DAT Guy

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 i...

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 la...

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,...

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 dis...

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 av...

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 slash...

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...

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 certa...

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 pro...

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, Californi...

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 thro...

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 re...

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...