covered.

06/03/2026

South Texas re**er rates just pulled off one of the wildest swings of produce season🚛

In just two weeks:
📈 Rates surged as much as 40%
📉 Then dropped by as much as 40% the following week

What's behind the whiplash?
🍉 Produce season shifts
🌸 Mother's Day floral demand fading
🥬 California produce volumes ramping up
🚚 Capacity quickly repositioning across key markets

For carriers and brokers, it's a reminder of how quickly re**er markets can change this time of year. Take a deeper look 👉 https://bit.ly/3PGjFYV

**er **erMarket

Data analysis for week of May 28, 2026 for truckload produce shipper, carriers, and brokers The big picture The produce

06/02/2026

Catch the full conversation between Chris Caplice and Ken Adamo👀 https://bit.ly/42HyzRg

06/02/2026

Records are falling, and the market isn't done yet.

Flatbed spot linehaul rates (rates minus fuel) hit $2.89/mile last week, a new all-time high, beating the June 2021 record by $0.14. That's eleven straight weeks of gains, a 21% surge since Roadcheck Week, and a load-to-truck ratio of 76.71. The ATA tonnage index hasn't declined once in 2026. For carriers running steel, lumber, or machinery lanes, the macro setup still favors holding rates through the summer.

Dry van linehaul rates climbed another $0.05 to $2.32/mile, which is 39% above this time last year and just $0.04 shy of the Week 22 record set in 2021. Meanwhile, the Q1 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index showed freight spending jump 21.8% year-over-year on essentially flat volumes. Shippers are paying more, not because demand broke out, but because supply finally gave way.

On the re**er side, South Texas just gave carriers a reminder: Shortage conditions can reverse in a week. After spiking 25–40% under last week's tight market, rates collapsed by as much as 41% as truck supply normalized. Meanwhile, Yakima Valley availability is tightening without a rate move yet, a classic leading indicator worth watching going into next week.

What does this market look like for your network heading into July 4th?

06/01/2026

If you're a re**er carrier in Florida right now, Lakeland deserves a spot on your radar🍉👀

With watermelon season ramping up, produce volumes are surging and re**er loads are moving fast out of Central Florida.

🍉 Florida produce volumes up 32% last week
📦 Watermelon shipments jumped 43% week over week
🚛 Lakeland → New York averaging $5,200/load, up 37% year over year
📈 Lakeland → Dallas averaging $3,200/load, up 43% year over year
⏱️ Tight delivery windows keeping pressure on available re**er capacity

Millions of pounds of produce are moving toward Atlanta, Charlotte, and the Northeast, making Lakeland one of the strongest re**er markets to watch right now. Re**er carriers, this is the market to watch this week.

**erMarket

06/01/2026

What’s shaping the freight market this week? Take a look👀 https://bit.ly/3RwYUiV

Welcome to DAT iQ Live, DAT's weekly freight market podcast hosted ...

05/29/2026

Freight volumes are still soft, but dry van rates are telling a different story🚚

According to the latest Cass Freight Index:
📦 Shipments were down 4.4% year over year
📈 Linehaul rates increased 5.6% year over year
🚛 Tightening capacity continues to put upward pressure on pricing
⚠️ Shippers waiting for demand to rebound may find rates have already moved

The freight recovery story isn't just about volume anymore. Capacity is playing a bigger role in where the market goes next. Are you seeing capacity or demand have a bigger impact on pricing right now? 👉 https://bit.ly/43A2f3d

All rates cited below exclude fuel surcharges, and load volume refers to loads moved unless otherwise noted. The rate charts

05/29/2026

Last week, our team was in Las Vegas for Manhattan Momentum 2026✨

AI was the big topic all week, especially around how it’s already showing up in real workflows and making supply chains faster, smarter, and more connected. We also got to hear from legendary Coach K on leadership, teamwork, and what it takes to navigate change when the stakes are high.🏀

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and caught up with us throughout the week🙌