DAT Guy

DAT Market Insights: Dean Croke on Transportation Trends | Road Gang Radio

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Jimmy Mac and co-host Dean Croke dive into the latest transportation and freight market trends with Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics. Dean shares insights on warehouse growth, e-commerce logistics, emerging freight markets, data centers, and how AI and technology are reshaping the trucking industry.

Discover how shifts in freight, delivery methods, and supply chain infrastructure are creating new opportunities for drivers, carriers, and businesses. Dean also breaks down what the changes mean for the future of trucking and provides real-world examples from markets like Allentown and beyond.

Learn more at https://www.dat.com

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

DAT Guy: How Christmas Tree Season Impacts the Market, with Dean Croke | Road Gang Radio

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Jimmy Mac sits down with Dean Croke for a detailed look at seasonal freight pressure in the Pacific Northwest. Dean draws on his background as a former owner operator with more than two million miles on the road and his work as Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight and Analytics. He explains how Christmas tree season creates fast shifts in demand, tighter capacity, and higher rates across key lanes.

Dean walks you through helicopter harvesting, a process created at Noble Mountain Tree Farm in Oregon. Helicopters lift bundled trees from the fields and drop them at central points every thirty seconds. Noble Mountain operates more than four thousand acres across four farms in the Willamette Valley. The season starts with long haul and international loads that move toward places like Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Texas. Reefers handle temperature sensitive shipments. Around that same time, wreaths move out for Wreaths Across America ceremonies on December 13. Containers also head toward Hawaii for retail orders.

Domestic demand rises in early to mid November. It tightens seven to ten days before Thanksgiving. Rail piggyback trailers help move high volume loads to large Western markets when truckload capacity shrinks. Some Douglas fir loads get covered in a ton of ice at a third party location before heading to Southern California. During the peak harvest, growers run seven days a week. More than sixty truckloads can move on the busiest days. Spot rates can rise by up to twenty percent in those three critical weeks before Thanksgiving.

Dean also shares quick facts that matter when judging market pressure. A Christmas tree takes seven to ten years to reach typical height. Roughly three hundred fifty million trees grow on farms nationwide. About twenty five to thirty million get harvested each year. A truck carries about six hundred trees. That works out to about fifty thousand truckloads. Oregon and Washington produce close to one third of the national supply.

Learn more at https://www.dat.com

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

DAT Guy: Market Insights with Dean Croke – Reefer Slowdown, Ghost Fleets & The People’s Tree | Road Gang Radio

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

In this edition of DAT Guy on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac and co-host Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, break down the latest trends shaping the freight market this November. With Dean’s decades of real-world experience — from his 2 million over-the-road miles as an owner-operator to his role leading analytics at DAT — this is the deep dive every carrier, broker, and shipper needs.

Dean and Jimmy unpack the latest DAT market data, starting with how ELP and non-domicile CDL enforcement has fallen short of expectations. Despite ongoing discussions about tightening capacity, rates aren’t rising — they’re dropping, with October bid season seeing shippers negotiate rates down instead of up.

They explore the continuing carrier exits and the rise of “ghost fleets” — dormant equipment waiting to re-enter the market once conditions improve — and what that could mean for the next two years of freight recovery. In reefer markets, Halloween usually brings a spike in perishable shipments, but this year’s data tells a different story: volumes tanked 14%, possibly impacted by SNAP benefit suspensions amid government funding issues.

And finally, a brighter note on the highway: The People’s Tree, a 50-year-old red fir from Nevada’s Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is on its way to Washington, D.C., in a custom-wrapped Knight-Swift Kenworth. The 3,700-mile cross-country journey celebrates the spirit of America’s public lands — and the drivers who make traditions like this possible.

Get the full DAT blog and insights at: https://www.dat.com/blog/author/dean-...

Learn more about DAT Freight & Analytics: https://www.dat.com

DAT Guy is part of Road Gang Radio on the RadioNemo Network, where trucking meets data-driven storytelling.

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

Dean Croke Breaks Down Non Domicile Enforcement, Halloween Spending & Import Trends | DAT Guy

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this week’s edition of The DAT Guy, Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, for an in-depth look at the trends shaping freight, trucking, and the broader transportation economy.

