# DAT Guest Author

DAT invites various industry leaders to provide commentary and opinion on topics that affect users in our industry.

### [“How Much Will a $75K Bond Cost Me?” And Other Questions Answered](https://www.dat.com/blog/how-much-will-a-75k-bond-cost-me-and-other-questions-answered)

Update: DAT now offers a 75K surety bond at a special rate for DAT customers. Learn more. As most of

### [How to Make More Money on Every Round-Trip](https://www.dat.com/blog/how-to-make-more-money-on-every-round-trip)

Your truck is stuck in a city where your usual backhaul is not available, or the rates you’ve been offered

### [Rates in July Stay Close to June Highs](https://www.dat.com/blog/rates-in-july-stay-close-to-june-highs)

Van and flatbed rates rebounded this week, following “Backhaul Tuesday.” Van rates jumped 4¢ per mile as a national average

### [Reefer Traffic Sizzles in Southern Produce Markets](https://www.dat.com/blog/reefer-traffic-sizzles-in-southern-produce-markets)

Got reefers? It’s time to move ’em on down to produce markets in the Southern states. Spring is finally here.

### [Finding the Hot Spots](https://www.dat.com/blog/finding-the-hot-spots)

Where’s the Action? Right now, you’re either shaking your head and saying there’s no action at all, or you are

### [How Managers Can Build Driver-Dispatcher Respect](https://www.dat.com/blog/how-managers-can-build-driver-dispatcher-respect)

A good dispatcher is both diplomat and den mother. But many dispatchers get little, if any, formal training beyond how

### [A Million Truckloads of Potatoes](https://www.dat.com/blog/a-million-truckloads-of-potatoes)

Farmers, food processing companies and grocery retailers will spend about $1 billion on trucking this year, to haul a bumper

### [How to Find Loads in a Tough Market](https://www.dat.com/blog/how-to-find-loads-in-a-tough-market)

I’ve been designing and testing DAT Load Boards for seven years, and during that time, I have learned that our

### [Benchmark Your Supply Chain for 45 MPH or a 450-Mile Day](https://www.dat.com/blog/benchmark-your-supply-chain-for-45-mph-or-a-450-mile-day)

Back in 1981, when I was new to transportation, I was responsible for dispatching drivers and auditing logs. Trucks were

### ["Does That Include Fuel?" and Other Questions](https://www.dat.com/blog/does-that-include-fuel-and-other-questions)

You really need this load, but how do you know if the rate is any good? Will your driver waste

### [Rate Trend of the Week: September Rates are Up!](https://www.dat.com/blog/rate-trend-of-the-week-september-rates-are-up)

What’sHot: Overallrates in September for vans, reefers and flatbeds recorded positive numbers! Vanrates rose 1.5% as both Memphis and Chicago

### [How to read a carrier’s insurance certificate](https://www.dat.com/blog/how-to-read-a-carriers-insurance-certificate)

Is your carrier underinsured? Look at the carrier’s insurance certificate and check to be sure your company and your customer’s