This year’s DAT Shipper Summit was another huge success, bringing together leaders from across the nation to tackle the industry’s biggest challenges together. It was more than a conference; it was a collaborative forum designed to help us all navigate uncertainty, refine procurement strategies, and make confident, data-driven decisions. The energy and insights shared by attendees gave us a clearer understanding of what you’re up against, which, in turn, shows us how we can support you better.
Over 96 attendees from 65 companies gathered together, representing retail, food and beverage, CPG, healthcare, and more. Leaders and hands-on practitioners came together to create a unique, non-competitive environment for sharing diverse perspectives.
What we heard
Throughout the sessions and roundtable discussions, several key themes emerged. It’s clearer than ever that the rules of freight are changing and shippers need proactive strategies, reliable data, and strong partnerships to succeed in an uncertain landscape.
Procurement is now a strategic driver
A major takeaway was the evolution of procurement from a cost center to a strategic business function. It’s no longer just about reducing expenses; it’s about shaping outcomes. Shippers emphasized the need for internal education and executive support to elevate procurement’s role within their organizations.
The fireside chat with Joshua Sallee from Diageo and Dr. Chris Caplice from DAT highlighted this perfectly. They discussed how shippers are taking a closer look under the hood to understand core business drivers and find new opportunities for optimization. The conversation is shifting from transportation as a tactical expense to a data-driven lever for strategic advantage.
Innovation requires more than just good ideas
We saw a huge embrace of innovation and new ways of doing business. We heard from many of you that are actively experimenting with new technologies, tactics, and process improvements. However, everyone agreed that turning these ideas into measurable results requires more than just good intentions. Lasting impact depends on reliable data, cross-functional alignment, and strong executive support.
While many teams track similar metrics like on-time delivery, tender acceptance, and cost, the discussions made it clear there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each business faces unique network design challenges and reporting nuances that demand creative problem-solving. Thus, effective change management becomes critical. Attendees shared strategies for educating internal teams and aligning with leadership, acknowledging that the human side of change is often the biggest hurdle.
Data is the bedrock of confident decisions
Across every conversation, high-quality, unbiased data was identified as the essential enabler of smarter, faster decision-making. Data provides the political cover needed to secure leadership buy-in for new initiatives. Shippers stressed the importance of framing return on investment (ROI) in terms of savings realized today, not just potential future gains.
The range of initiatives discussed showcased the energy in the room. From improving fleet utilization and benchmarking rates to advancing sustainability goals and leveraging APIs, the appetite to explore new solutions was palpable. A dedicated panel on artificial intelligence (AI) highlighted how this technology is already reshaping freight analytics. Experts and customers shared real-world applications, such as faster risk identification, more defensible budget validation, and sharper forecasting.
The power of community and connection
While the content was invaluable, the connections made were just as important. The peer-to-peer sharing during roundtables and “choose-your-own-adventure” table topics sparked candid conversations on everything from freight market trends to sourcing strategies and sustainability.
The value of connecting with other practitioners for both tactical and strategic knowledge-sharing can’t be overstated. It reinforces a broader trend toward greater collaboration across the freight ecosystem. Transportation leaders are building stronger networks with carriers and brokers by leaning on shared, trusted benchmarks to guide their partnerships. Of course, it wasn’t all work. Events like the bowling night provided a relaxed setting for building relationships that extend beyond the conference room.
What’s next for shippers?
We want to extend a sincere thank you to all the attendees who helped shape the dialogue at this year’s Shipper Summit. Your insights and willingness to share are what make this event so powerful.
As we look to the remainder of the year, the consensus is that a major market shift is unlikely. However, that doesn’t mean we can afford to be reactive. The key is to stay proactive and prepared to navigate whatever the market throws at us.
So stay engaged with us. Reach out to your Account Manager to learn more about the topics discussed at the summit, and be sure to join our monthly market updates to stay informed. Keep an eye out for information about next year’s Shipper Summit, we’d love to see you there.
The shipper community is stronger together. DAT remains committed to equipping you with the data, insights, and tools you need to lead with confidence, no matter what lies on the road ahead.
