Carriers and technology providers are modernizing their platforms and automating freight transactions. Freight matching, data integration, and defenses against freight fraud are shaping up to be the future of trucking.
Spot rates inched higher as load posts on DAT One continued to build
Last week, spot rates increased across all three major equipment types. Volumes increased for both the dry van and refrigerated segments.
Load posts on DAT One rose 13% to 2.6 million during the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4, which includes the last three shipping days of Q3.
The way that carriers, brokers, and shippers interact is becoming more automated. Freight tracking and bot-driven rate negotiations are more prevalent today.
From the driver’s seat to the data lab, Dean Croke, Principal Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, brings a rare blend of firsthand experience and analytical precision. In this conversation, Dean unpacks the biggest freight trends shaping 2026 and shares how data, discipline, and storytelling drive smarter decisions across the industry.
Five more freight carriers filed for bankruptcy at the end of September, bringing the third-quarter total to 21 as transportation financing woes continue.
Trucking companies continue to transform their businesses, expanding beyond traditional transportation to offer a full spectrum of warehousing and supply chain solutions and navigate a changing marketplace.
Updates to the DAT One load board help carriers find quality loads quickly, negotiate better rates with fresher market data, and connect with freight brokers they can trust.
Loads posted to the DAT One truckload spot market in the week ended Oct. 4, up 13% from the previous week and 29% higher than a year earlier.