Flatbed report: U.S. manufacturing slumped to a 14-month low as 2025 ended
Economic activity in U.S. manufacturing closed 2025 on a weak note, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI slipping to 47.9 in December.
Dean Croke
Dean Croke is the Principal Analyst for DAT iQ, the freight data and analytics operation at DAT. He brings 35 years of experience in the fields of data science, supply chain management, logistics, risk management and human performance. For the latest market updates, follow @datfreightteam on Twitter.
Reefer report: Florida strawberry growers report strong season ahead
The Florida strawberry season has begun on a positive note, suggesting a reliable flow of reefer freight for truckload carriers.
Dry van report: The $85 billion bottleneck, America’s most congested corridors
Traffic congestion across the United States mounted significantly in 2025, according to INRIX, costing the national economy over $85 billion in lost time—an 11.3% increase from the previous year.
Flatbed report: How AI changed the deadhead
In 1980, finding a backhaul was a slow, costly process rooted in physical presence and scattered information.
Reefer report: Winter storm jams Midwest reefer market
The storm that crippled the Midwest in late November created a sudden and intense spike in demand for refrigerated trailers.
Dry van report: Warehousing contracts for the first time as freight tightens
The November Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) reported a reading of 55.7, continuing a recent slowdown driven by a market correction across inventory and warehousing.
Flatbed report: Home Depot suggested no signs of accelerating demand for their products
The recent weak earnings performance reported by Home Depot, stemming from softer home improvement demand and a slowdown in the
Reefer report: Mexican avocado growers turning snacks into touchdowns
The Hass Avocado Board shows total avocado volume in the U.S. market is on track to exceed 3 billion pounds
Dry van report: Freight demand retreats: ton-miles drop to pre-pandemic levels
The outlook for freight volumes remains challenging, as the Truckload Ton-Mile Index, updated through August 2025 with revised industrial production
Flatbed report: U.S. factory activity slipped at a faster pace than expected in November
The November 2025 ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2%, marking a 0.5-point drop from October’s level and signaling another month
Reefer report: Reefer carriers expect a second start to the winter produce season in Texas
The end of the farmer and trucker protests on the Mexican side of the southern U.S. border at Thanksgiving is
Dry van report: ATA October tonnage drop signals stubborn market headwinds
The latest data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) confirms what many in our industry are feeling: the freight market