Dean brings his unique perspective as a former owner-operator with over 2 million miles under his belt, offering data-backed insights every driver can use.

This week’s discussion covers:

Non-Domicile Enforcement — and how it’s creating a Roadcheck Week effect on spot rates.

Halloween Spending Records — what record consumer spending means for freight volume.

Imports Set to Tank — how declining imports could affect rates and capacity through year’s end.

Get the market intelligence you need to stay ahead — straight from DAT’s expert voice on the airwaves.

Learn more at: https://www.dat.com

Dean Croke is the Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, a former owner-operator, and the voice behind some of the most insightful trucking market commentary in the industry.

Before joining DAT, Dean logged over 2 million miles on the road, owned “The Grumpy Pete” Peterbilt show truck, and held senior roles in data analytics and transportation intelligence. He combines real-world experience with cutting-edge market analysis to help drivers, carriers, and shippers understand what’s driving rates and capacity.

DAT Guy with Dean Croke: Regional Rates, Manufacturing Slowdown & Truckload Capacity | Road Gang Radio

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this week’s DAT Guy with Dean Croke, host Jimmy Mac and Dean dive into the latest trucking and freight market trends, breaking down the numbers that matter most to drivers and carriers.

Topics Covered:

Regional Rate Roundup

Dry van spot rates inch up $0.02/mile, averaging $1.67/mile — $0.05 higher than last year

Midwest spot rates remain flat at $1.87/mile, but still $0.20 above the national average

DAT’s top 50 lanes dipped $0.01/mile to $1.98/mile

September Manufacturing Numbers

ISM Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.1% (still contracting)

New orders slip back into contraction at 48.9%

67% of U.S. manufacturing GDP contracted in September

Industry voices highlight tariffs, weak demand, and stagflation concerns

Truckload Capacity & ELP Impact

For-hire sector lost more carriers than it gained for only the fourth time this year

6,756 carrier authorities revoked in September — up 36% year-over-year

ELP (English Language Proficiency) enforcement continues to have zero impact on overall capacity

Tires and brakes remain a far greater safety concern than ELP violations

From freight rates to factory floors, Dean and Jimmy break it all down to keep you informed and ahead of the curve.

Lumber Cuts & Import Drops: Big Trouble Ahead? | DAT Freight & Analytics

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this week’s DAT Guy with Dean Croke on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics.

Dean breaks down two big stories shaping the freight market:

Lumber prices flash warning signs for flatbed truckers as production cuts across North America could pull 12,000–14,000 loads off the market.

Companies like Interfor and Domtar are slashing shifts, shutting down mills, and idling operations as demand falls.

Imports down in August 2025 — and falling fast. After a record July, U.S. containerized imports dropped 7.6% month-over-month, with a projected 17.5% cliff ahead in the final months of 2025. Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and supply chain shifts to Mexico and Canada are reshaping the industry.

Dean’s deep analysis gives truckers, carriers, and brokers the insights they need to prepare for turbulent months ahead.

Don’t miss this week’s in-depth market outlook from DAT’s leading freight expert.

Learn more about DAT Freight & Analytics: https://dat.com

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

Nemo Nation: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ne...

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We Should Write: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-we...

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In-Depth Market Trends & Transportation with Dean Croke | DAT Freight & Analytics

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT

In this edition of In-Depth Analysis of Market Trends and Transportation, host Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics.

Dean—an ex-owner-operator with over 2 million miles on the road and former owner of the iconic “Grumpy Pete” Peterbilt show truck—breaks down the latest freight trends, market movements, and what they mean for drivers, carriers, and shippers alike.

Topics Covered:

Current spot and contract rate shifts

Capacity, demand, and seasonality impacts

Fuel prices and operating costs

Regional freight outlooks

Insights from Dean’s industry experience

Learn more about DAT Freight & Analytics:

Website: https://www.dat.com/

Twitter/X: / datfreightteam

LinkedIn: / datfreightanalytics

YouTube: / @datfreightanalytics

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

Nemo Nation: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ne...

Road Gang Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ro...

We Should Write: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-we...

Trucking with OOIDA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr...

Freight Recovery or Freight Crash? | Dean Croke Analyzes 2026 Market Trends

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this edition of DAT Guy, Road Gang Radio’s in-depth market segment, hosts welcome Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, to break down the latest freight and transportation trends.

