From the desk of David Scandlyn, Director of Broker Sales
The 4th of July peak is officially in the rearview mirror and we are sliding into the dog days of summer. It’s always an interesting time in the freight cycle. How do you continue driving growth as market conditions loosen? How do pricing dynamics change in Q3 and how does that impact your approach? How do you prepare for the not-so-distant bid season? These are questions I hear from our customers all the time, and ones I asked myself when I was in the broker seat.
We’ve got a few items to help this month. Check out the insights provided by Dean Croke. There is honestly no one in the industry who understands the trends and impacts of produce better than Dean, and despite the old adage, produce doesn’t stop shipping post 4th of July (but the trends change). He provides phenomenal insights into where volumes are still cranking and what data your team can leverage to make smarter decisions in pricing freight and servicing your customers.
“A relentless pursuit of continuous improvement.” It’s a core tenant of our industry and something I love about the people we have in our space. I’m such a huge fan of DAT University, our learning platform, and we’ve got a great new course on broker profitability. It’s linked below.
Lastly – Chicago! We’re coming to you. I can’t wait to see you all again and reconnect. Save a time slot below and we’ll reach out.
Until next time,
David
What’s up with the market?
- The spot market stabilized last week after the surge in activity the week prior as carriers returned fully to the market (after the 7/4 break)
- Dry van linehaul spot rates declined $0.03 last week, the largest decrease since the start of April. Rates down $0.08/mile in the Midwest bellwether states and notably down $0.16/mile in Atlanta last week.
- Single-family housing starts were down 4.6% m/m, the lowest level in a year (down 10.2% y/y). Permits are a leading indicator of flatbed demand and were down 3.7% m/m and 8% y/y.
The power of Trucker Tools + DAT One
Full visibility of your shipments is easy with waterfall tracking via telematics, the Trucker Tools app, and Text to Track — all accessible directly from DAT One. Prevent fraud using the only tracking provider equipped with a built-in fraud detection toolkit and suspicious activity alerts.
Visit Trucker Tools for more information on these premium tracking solutions.
Engage: Chicago
The DAT team will be in the Chicagoland area September 8-11 visiting our customers. We will also be hosting a happy hour on September 9 from 4-6 p.m. at Five Iron, River North.
RSVP for the free happy hour [link tbd] or let us know if you would like your account manager to schedule a 1:1 meeting at your office location.
Ready for more profit?
Enrollment is now open for Profit Like a Pro, our latest broker-specific course available at DAT U. This course provides practical strategies to help you make smarter financial decisions, cultivate stronger relationships, and achieve sustainable growth.
Blog: Fortify your supply chain
In cybersecurity, real independence comes from knowing your systems aren’t vulnerable due to someone else’s weaknesses. How do you protect yourself?
Events
Broker Launch and Learn
When: August 13, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. MT
What: You’re invited to the next Launch & Learn webinar, featuring an in-depth look at DAT’s product suite. Get demos of the latest features from our product team, and learn more about DAT’s existing solutions that can help you optimize your business.
Our August 2025 webinar will feature the new posting and carrier management tools in DAT One, enhanced rate solutions in DAT iQ, and a look at some of the latest solutions from Trucker Tools – now a DAT product.
Register now for the next session, which will take place on Wednesday, August 13th from 10:00 – 11:00 AM MT.
SupplyChain Now Webinar: Strengthening Fraud Defenses Through Tracking and Digital Visibility
Freight fraud is becoming more sophisticated, and brokers need advanced tools —not just intuition— to combat it. Join our experts to discover how tracking tools and digital solutions can enhance visibility and fortify your defenses against fraud.
In this session, we will examine the most common points of fraud, how operational blind spots are exploited, and actionable steps brokers can take to prevent losses and foster trust with both carriers and customers.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding the mechanisms of fraud in daily brokerage operations.
- Leveraging real-time tracking and other tools to mitigate risk.
- Implementing practical strategies to improve visibility and accountability.
- Exploring current best practices from leading brokers.
