DAT Freight & Analytics

South Texas is now the hottest reefer market in the country📦❄️ 🌶️ Mexican produce volumes are surging 📈 Reefer rates out of South Texas jumped +19% to +59% WoW 🚛 Dallas lanes climbed back above $4K 🍉 Florida remains tight, but seasonal freight is shifting west 🥬 Santa Maria officially entered the season See what it means for reefer capacity and rates 👉 bit.ly/436eNz5

Chris Caplice sits down with Peter Swartz, CEO and co-founder of Altana, to talk about what it takes to navigate today’s fragmented global supply chain landscape. 🌎 Why multi-tier supply chain visibility matters more than ever 📑 Managing tariffs, trade regulations, and compliance at scale 🤖 How AI is helping businesses respond faster to disruption 📦 Understanding the full value chain from raw materials to finished goods As global trade grows more complex, visibility is becoming a competitive advantage. Catch the full conversation 👉 youtu.be/Uu9jVTlDKmo?si…

Housing starts rebounded in March, but what does that really mean for flatbed freight?🚛 📊 Housing starts showed a monthly rebound 📈 Permits remain the key forward-looking indicator 📉 The gap between starts and permits signals caution ahead Starts can move month to month, but permits are often a better read on future construction activity. That’s where the real signal for flatbed is right now. See what the data is signaling👀 bit.ly/4eEi7bO

Attention carriers!🚨 FMCSA's new registration system, Motus, goes live May 14. If you have a USDOT or MC number, it’s a good idea to double-check a few things before May 13 to avoid losing access to your FMCSA Portal account: ✔ Make sure you can log in to your FMCSA Portal and your account is active ✔ Confirm the correct Company Official is listed (this should be the owner or an authorized employee, not a third-party service provider) ✔ Check that the Company Official’s Login.gov email matches what they’ll use for Motus If you’re new to trucking or working through getting your authority set up, DAT Copilot™ is available if you need support getting organized🤝 ☑️ bit.ly/3Pr2tGu 🧑‍✈️ bit.ly/4wnYnQg

Three things stood out in this week’s freight data, and they’re pulling in different directions👀 🍉 Florida reefer capacity is maxed out as Mother’s Day flowers, Roadcheck week, and watermelon season collide 📈 Flatbed rates just hit the highest Week 19 levels on record after 8 straight weeks of gains 🚚 Dry van crossed $2.01/mile excl. fuel with equipment availability 44% below average The carriers who survived two years of razor-thin margins built this moment. What’s your capacity picture looking like heading into Roadcheck week?

Mexican produce imports are hitting their final seasonal push through South Texas🥑🍉 📦 McAllen handles 65%+ of U.S. fresh produce imports from Mexico 📈 South Texas outbound reefer rates are up 40% YoY 🚛 Outbound lanes averaging around $3.37/mile Watermelons, peppers, cucumbers, avocados, and more are driving demand right now. Reefer operators, this is the market to watch👀

Take a look at what’s impacting the freight market this week👀 bit.ly/4eFZMLA

Freight moves because people show up. Today, we're thinking about all the moms in our industry: dispatchers, drivers, brokers, and everyone in between. Here’s a look at just a few of the many moms on our teams we’re proud of. Happy Mother's Day💐

DOT Blitz Week is almost here🚔 📈 Dry van load-to-truck ratios jumped 21% 📉 Equipment posts hit the lowest level of the year 🚛 Some carriers may park during May 12–14 inspections With capacity tightening, Roadcheck could add even more pressure to spot rates 👉 bit.ly/4wycrGW

What’s squeezing Florida reefer capacity right now?👀 💐 Mother’s Day flowers out of Miami 🚔 Roadcheck starts May 13 🍉 Watermelon season ramps up 📈 Rates at highest level since 2022 Florida’s final major reefer window before seasonal demand cools. See what this means for your lanes 👉 bit.ly/3Pa1jin

Which factor is creating a perfect storm for Florida reefer capacity right now?🍉🚚🌸

Flatbed just hit a new milestone but what does it actually mean for the freight market?🚛 📊 ATA tonnage reached a 3-year high 📈 Spot rates posted some of the strongest gains in years 📉 Capacity continues to tighten across the market On the surface, that points to a stronger flatbed environment. But the bigger question is whether this is the start of a sustained recovery or a shorter-term spike in activity. Get the full breakdown👀 bit.ly/4utS3Vk

Is the construction surge already losing momentum? Starts are up, but permits just dropped double digits.

Is the freight recession over? There are signs. ATA tonnage posted its strongest first quarter in nearly a decade. Flatbed is seven weeks into a rally and mere cents from an all-time record. Dry van just crossed $2.00/mile minus fuel for the first time this cycle. And next week, the CVSA Roadcheck blitz lands on top of Mother's Day weekend, a calendar collision that historically pulls double-digit equipment off the market in a matter of days. If you're a shipper sitting on contract rates that still reflect last year's market, that window is closing faster than the forecast shows. What's your contingency plan for the week of May 12?🤔

The Vidalia onion rush is here and the clock is already ticking down🧅 Georgia’s mid-April pack date triggers a fast reefer surge, with capacity tightening as carriers chase higher-paying loads. 📈 Rates up 21% YoY 🧅 Tight capacity out of Georgia ⏱️ Short window before it levels out Reefer operators, Macon is the market to watch this week👀

What’s shaping the freight market this week?👀 Dean breaks down: 📊 Key freight trends 🚛 Spot rate snapshots 🔮 A 35-day Ratecast outlook 🤝 Contract market insights Take a look 👉 bit.ly/4nidcj1

Dry van volumes are moving…but not for the reason you think🚛 📊 Freight demand is flat (up just 0.1% YoY) 📉 No real recovery in sight 📈 Rates are rising as capacity leaves the market 📦 Fewer trucks = tighter supply Two freight economies ⚖️ Strong: construction + infrastructure Soft: consumer goods Dig in 👉 bit.ly/4t0Fvnh

Hear more from Chris Caplice and Bill Cassidy in this week’s episode👀 bit.ly/4n2biTz

If you're only looking at national averages, you're missing the story📦 Florida is two weeks into full Shortage. New York just jumped 35%. South Texas dropped, but avocados fell 47% w/w. That's a volume story, not a capacity shift. Know where the freight is before you commit to a lane 👉 bit.ly/4n1mBeJ

Chris Caplice talks with Bill Cassidy from the Journal of Commerce about what’s moving freight right now. ⛽ Diesel spikes and pressure on small carriers 📦 Yellow’s collapse reshaping LTL pricing discipline 🏗️ Data center buildouts driving flatbed + LTL demand 🤖 AI helping solve complex logistics problems faster Catch the full convo 👉 bit.ly/4d0kHX7 #Freightvine #FreightMarket #Logistics #SupplyChain