Main Themes:

Will freight recovery finally arrive in Q2 2026?

Record July imports—but a freight crash may be around the corner.

Truckload demand weakens despite year-over-year gains in certain sectors.

Drayage carriers and logistics providers face mounting pressure as imports normalize.

Trucking bankruptcies are stacking up, echoing the wave of closures seen in 2019.

With historic highs at the ports, tariff shifts, and financial strain across the industry, Dean explains what it all means for truckload, intermodal, and carrier survival heading into 2026.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the data behind the freight market—and what’s next for carriers, brokers, and shippers.

Follow DAT: https://www.dat.com/

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

Nemo Nation: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ne...

Road Gang Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ro...

We Should Write: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-we...

Trucking with OOIDA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr...

Why ELP Enforcement Didn't Shake the Market: Dean Croke on Truckload Trends & Capacity Woes

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Road Gang Radio, Jimmy Mac welcomes Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, for another in-depth installment of “DAT Guy.”

This week, Dean tackles the hot-button issue of English Language Proficiency (ELP) enforcement—what it really means, what the data says, and why its actual impact is negligible despite the noise. He also dives into the persistent problem of truckload overcapacity, soft spot rates, and what the ACT Research Index reveals about the future of supply-demand balance in the freight market.

Dog Days & Data: Dean Croke on Summer Freight Trends and Produce Slump

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Dean Croke—former owner-operator, 2-million-mile road warrior, and current Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics—joins Jimmy Mac on Road Gang Radio for a data-packed look at the state of freight. With produce season officially wrapping and reefer rates starting their seasonal slide, Dean breaks down what the numbers are telling us, where the pain points are (looking at you, California lettuce), and how Midwest markets are hinting at what’s to come. From “The Grumpy Pete” show truck to serious spot market strategy, Dean delivers insights every driver can use to navigate the dog days of summer.

Instagram: @thegrumpypete

Facebook: Dean Croke

TikTok: @thegrumpypete

Trucking Shows & Trucking Lows: Dean Croke on the Highs and Lows of Trucking

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this segment of Nemo Nation, hosts Dave Nemo and Jimmy Mac sit down with longtime industry analyst and storyteller Dean Croke to talk all things trucking. From the energy of the nation’s biggest trucking shows to the tough truths behind freight recessions and driver challenges, Dean brings his signature insight and data-backed wisdom to the mic. Whether you’re parked at the show or rolling through a quiet stretch of highway, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who lives and breathes life on the road.

The Produce Slump, Manufacturing Stalls, and the Ozempic Effect: Trucking's New Reality

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this edition of DAT Guy with Dean Croke on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac and Dean dive into why the 2025 produce season fizzled—especially in California and Florida—and what that means for dry van and reefer rates across the country. They unpack how shifting consumer habits, including the rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, are quietly reshaping freight demand, slashing grocery spending, and reducing overall food consumption—potentially cutting hundreds of thousands of truckloads from the market. Dean also digs into the latest on U.S. manufacturing: while there’s a slight uptick in June, uncertainty from tariffs, geopolitical instability, and stalled demand continues to weigh down production and planning. With produce volumes falling, reefer rates hitting decade-lows, and labor shortages on California farms due to immigration crackdowns, Dean connects the dots on how macro trends are stacking up to make this one of the strangest summers yet in freight.

Dean Croke on Freight Trends, Summer Shipping, and the 100 Deadliest Days

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On this episode of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with Dean Croke, former owner-operator, current Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, and owner of the legendary Peterbilt show truck The Grumpy Pete. With over 2 million miles of over-the-road experience, Dean brings firsthand knowledge and data-driven insight to today’s freight landscape. Topics covered in this in-depth conversation include: Why May imports saw a sharp decline after months of front-loading to avoid tariffs How grilling season continues to drive demand despite inflation and changing consumer habits The slower-than-expected start to produce season and what it means for reefer freight and rates A look at the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes, especially among teen drivers, spike dramatically From container ports to cookouts, and produce loads to road safety, this episode connects the dots between market trends and life behind the wheel. Don’t miss this timely conversation with one of trucking’s most trusted analysts. Road Gang Radio streams live on RadioNemo, iHeartRadio, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live. Subscribe for more industry insights and on-the-road stories